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What Is Form N-400? The U.S. Naturalization Application Explained

Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, is the form a green card holder files with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to apply to become a U.S. citizen. It collects biographic information, residence and travel history, and background questions that USCIS uses to review a naturalization case. Filing it does not by itself grant citizenship — it opens a case that includes biometrics, an interview, and (for most applicants) a civics and English test.

This article explains what the form covers and what happens after you file it. It does not tell you how to answer any question on the form or whether you qualify — that’s between you and USCIS, or a licensed immigration attorney if you want personalized advice.

Who Files Form N-400

N-400 is filed by lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who want to apply for U.S. citizenship. USCIS publishes general residency-length categories on its own website (for example, different timelines apply depending on whether someone is applying based on general permanent residence or through marriage to a U.S. citizen). This article won’t restate or interpret those categories — the current, authoritative version always lives on uscis.gov, since USCIS updates its own guidance directly.

What Form N-400 Actually Asks

The form is organized into numbered parts. At a high level, it collects:

  • Eligibility basis — which category the applicant is filing under.
  • Personal information — legal name, other names used, date and place of birth, and contact details.
  • Residence and employment history — a multi-year address and employer history.
  • Time outside the United States — a log of trips abroad, including dates and destinations.
  • Family information — marital history and information about children.
  • Background and security questions — a long series of yes/no questions covering topics like prior criminal history, affiliations, and past interactions with immigration enforcement.
  • Accommodations request — an option to request disability accommodations for the civics test or interview.
  • English and civics test election — for applicants who may qualify for an exception based on age and years as a permanent resident.

Each part exists to give USCIS a complete biographic and history record. The form itself doesn’t explain what a “correct” answer looks like for any individual — it’s a data-collection instrument, not a guide.

Form N-400 Fee and Processing Time in 2026

As of 2026, the standard N-400 filing fee is $760 for a paper filing or $710 for an online filing through a USCIS online account. A reduced fee of $380 is available for applicants who meet certain income thresholds, and a full fee waiver ($0) exists for applicants who meet other criteria — USCIS’s own instructions define who qualifies.

In June 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published a proposed rule that would raise the N-400 fee to roughly $1,330 for paper filings and $1,280 for online filings, and would eliminate the current $380 reduced-fee tier. As of this writing, that’s a proposed rule in the notice-and-comment stage — it is not yet in effect, and the current fee schedule still applies until a final rule is published.

On processing time: national data through early-to-mid 2026 showed the average N-400 case taking roughly 7.9 months, up from about 6.7 months the prior year, following a filing surge in late 2025 that pushed the pending caseload from about 537,000 to roughly 647,000 cases. Individual timelines vary by field office and case complexity.

What Changed Recently

A few procedural changes affect anyone filing in 2026:

  • New biometrics requirement. As of December 12, 2025, new N-400 filings require fresh biometrics, including a new photo, rather than reusing biometrics on file from a prior application.
  • Revised civics test. Effective October 20, 2025, USCIS implemented a revised version of the civics test. The current official test content and study materials are published directly on uscis.gov, since test format has changed more than once in recent years.
  • Payment method changes. USCIS has moved away from accepting paper checks and money orders for many filings, shifting toward credit card payment (Form G-1450) or ACH bank transfer (Form G-1650).

We cover the interview and civics test changes in more detail in N-400 Interview & Civics Test: What Changed in 2026.

What Happens After You File

Generally, an N-400 filing is followed by a receipt notice, a biometrics appointment, and — once USCIS has completed background processing — an interview that includes the civics and English tests (unless the applicant qualifies for an exception or waiver). A final decision follows the interview; approved applicants are scheduled for an oath ceremony. USCIS’s own case-status tools and notices are the authoritative source for where an individual case stands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Form N-400 the same as applying for a green card? No. A green card (permanent residence) is generally a prerequisite for filing N-400, not the same application. N-400 is the citizenship application; Form I-485 is the process most people use to become a permanent resident in the first place.

How long does Form N-400 take to process in 2026? Recent national data puts the average around 7.9 months, though individual field office timelines vary and can run longer.

Does filing N-400 mean I’m automatically approved for citizenship? No. Filing opens a case. USCIS separately reviews the application, conducts an interview, and administers the civics and English tests before making a decision.

Is the N-400 fee increasing in 2026? A fee increase has been proposed by DHS but had not been finalized as of this writing. The current fee ($760 paper / $710 online) remains in effect unless and until a final rule changes it.

What language is Form N-400 available in? The official form itself is in English. Passage Forms provides a guided questionnaire in multiple languages that helps you understand what each section is asking before the answers are placed onto the official English-language PDF for you to review, sign, and file yourself.

Passage Forms is not a law firm and we are not lawyers. We do not give legal advice and we are not affiliated with USCIS or any other government agency. This article explains what a form asks — it does not tell you what your answers should be or predict an outcome. If you want advice about your specific situation, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.

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