I am a

permanent resident B3

How do I apply

for U.S. citizenship?

Courtesy of National Archives

U.S. citizenship provides many rights, but also involves many 

responsibilities. Thus, the decision to become a U.S. citizen through 

naturalization is important. In most cases, 

a person who wants to naturalize must first be a permanent 

resident. By becoming a U.S. citizen, you gain many rights that 

permanent residents or others do not have, including 

the right to vote. To be eligible for naturalization, you must first 

meet certain requirements set by U.S. law. 

What are the basic requirements 

to apply for naturalization? 

The process of applying for U.S. citizenship is known as 

naturalization. In order to be eligible for naturalization, you 

must first meet certain requirements required by U.S. immigration law. 

Generally, to be eligible for naturalization you must: 

•	Be age 18 or older; and

•	Be a permanent resident for a certain amount

of time (usually 5 years or 3 years, depending 

on how you obtained status); and

•	Be a person of good moral character; and

•	Have a basic knowledge of U.S. government

(this, too, can be excepted due to permanent 

physical or mental impairment); and

•	Have a period of continuous residence and physical presence in

the United States; and

•	Be able to read, write, and speak basic English. There

are exceptions to this rule for someone who at the time of filing:

- Is 55 years old and has been a permanent resident 

for at least 15 years; or

- Is 50 years old and has been a permanent resident 

for at least 20 years; or

-	Has a permanent physical or mental impairment that makes

the individual unable to fulfill these requirements. 

When can I apply for naturalization? 

You may be able to apply for naturalization if you are at least 18

years of age and have been a permanent resident of the United 

States: 

•	For at least 5 years; or

•	For at least 3 years during which time you have been, and

continue to be, married to and living in a marriage relationship 

with your U.S. citizen husband or wife; or

•	Have honorable service in the U.S. military.

Certain spouses of U.S. citizens and/or members of the military may 

be able to file for naturalization sooner than noted above.

B3—I am a permanent resident...How do I apply for U.S. citizenship?

M-565B (October 2013) Y 1
2 B3—I am a permanent resident...How do I apply for U.S. citizenship?

M-565B (October 2013) Y

How do I apply for naturalization? 

To apply for naturalization, file Form N-400, Application for 

Naturalization. 

For more information on the naturalization process, please see our

manual, M-476, A Guide to Naturalization. 

If you are in the military and are interested in becoming a U.S. 

citizen, please see our brochure, M-599, Naturalization Information 

for Military Personnel. 

Do I have to be in the United States when I file 

an N-400 application? 

An applicant does not necessarily need to be in the United 

States when filling Form N-400. Please refer to M-476 for more 

information about filing from overseas. 

USCIS has educational materials and resources to help you prepare 

for the citizenship test (English and Civics portions). Visit the

Citizenship and Resource Center at www.USCIS.gov/citizenship, 

to find information on how to find English and citizenship preparation

classes in your area, learn about free citizenship information sessions 

offered by USCIS in your area, and download study materials for 

the English and Civics portions of the citizenship test.

For more information about the naturalization process and

requirements, please visit our Web site, or call Customer Service 

at 1-800-375-5283. Filing instructions and forms are available

on our Web site at www.uscis.gov. Please make sure you are 

submitting the most recent version by visiting www.uscis.gov/N400.

Courtesy of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services History Office and Library 

Key Information

Key USCIS forms referenced 

in this guide

Form #

Application for Naturalization N-400

A Guide to Naturalization M-476 

Naturalization Information 

for Military Personnel

M-599

Other U.S. Government Services–Click or Call

General 

Information

www.usa.gov 1-800-333-4636

New Immigrants www.welcometoUSA.gov

U.S. Department 

of State

www.state.gov 1-202-647-6575

For more copies of this guide, or information

about other customer guides, please visit 

www.uscis.gov/howdoi. 

You can also visit www.uscis.gov

to download forms, e-file some applications, 

check the status of an application, and more. 

It’s a great place to start!

If you don’t have Internet access at home 

or work, try your local library. 

If you cannot find what you need, please 

call Customer Service at: 1-800-375-5283 

Hearing Impaired TDD Customer Service:

1-800-767-1833

Disclaimer: This guide provides basic information 

to help you become generally familiar with our 

rules and procedures. For more information, or 

the law and regulations, please visit our Web 

site. Immigration law can be complex, and it is 

impossible to describe every aspect of every 

process. You may wish to be represented by 

a licensed attorney or by a nonprofit agency 

accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals.