Naturalization Through Military Service: Fact Sheet 

Special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) authorize U.S. Citizenship 

and Immigration Services (USCIS) to expedite the application and naturalization process for 

current members of the U.S. armed forces and recently discharged members. Generally, 

qualifying military service includes service with one of the following branches: Army, Navy, 

Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, certain components of the National Guard and the 

Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve. In addition, spouses of members of the U.S. armed 

forces who are or will be deployed may be eligible for expedited naturalization. Other 

provisions of the law also allow certain spouses to complete the naturalization process abroad. 

Qualifications 

A member of the U.S. armed forces must meet the requirements and qualifications to become 

a citizen of the United States. He or she must demonstrate: 

z Good moral character 

z Knowledge of the English language 

z Knowledge of U.S. government and history (civics), and 

z Attachment to the United States by taking an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. 

Constitution 

Qualified members of the U.S. armed forces are exempt from other naturalization 

requirements, including residence and physical presence in the United States. These 

exceptions are listed in Sections 328 and 329 of the INA. 

All aspects of the naturalization process, including applications, interviews and ceremonies are 

available overseas to members of the U.S. armed forces and certain “command-sponsored” 

spouses. 

A person who obtains U.S. citizenship through his or her military service and separates from 

the military under “other than honorable conditions” before completing five years of 

honorable service may have his or her citizenship revoked. 

Service in Peacetime 

Section 328 of the INA applies to all members of the U.S. armed forces and those already 

discharged from service. An individual may qualify for naturalization if he or she has: 

z Served honorably in the U.S. armed forces for at least one year 

z Obtained lawful permanent resident status, and 

z Filed an application while still in the service or within six months of separation 

Service During Periods of Hostilities 

Under special provisions in Section 329 of the INA, the president signed an executive order on 

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July 3, 2002, authorizing all noncitizens who have served honorably in the U.S. armed forces 

on or after Sept. 11, 2001, to immediately file for citizenship. This order also covers veterans 

of certain designated past wars and conflicts. The authorization will remain in effect until a 

date designated by a future presidential executive order. 

Naturalization at Basic Training 

USCIS and the Army established the Naturalization at Basic Training Initiative in August 

2009 to give noncitizen enlistees the opportunity to naturalize when they graduate from basic 

training. (The Navy joined the initiative in 2010.) Under this initiative, USCIS conducts all 

naturalization processing including the capture of biometrics, the naturalization interview, and 

administration of the Oath of Allegiance on the military base so (in most cases) the recruit is 

able to graduate from basic training as a U.S. citizen. 

How to Apply 

Every military installation has a designated point-of-contact, generally in the personnel 

division or the Judge Advocate General’s Office, to assist members of the military prepare and 

file their naturalization application packet. That packet includes: 

z Application for Naturalization, USCIS Form N-400 (Members of the military are not 

charged a fee to file Form N-400.) 

z Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service, USCIS Form N-426 (The 

military must certify this form before sending it to USCIS. Individuals separated from 

the military may submit an uncertified Form N-426 with their DD Form 214.) 

Once the packet is complete, send it to the specialized military naturalization unit at the 

USCIS Nebraska Service Center for expedited processing. 

Customer Service to Assist the Military 

 USCIS customer service specialists are available to respond to inquires from members of the 

military and their families Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Central Time, 

except federal holidays. They may contact USCIS by: 

z Calling the military toll-free telephone help line -- 1-877-CIS-4MIL (1-877-247-

4645), or 

z Sending an e-mail to the military customer service specialist at: 

militaryinfo.nsc@dhs.gov. 

Posthumous Benefits 

 Section 329A of the INA provides for grants of posthumous citizenship to certain members of 

the U.S. armed forces. A member of the U.S. armed forces who served honorably during a 

designated period of hostility and died as a result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated 

by that service (including death in combat) may be eligible to receive posthumous citizenship, 

as long as the next-of-kin applies for posthumous citizenship within two years of the service 

member’s death. Other provisions of the law extend immigration benefits to the service 

member’s surviving spouses, children and parents. 

Statistics (through Fiscal Year 2011) 

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z Since September 2001, USCIS has naturalized 74,977 members of the military, with 

9,773 of those service members becoming citizens during USCIS naturalization 

ceremonies in the following 27 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, China (Hong Kong), 

Cuba (Guantanamo), Djibouti, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, 

Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Philippines, Qatar, 

South Korea, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom. 

z Since 2008, USCIS has naturalized 1,236 military spouses during ceremonies in the 

following 23 countries: Bahrain , Bulgaria , China (Hong Kong), El Salvador , 

Germany , Greece , Italy , Jamaica , Japan , Kuwait , Mexico , Norway , Oman , 

Panama , Philippines , Poland , Portugal , South Korea , Spain , Tanzania , Thailand , 

Turkey , and the United Kingdom. 

z Since 2009, USCIS has presented 64 children of members of the military with 

citizenship certificates during ceremonies in Germany, Japan, South Korea and the 

United Kingdom. 

 

Naturalized Service Members

YEAR TOTAL USA ABROAD

Sept. 

2011 138 138 0

FY-02 2,434 2,434 0

FY-03 4,659 4,659 0

FY-04 6,327 6,327 0

FY-05 7,136 6,106 1,030

FY-06 8,538 6,643 1,895

FY-07 5,895 4,541 1,354

FY-08 7,865 6,356 1,509

FY-09 10,505 8,850 1,655

FY-10 11,146 9,735 1,411

FY-11 10,334 9,415 918

TOTAL 74,977 62,204 9,773

Service Members Naturalized Abroad 

Location of 

Ceremony TOTAL FY05

FY06FY07FY08 FY-09 FY-10 FY11

Afghanistan 991 40 87 80 105 183 208 288

Bahrain 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 2

China (Hong 

Kong) 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0

Cuba 

(Guantanamo) 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

Djibouti 27 0 19 6 0 2 0 0

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El Salvador 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

Germany 1,334 311 320 148 135 137 152 131

Greece 13 0 2 0 0 1 2 8

Haiti 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Honduras 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0

Iceland 5 0 2 0 3 0 0 0

Iraq 3,410 184 705 684 644 678 427 88

Italy 290 75 57 56 13 26 26 37

Japan 1,919 174 419 183 349 282 288 224

Kenya 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Kosovo 37 0 0 7 0 0 29 1

Kuwait 551 42 110 60 110 167 58 4

Kyrgyzstan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Mexico 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Philippines 7 0 0 0 0 4 0 3

Qatar 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

South Korea 1,070 164 160 121 149 171 198 107

Spain 72 39 7 6 0 1 9 10

Thailand 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

United Kingdom 16 1 6 3 1 1 0 4

TOTAL 9,773 1,030 1,895 1,354 1,509 1,655 1,411 919

Military Spouses Naturalized Abroad

Location of Ceremony TOTAL FY-08 FY-09 FY-10 FY-11

Bahrain 1 0 0 0 1

Bulgaria 1 0 1 0 0

China (Hong Kong) 1 0 0 1 0

El Salvador 1 0 0 1 0

Germany 492 10 173 154 155

Greece 11 0 0 0 11

Italy 135 4 51 45 35

Jamaica 1 0 0 0 1

Japan 283 5 73 144 61

Kuwait 2 0 0 2 0

Mexico 1 0 0 0 1

Norway 2 0 0 2 0

Oman 2 0 0 1 1

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Last updated:11/04/2011

Panama 1 0 0 1 0

Philippines 3 0 0 3 0

Poland 1 0 0 0 1

Portugal 1 0 0 0 1

South Korea 171 11 58 63 39

Spain 33 0 3 23 7

Tanzania 1 0 0 0 1

Thailand 3 0 0 2 1

Turkey 4 0 0 3 1

United Kingdom 68 0 21 28 19

TOTAL 1,251 30 380 473 368

Military Children Naturalized Abroad

Location of Ceremony TOTAL FY-09 FY-10 FY-11

Germany 12 4 7 1

Japan 18 5 6 7

South Korea 13 3 4 6

United Kingdom 1 0 1 0

TOTAL 44 12 18 14

Plug-ins

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