Naturalization Information 

for Military Personnel

ELIGIBILITY AND THE PROCESS

If you are a current or former member of the U.S. armed forces and are interested in becoming a U.S. citizen, 

you may be eligible to apply for naturalization under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality 

Act (INA). Generally, service in the U.S. Armed Forces means service in one of the following branches:

• Army

• Navy

• Marine Corps

• Air Force

• Coast Guard

• Space Force

• Air and Army 

National Guard

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a streamlined process specifically for U.S. military 

personnel who file under the military naturalization provisions.

This flyer provides you with some basic information about the laws that govern naturalization for military 

personnel and the process that you should follow to begin your journey to citizenship.

DO YOU QUALIFY?

There are general requirements and qualifications that you must 

meet in order to become a U.S. citizen. These requirements 

include:

• Demonstrating that you have good moral character;

• Demonstrating knowledge of the English language;

• Demonstrating knowledge of U.S. government and history 

(“civics”);

• Demonstrating attachment to the principles of the

U.S. Constitution;

• Demonstrating a favorable disposition toward the good order 

and happiness of the United States; and

• Taking the Oath of Allegiance.

Because you are a member of the military, certain naturalization 

requirements may not apply to you, including the required periods 

of residence and physical presence in the United States. These 

exceptions are outlined in sections 328 and 329 of the INA.

If you meet all of the requirements in either section 328 or 329, 

you may apply for naturalization under either section. You will not 

have to pay any fees for your naturalization application.

COULD YOU ALREADY BE A CITIZEN?

If either of your parents were citizens by birth or naturalization 

before you turned 18 years old, you may already be a citizen. For 

more information, please refer to the Instructions for Form N-600, 

Application for Certificate of Citizenship, on www.uscis.gov/n-600.

NATURALIZATION UNDER SECTION 328 OF THE INA

This section applies to members who served at any time in the 

U.S. Armed Forces. You may qualify if:

• You have served honorably, in active duty or reserve service, for 

a year or more, and if separated, you have never been separated 

except under honorable conditions.

• You are a lawful permanent resident.

If you separated from service more than six months before 

applying, you are also required to meet certain residence and 

physical presence requirements in the United States.

NATURALIZATION UNDER SECTION 329 OF THE INA 

(SERVICE DURING HOSTILITIES)

This section applies to current or former service members who 

served in an active-duty status or in the Selected Reserve of 

the Ready Reserve during designated periods of conflict. The 

following dates are designated periods of conflict:

• April 6, 1917-Nov. 11, 1918

• Sept. 1, 1939-Dec. 31, 1946

• June 25, 1950-July 1, 1955

• Feb. 28, 1961-Oct. 15, 1978

• Aug. 2, 1990-April 11, 1991

• Sept. 11, 2001-present

The current period of designation remains in effect until the 

president issues an executive order ending the designation.

You may qualify for naturalization under INA 329 if:

• You served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces during a 

designated period of conflict, and if separated, you were 

separated under honorable conditions.

• After enlistment, you were lawfully admitted as a permanent 

resident of the United States, OR at the time of enlistment, 

reenlistment, extension of enlistment, or induction, you were 

physically present in the United States or a qualifying area.

M-599 (rev. 07/22)N
IF YOU QUALIFY...

Many military installations have a designated USCIS liaison to 

help you with the application process and certify your Form 

N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service. Ask 

your chain of command or legal services office for the contact 

information for this person.

You or your liaison will mail your completed application and all 

required materials to:

USCIS

P.O. Box 4446

Chicago, IL 60680-4446

You may also complete your application by 

creating an online account and filing your 

Form N-400 online. For more information 

about filing your application online, visit 

www.uscis.gov/n-400.

FORMS YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT

• N-400, Application for Naturalization

• N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service. (If 

you are currently serving, the military must certify this form 

before you send it to USCIS. If you are separated from the 

military, you may submit an uncertified Form N-426, but you 

must also submit your DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or other 

official discharge document.)

ONCE YOU FILE

USCIS will review your application and conduct required security 

checks. These checks require that USCIS obtain your fingerprints, 

which can be done in one of several ways.

• USCIS will use fingerprints, if they are available, from previous 

immigration applications.

• You can visit a USCIS Application Support Center. You do not 

need an appointment, but you must present a current, valid 

military identification card. This is the fastest way to comply 

with the fingerprint requirement if you are in the United States. 

To find a USCIS application support center, visit: 

www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office.

• If stationed outside the United States, you may submit two 

properly completed FD-258 fingerprint cards taken by the 

military police, Department of Homeland Security officials, or 

U.S. Embassy or Consulate officials.

• If you are overseas or unable to report for fingerprinting, USCIS 

will request and use your enlistment fingerprints, if they are 

available. 

After reviewing your application, USCIS will send it to a USCIS field 

office for an interview. You can request an interview at a specific 

office in a cover letter attached to your application. The field office 

will schedule you for an interview to review your eligibility for 

naturalization and test your knowledge of English and civics. If you 

are found eligible for naturalization, USCIS will inform you of the 

date you can take the Oath of Allegiance and become a U.S. citizen.

OVERSEAS PROCESSING

If you are currently serving overseas, you may be interviewed 

and naturalized abroad at certain military installations. You may 

request overseas processing at any time in the naturalization 

process. Please see www.uscis.gov/military for specific 

instructions.

FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS RESIDING ABROAD

If you are a former service member currently residing outside the 

United States who is not a lawful permanent resident and who 

served and was honorably discharged from the military during a 

designated period of conflict, you may qualify for naturalization 

pursuant to INA 329.

POSTHUMOUS BENEFITS 

Section 329A of the INA allows for the granting of posthumous 

citizenship to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who died as a 

result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by honorable 

service in the Armed Forces during a designated period of conflict.

In addition, surviving family members seeking immigration 

benefits may be eligible for special immigration benefits. Please 

visit www.uscis.gov/military/family-based-survivor-benefits for 

more information.

SPOUSES OF MEMBERS OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES

Expedited Naturalization

If you are married to a service member who is a U.S. citizen and 

your citizen spouse is or will be deployed abroad for one year 

or more, you may be eligible for expedited naturalization in the 

United States. 

Naturalization Abroad

Certain spouses or children of service members residing outside 

the United States with that service member as authorized by 

official orders may be eligible to naturalize abroad.

For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov/military/

citizenship-for-military-family-members.

USCIS RESOURCES

For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov/military. You 

can download forms by clicking on “Forms.”

USCIS MILITARY HELP LINE

You or your family may also contact the tollfree military help line, 877-CIS-4MIL (877-247-

4645, TTY 800-877-8339). Our representatives 

are available to answer calls Monday through 

Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. (Eastern), 

except federal holidays. Your local military 

installation’s legal assistance office may also 

provide naturalization information.

USCIS CONTACT INFORMATION

Please visit www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office to find your local USCIS office.