If you are a lawful permanent resident adult (with a green card) and can meet certain other legal requirements, you can potentially become a U.S. citizen (“naturalize”). The application process involves submitting an application on Form N-400 plus various documents and a fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), then attending an interview and passing certain tests. This article will discuss the requirements for naturalized U.S. citizenship that apply to most people, and point you to other articles that discuss useful exceptions to some of the rules.
How Old Must I Be to Apply for U.S. Citizenship?
At the time you apply for naturalized U.S. citizenship, you must be age 18 or older. There are no exceptions to this rule.
On the other hand, some children with green cards become U.S. citizens automatically if and when their parents naturalize. (For details, see Derivative U.S. Citizenship, Via Naturalized U.S. Citizen Parents or Adoption by U.S. Citizen.)
Do I Need a Green Card Before Applying for U.S. Citizenship?
You must hold a green card, in other words, be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (LPR) before you can get U.S. naturalized U.S. citizenship. U.S. immigration law makes exceptions for people who are “nationals” of the United States seeking to become U.S. citizens, and for certain members of the U.S. armed forces with service under specified conditions. (See USCIS's web page on Naturalization Through Military Service.)
If you were given a two-year “conditional” permanent residence, you can’t, in most cases, get U.S. citizenship until you have successfully applied to lift the condition and make your residence truly permanent (on USCIS Form I-751). However, when USCIS is backed up on making decisions on I-751s, it's sometimes possible to apply for U.S. citizenship before that approval, using the I-751 receipt notice from USCIS and ideally adding a letter explaining the situation. The letter would ask the agency to decide on both the I-751 and N-400 applications at once, at the naturalization interview. Your best bet is to get a lawyers' help with this, however.
What's the Continuous Residence Requirement for U.S. Citizenship?
Most applicants will need to have continually resided (lived) in the United States as an LPR for at least five years immediately before filing their N-400 citizenship application and, assuming they're approved at or after their USCIS interview and exams, up to the time of the oath ceremony. This is meant to show that the United States has been your "permanent dwelling place."
The required time reduces to three years for people who are married to and living with a U.S. citizen that entire time. (See Marriage and U.S. Citizenship.)
What this means as a practical matter is that you cannot have been absent from the United States for any stretch that was long enough to break the continuity of your residence. If you were away for more than six months but less than one year, this could be considered to have disrupted your continuous residence, unless you can prove otherwise. If, however, you were away from the United States for one year or more, even with a USCIS-issued reentry permit, expect the agency to find that you have disrupted your continuous U.S. residence. You will likely need to start counting your three or five years from the day you returned to the United States. (You might also need to deal with a USCIS suspicion that you actually abandoned your U.S. residence and no longer merit lawful permanent residence; see an attorney for a full analysis.)
Now, for some exceptions: There is no continuous residence requirement for certain employees of media organizations working in other countries (see Exceptions to Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements for Naturalization Applicants), certain members of the U.S. armed forces, certain spouses and children of members of the U.S. armed forces, and certain spouses, children, and parents of deceased members of the U.S. armed forces.
What's the Physical Presence Requirement for U.S. Citizenship?
Most naturalization applicants must have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the 5 years of continuous residence immediately before filing an N-400 application for U.S. citizenship. The rule is 15 months out of 3 years for people who are married to and living with a U.S. citizen and planning to use this exception.
Physical presence literally refers to where you have spent your time. You will be asked to account for all your travel outside the United States. If you took numerous long trips, each day will be subtracted, and you could find that you will have to wait longer to meet the physical presence requirement; even if you have held a green card for a full 5 years.
Various other exceptions apply to this rule, too. There is no physical presence requirement for certain employees and contractors of the U.S. government who work overseas (see Exceptions to Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements for Naturalization Applicants), certain employees of media organizations working abroad, certain members of the military, certain spouses of members of the military, and certain spouses, children, and parents of deceased members of the military.
How Long Must I Live in a Particular U.S. State or USCIS Service District Before Applying for U.S. Citizenship?
Before submitting your Form N-400 to apply for naturalized U.S. citizenship, you must have lived within the state or USCIS district that services your place of residence for at least three months.
Students can apply in their parents’ state or district if they are financially dependent upon their parents at the time of filing and during the naturalization process.
This three-month rule does not apply to the following groups: U.S. government employees and contractors who work overseas, certain employees of media organizations working abroad, certain members of the military, certain spouses of members of the military, and certain spouses, children, and parents of deceased members of the military.
Also, if you move to a new state within the U.S. after filing your application, you won't have to start over with the three-month requirement. USCIS will continue to move your application through the system. You must, however, advise USCIS of your change your address, which you can do online at the agency's website.
Must I Show Good Moral Character in Order to Become a U.S. Citizen?
You must show USCIS that you have good moral character (GMC) in order to qualify for U.S. citizenship. There are no exceptions to this rule.
USCIS looks mostly at your character during the five years before you apply through the time you take the citizenship oath, but things that happened before then can reflect on your moral character permanently. USCIS will look primarily at your character for three years before you apply if you’re applying on the basis of being married to a U.S. citizen.
Minimum GMC Requirement
At a minimum, good moral character means having stayed out of trouble with the law. For example, USCIS will likely determine that you do not have the required good moral character for naturalization if, at the time of your application or during the statutory period (your five or three required years as an LPR), you committed a crime or otherwise broke the law, for example:
- committed fraud in obtaining your status as a lawful permanent resident
- were convicted of violating any controlled substance (drug) law, except for a single offense of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana
- have admitted to or been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude
- were convicted of any crime for which you had to go to jail or prison for a term of 180 days or more
- have been convicted of two or more gambling offenses or earn most of your money from illegal gambling
- were involved in prostitution or commercial vice
- have smuggled aliens into the United States
- failed to pay income or other taxes
- were or ever have been a habitual drunkard, or
- are a male and didn't register with the U.S. Selective Service Program while between the ages of 18 and 25.
These are only some of the things that might show a lack of good moral character. In fact, U.S. immigration regulations state that any other unlawful acts, in other words violation of a criminal or civil law, which reflect negatively on a person's good moral character can (unless there are extenuating circumstances) be a basis upon which to deny U.S. citizenship. (See 8 C.F.R. § 316.10(b)(3)(iii).)
One possible solution for people who have any of these on their record is to wait until the statutory period (five or three years) has gone by, and then submit the naturalization application, paying special attention to proving that the person has fully reformed, been of good moral character, and has paid off any outstanding relevant financial obligations, such as for unpaid taxes or child support. Showing a solid history of employment as well as family and involvement in community activities or a place of worship in recent years will help with this.
But even waiting longer to apply for U.S. citizenship can be risky, for example if fraud committed in obtaining a green card means that it should never have been approved at all. The classic example is one in which the person immigrated as the unmarried child of a U.S. citizen, but was secretly married at the time. Also, a fraudulent marriage to a U.S. citizen would be something USCIS would not be willing to overlook when reviewing one's naturalization application. In situations such as these, USCIS is likely to institute removal (deportation) proceedings and could ultimately strip the person of lawful permanent resident status.
What's more, an immigrant absolutely won't be able to establish good moral character and become a naturalized citizen, no matter how many years have gone by, if the person has been convicted of:
- an aggravated felony after November 29, 1990. Aggravated felonies include crimes like drug trafficking and armed bank robbery, as well as many less serious crimes such as bribery and counterfeiting or mutilating a passport, or
- murder, regardless of when it took place.
Definitely see an attorney for a full analysis of your case if you have any immigration fraud or crimes on your record or if anything on the above list seems to apply to you.
Showing That Your Good Moral Character Exceeds the Minimum
Starting in 2025, USCIS is demanding affirmative proof that applicants have done more than just stay out of trouble; for example that they have taken part in community activities and been a stable worker and family member. This comes from an August 2025 USCIS memo, which describes naturalization as "a significant legal transformation, an assimilation to a country that demands both allegiance and character." Unlike in the past, the memo states that applicants will need to show "sustained community involvement and contributions" to the United States.
To do so, you'd be wise to include evidence of GMC with your Form N-400 application for naturalization. This might include, for instance, testimonials from authority figures who know and can vouch for you and your activities, such as religious, educational, PTA, and work leaders, teachers, and so on. You might also submit evidence of your stable or significant employment history and any notable achievements.
What's the Citizenship Requirement of Supporting the U.S. Constitution About?
You must support the principles of the U.S. Constitution and be “well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States.” This will be part of the oath of allegiance you take as the final step to becoming a citizen. It basically means you will uphold and defend U.S. law and fulfill your responsibilities as a citizen. There is no exception to this rule.
What English or Other Tests Must I Pass to Become a U.S. Citizen?
You must be able to understand, speak, read, and write English and have knowledge and an understanding of U.S. history and government (civics). You will be tested on both these subjects during your citizenship interview with a USCIS official.
The English exam covers speaking, reading, and writing. Simply answering the interviewer's questions in English and following instructions during the interview will normally take care of that portion of the exam. Unlike in past years, USCIS might ask you most or all of the questions on your Form N-400, so be sure to review them in advance.
Some people do not have to take English tests because of their age and length of U.S. permanent residency. (See Age-Based Exceptions to Citizenship Interview Exam Requirements.) The USCIS interviewer will also read a sentence aloud and ask you to write it down; and then hand you some material to read aloud.
The U.S. history and civics portion of the exam can be studied for in advance, using a list of questions supplied by USCIS. The interviewer will ask you these questions out loud.
The number of questions to be studied and answers is changing. If you filed your N-400 before October 20, 2025, you will need to study a list of 100 questions, then answer 6 out of 12 accurately in order to pass the exam. If you file after that date, you will need to study a list of 128 questions, then answer 12 out of 20 of them accurately in order to pass the exam.
There's a partial exception if you are 65 or over and have lived in the United States for at least 20 years; you can study a shorter list of 20 questions. (Look for the asterisks on the main USCIS list.) Some people can also be entirely excused from English and civics testing at the interview based on a mental disability or impairment, by filing USCIS Form N-648 (prepared by a doctor). It's even possible to have the oath requirement waived for disability, as described in Citizenship Oath Waivers for Severely Disabled Applicants.