If you obtained a certificate showing that you are a U.S. citizen (called a "certificate of citizenship"), but then you changed your name or date of birth, you can order a new certificate to reflect the change. This article describes how.
Unfortunately, although it was formerly possible to have a naturalization certificate changed to reflect an official change in gender, the government under the Trump administration has gone back on this. Within hours of Trump taking office in 2025, he issued an executive order directing federal agencies to recognize only two sexes, male and female. USCIS then revised many of its application forms to remove recognition of non-binary gender options, including Form N-565.
Filling Out Form N-565
The USCIS form for requesting a new certificate of citizenship is called N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document. It can be filed either online or by mail.
This form is used for several different purposes, so you will have to check Box A in Part 3 (Type of Application), Question 1, to let USCIS know you’re applying for a new certificate of citizenship. USCIS also needs to know why you’re applying for the new certificate of citizenship, so you’ll need to check at least one box (or maybe more, depending on your situation) in Part 3, Question 2. (These instructions refer to the 01/20/2025 version of the form.)
Everyone who files an N-565 form must send two passport-style photos along with it. Also, if your marital status has changed since you applied for the certificate with the incorrect information on it, you must submit your most recent marriage certificate, divorce decree, or spouse’s death certificate.
Fee Required to Submit Form N-565
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) charges a significant fee to file this form: $555, or a discounted $520 if you file it online. (Always check the USCIS Fee Schedule for the latest.) If you can't afford this amount, you might qualify for a fee waiver.
Tips on Preparing Form N-565 If You Changed Your Name
If you are applying for a new certificate of citizenship because you legally changed your name, you fill out Part 5 of the N-565. The only other parts of the form that you fill out are 1, 2, 3, and 9.
Along with your N-565, you must send USCIS a copy of the document that officially changed your name. In some cases this is a marriage certificate. It could also be a court order, amended birth certificate, or amended passport.
If it’s a court order, the copy must be certified by the court. Also send the existing certificate of citizenship with your old name on it, plus a filing fee check, money order, or credit card payment using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions (unless you’re asking for a fee waiver).
Tips on Preparing Form N-565 If You Changed Your Date of Birth
If you are applying for a new certificate of citizenship because you need to change the date of birth shown upon it, you fill out Part 6 of the N-565. The only other parts of the form that you fill out are 1, 2, 3, and 9.
Along with your Form N-565, you must send USCIS a copy of the document that changed your official date of birth. It could be a court order or a state-issued document. Examples of state-issued documents that changed your date of birth are a new birth certificate, a certificate recognizing your foreign birth, a certificate of birth abroad, or other similar state vital record issued by a child’s state of residence. If you are sending a copy of a court order, make sure it’s a certified copy from the court.
Also send the existing certificate of citizenship with your old date of birth on it, plus a filing fee check, money order, or credit card payment using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions (unless you’re asking for a fee waiver)..
Tips on Preparing Form N-565 If Asking for a Change of Sex/Gender Information
See the cautions in the introduction, above, about gender. The only option USCIS currently offers is to change your certificate so that it will reflect the sex you were assigned at birth: male or female. If you wish to ask for this, you will fill out Part 7 of the N-565. The only other parts of the form that you fill out are 1, 2, 3, possibly 4 (if USCIS made a mistake), and 9.
Also submit a copy of your birth certificate.
Submitting Form N-565
As with all applications to USCIS, you cannot file this one in person. You can either file online by setting up a USCIS account, or file by mail. You will need to include a filing fee (unless you’re asking for a fee waiver). Your payment-method choices include by credit card, using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions; or by bank transfer (from a U.S. bank), by completing and signing Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions. (Per a USCIS policy change in October of 2025, checks and money orders are no longer accepted.)
Expect a wait of several months for USCIS's decision on issuance of your corrected citizenship certificate. You can check the current average processing times on USCIS's processing times page.