TL;DR

The cost to apply for US citizenship in 2026 is $710 if you file Form N-400 online or $760 if you file by paper. This single fee covers the application processing AND biometrics — there is no longer a separate biometrics fee as of April 2024. Reduced fees ($380) are available if your household income is between 150-400% of federal poverty guidelines. Full fee waivers ($0) are available if your income is at or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines. Active and certain veteran military applicants pay $0. Optional costs (attorney fees, document translation, photos) can add anywhere from $0 to $2,500. Most DIY applicants budget roughly $710-$900 total, depending on travel and document needs. The civics test itself does not have a separate fee — it is administered as part of your naturalization interview, which is included in the N-400 filing fee.

US Citizenship Exam Cost — What You Actually Pay

If you're researching the cost of applying for US citizenship, this page covers exactly what you'll pay in 2026: the N-400 filing fee, what's included, who qualifies for reduced fees or waivers, and what optional costs to budget for. The numbers below come directly from USCIS's current fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition 05/06/26) — not estimates or projections.

For background on the citizenship exam itself, see the complete US citizenship exam study guide 2026. For the question of which test version applies to you, see which citizenship test do I take — 2008 or 2025.

The Core N-400 Filing Fee

The Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) is the one form you must file to begin the citizenship process. As of 2026:

This fee is paid once, when you submit your N-400. It is non-refundable, even if your application is denied or rejected for an error.

What's Included in the N-400 Fee

This is critical to understand because the rules changed in 2024 and many older guides still reference the wrong structure.

Included in the $710/$760: - Application processing and review by USCIS - Background and security checks - Biometrics services (fingerprinting, photograph, signature capture at a USCIS Application Support Center) - Naturalization interview scheduling and the interview itself - Civics test administration (oral test during your interview) - English language assessment (during the interview) - Oath of Allegiance ceremony scheduling and administration

Not included (potentially additional costs): - Document translations if your supporting documents are in a foreign language - Physical passport-style photos (in some cases USCIS may request these separately during processing) - Travel to your interview and biometrics appointments - Attorney fees if you hire one - Optional N-600 Certificate of Citizenship (for those who became citizens through other means)

The structure changed in April 2024. Prior to that, applicants paid a $640 application fee plus a separate $85 biometrics fee, totaling $725. Now everything is bundled into the single $710/$760 fee.

Reduced Fees and Waivers

USCIS offers three programs that reduce or eliminate the N-400 filing fee:

Full fee waiver — $0

Available if your household income is at or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines. For a family of four, based on current 2026 federal poverty guidelines, that's roughly $48,225 or below in household income.

To request a full waiver, file Form I-912 (Request for Fee Waiver) along with your paper N-400. You cannot request a fee waiver when filing online — fee waiver applications must be on paper.

Documentation required typically includes: - Recent pay stubs and tax returns - Proof of any government benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, Section 8, TANF, SSI) - Bank statements - Documentation of dependents and household composition

USCIS reviews these requests carefully. If approved, your $760 fee is waived entirely.

Reduced fee — $380

Available if your household income is between 150% and 400% of federal poverty guidelines. For a family of four, based on current 2026 federal poverty guideline calculations, that's approximately $48,225-$128,600 in household income.

This option saves $380 compared to the full $760 paper fee, while requiring less documentation than the full waiver. Importantly, the reduced fee is only $380 — not $380 plus biometrics, since biometrics is now included.

Form I-942 (Request for Reduced Fee) was used for this purpose previously, but as of April 2024, USCIS no longer requires Form I-942. You request the reduced fee directly on your N-400 application.

You cannot file online if you're requesting the reduced fee — paper filing is required.

Military fee waiver — $0

Active service members and certain veterans pay $0 for N-400. Specifically: - Active duty members of the US Armed Forces - Permanent residents who served honorably in the US military for at least one year and were honorably discharged - Spouses and qualifying family members of certain military members in specific circumstances

Military applicants don't need Form I-912 — they include proof of service (DD-214 or equivalent) with their N-400 and the fee is automatically waived.

How to Pay (And Important Recent Changes)

USCIS has increasingly shifted N-400 filings toward electronic payment methods. Before mailing a paper N-400, verify currently accepted payment methods directly through the latest USCIS filing instructions and Form G-1450/G-1650 guidance — payment workflows can change and may vary by lockbox.

Online filing payment options: - Credit card or debit card - ACH transfer from a US bank account - Payment is processed through pay.gov (the official US Treasury payment system) - You'll get an immediate electronic receipt

Paper filing payment options (now electronic only): - Credit/debit card via Form G-1450 (Authorization for Credit Card Transactions) - ACH bank transfer via Form G-1650 (Authorization for ACH Transactions) - The form authorizing your payment is destroyed by USCIS after processing

If you cannot use electronic payment: A narrow exception exists for those who file Form G-1651 (Exemption for Paper Fee Payment). This exemption is rare and requires specific qualifying circumstances.

USCIS will reject your entire application package if your payment method is incorrect or insufficient. The $760 must be exact — over- or under-payments cause rejection.

Is There a Separate Fee for the Citizenship Exam?

No. The citizenship test (civics test plus English language assessment) is administered as part of your naturalization interview, which is included in the N-400 filing fee. There is no separate exam fee.

This is different from many professional licensing exams (real estate, food handler, NCLEX, etc.) which have separate exam registration fees on top of application fees. For US citizenship, the $710/$760 covers everything from application submission through the oath ceremony.

If you fail the civics or English test at your initial interview, USCIS gives you one retest opportunity scheduled 60-90 days later. This retest is also included in your original fee — there is no additional charge for retesting.

If you fail the retest and your N-400 is denied, you would need to file a new N-400 to try again. The new application requires the full $710/$760 fee again.

Other Costs to Budget For

Beyond the N-400 filing fee itself, several optional or situational costs can add up:

Cost item Typical range Necessary?
Document translations $20-$50 per page Only if documents are in foreign language
Passport-style photos $10-$15 Only if USCIS requests them
Travel to biometrics + interview $0-$200 Required (location-dependent)
Time off work (biometrics + interview) Variable Required (~half day each)
Immigration attorney (optional) $500-$2,500 Only if your case is complex
Citizenship test prep materials $0-$100 Free official materials available from USCIS
Form N-600 Certificate of Citizenship $1,335-$1,385 Only if needed for proof
Premium processing $2,965 Not available for N-400

Important: Premium processing (which speeds up some USCIS forms for an additional fee) is not available for N-400. There is no way to pay USCIS to expedite your citizenship application beyond standard processing.

Total Cost Scenarios

What different applicants typically spend, all-in:

Scenario 1 — Standard online filing, no complications: $710 + minor incidentals (printing, travel) = approximately $725-$800 total

Scenario 2 — Paper filing with document translations: $760 + 3 pages of translation ($90) + photos ($15) + travel ($50) = approximately $915 total

Scenario 3 — Reduced fee with attorney help: $380 + attorney fees ($1,500) + incidentals ($100) = approximately $1,980 total

Scenario 4 — Full fee waiver, simple case: $0 filing fee + minimal incidentals ($50) = approximately $50 total

Scenario 5 — Military applicant: $0 filing fee + minimal incidentals = approximately $0-$50 total

Scenario 6 — Complex case with attorney: $760 + attorney fees ($2,500) + extensive translations ($300) + travel ($200) = approximately $3,760 total

For most DIY applicants without complications, the realistic budget is $710-$900 all-in.

Costs You Can Avoid

Many applicants overpay because they don't realize what's free:

Free official study materials. USCIS publishes the complete 100-question 2008 civics test pool, the 128-question 2025 civics test pool, audio recordings of all questions and answers, official flashcards, and interactive practice tests on uscis.gov/citizenship. These are authoritative and completely free. Most paid prep materials are derivative of these.

Free legal help in some cases. Many cities have free or low-cost immigration legal services, particularly through: - USCIS-recognized organizations and BIA-accredited representatives - Catholic Charities, Jewish Family Services, and similar nonprofits - Local bar associations' pro bono programs - Immigration legal clinics at law schools

If you cannot afford an attorney but have a complex case, contact the Immigration Advocates Network or your local bar association for referrals.

No prep course is required. USCIS does not require, recommend, or endorse any specific prep service or course. Many applicants pass the civics test with only the free USCIS materials.

Reapplication Costs

If your N-400 is denied (after exhausting your one retest opportunity, or for other reasons), you can reapply. Reapplication costs:

Important: USCIS retains your previous records, so the reapplication isn't completely fresh — but the fee is. There is no "discount" for previously denied applications.

If you have grounds to appeal a denial rather than reapply, Form N-336 (Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings) has its own filing fee. Check the current fee on Form G-1055 (the USCIS fee schedule) before filing.

When the Fee Last Changed

The current N-400 fee structure ($710 online / $760 paper, biometrics included) took effect in April 2024 as part of a major USCIS fee schedule revision. Prior to that, the fee was $640 plus $85 biometrics ($725 total).

Future fee changes are possible but not guaranteed. USCIS occasionally adjusts filing fees through formal rulemaking. As of May 2026, the most recent Form G-1055 (Fee Schedule) was published on May 6, 2026, and the N-400 amount remains at $710/$760.

If you're considering applying soon, the current fees are stable. There's no announced fee increase pending for N-400.

FAQs

How much does it cost to apply for US citizenship in 2026?
$710 if you file Form N-400 online, or $760 if you file by paper. This single fee includes biometrics services (fingerprinting and photograph), application review, the naturalization interview, the civics test, the English language assessment, and the oath ceremony. Reduced fees ($380) and full waivers ($0) are available based on household income.
Is there a separate fee for the US citizenship exam?
No. The civics test and English language assessment are administered as part of your naturalization interview, which is included in the N-400 filing fee. There is no separate exam registration fee. If you fail and need a retest, the retest is also included at no additional cost.
Why is the paper N-400 fee higher than the online fee?
USCIS charges $50 more for paper filing ($760 vs $710) to encourage online filing. Online applications are processed faster and require less manual handling by USCIS staff. The fee difference reflects the higher administrative cost of paper processing.
Who qualifies for a reduced citizenship fee?
Applicants with household income between 150% and 400% of federal poverty guidelines qualify for the reduced fee of $380. For a family of four in 2026, this means household income between approximately $48,225 and $128,600. The reduced fee must be requested with a paper N-400 application — it's not available for online filings.
Who qualifies for a full citizenship fee waiver?
Applicants with household income at or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines, plus active duty military members and certain veterans. Civilian applicants must file Form I-912 (Request for Fee Waiver) with documentation of income or qualifying public benefits. Military applicants include proof of service (DD-214) and the fee is automatically waived.
Can I pay the N-400 fee with a check?
USCIS has shifted N-400 paper filings toward electronic payment methods (credit card via Form G-1450, debit card, or ACH bank transfer via Form G-1650). Online filings are paid through pay.gov directly. Before mailing a paper N-400, verify currently accepted payment methods directly through the latest USCIS filing instructions and Form G-1055 fee schedule, as payment workflows can change.
Is the N-400 fee refundable if my application is denied?
No. USCIS filing fees are non-refundable, even if your application is denied or rejected for an error. This is why thorough preparation and accurate filing are important — a small mistake can cost you the entire $710 or $760.
Do I need to hire an immigration attorney?
No, an attorney is not required. Many applicants successfully file N-400 themselves using free USCIS materials and the official form instructions. Attorneys are most valuable for complex cases — prior immigration violations, criminal history, complicated marriage or residency situations, or denied applications. For straightforward cases, the $500-$2,500 attorney fee is often unnecessary.

Bottom Line

US citizenship costs $710 (online) or $760 (paper) for most applicants in 2026 — a single fee that covers application processing, biometrics, the naturalization interview, the civics test, the English language assessment, and the oath ceremony. There is no separate exam fee. Reduced fees of $380 are available for incomes between 150-400% of federal poverty guidelines, and full waivers are available below 150% FPG and for military members. Optional costs (attorney fees, translations, travel) can add $0 to $2,500+ depending on your situation. Most DIY applicants budget $710-$900 all-in. Free official study materials are available from USCIS, and no paid prep course is required to pass the civics test.

For broader exam preparation, see the complete US citizenship exam study guide 2026. For the question of which test version applies, see which citizenship test do I take. For exam difficulty assessment, see how hard is the citizenship exam.

Source: USCIS Form G-1055 Fee Schedule (edition 05/06/26) · USCIS Form N-400 Filing Information · USCIS Fee Calculator