U.S. Citizenship Fees: The Honest Price Tag
You did not come here for a pamphlet. You came here because you are sitting at a kitchen table somewhere, doing math in your head, and you want one clean number before you commit to anything. So here it is: filing Form N-400, the application for naturalization, costs $710 if you file online and $760 if you mail it in on paper. That is the entire bill from USCIS for most applicants.
Everything below is the honest version of that number — what is already wrapped inside it, what quietly creeps up beside it, and how people on tight budgets end up paying $380 or nothing at all.
- N-400 naturalization fee: $710 online, $760 on paper.
- The separate $85 biometric fee is gone — it is folded into the N-400 price now.
- Household income between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines: $380.
- At or below 150%: a full fee waiver may be possible with Form I-912.
- The oath ceremony, the certificate, and the flag photo op cost nothing extra.
What You Actually Pay, by Situation
The citizenship fee is not one flat number for everyone. USCIS charges based on how you file and what your household earns. Find your row and you will know your damage in about ten seconds.
| Your situation | What you pay for N-400 |
|---|---|
| Standard applicant filing online | $710 |
| Standard applicant filing on paper | $760 |
| Household income 150%–400% of Federal Poverty Guidelines | $380 (reduced fee) |
| Household income at or below 150% | $0 with an approved Form I-912 |
| Filing based on qualifying U.S. military service | $0 |
That $50 gap between online and paper is not a typo, and it is not a marketing gimmick. USCIS genuinely wants people filing through its online account, so it charges less for the privilege. More than half a million people naturalize every year, and that $50 difference is real grocery money when you are saving up for a filing fee.
Why the Old Numbers You Remember Are Misleading
If you recall the figure $725 from a few years ago, you are remembering the old structure: $640 for the application plus a mandatory $85 biometric services fee stapled on top. In 2024, USCIS rebuilt the whole fee schedule, folded biometrics into the base price, and made online filing the cheapest path. Which means the cheapest route today — $710 online — is actually less than the old $725. The paper route got more expensive than it used to be. The agency is using price to push behavior, which is fair enough, but you deserve to know it is happening.
The Costs That Never Show Up on the USCIS Form
The government fee is the headline. The supporting cast is where budgets actually break.
Passport photos. Two identical photos, usually $10 to $20 at a pharmacy or shipping store. USCIS will reject photos that are the wrong size, glossy when they should be matte, or older than 30 days.
A U.S. passport afterward. Your naturalization certificate gets you in the door, but the passport is a separate State Department purchase — roughly $165 total for a first-time adult book, including the execution fee. That is not a USCIS charge, so plan for it separately.
Certified translations. Any document you submit in another language needs a certified English translation, typically $25 to $75 per page from a reputable translator. USCIS does not accept your cousin’s version, even if your cousin teaches English.
English and civics prep. Free classes exist at libraries, community colleges, and nonprofit immigration centers in most cities. Private tutoring runs $30 to $80 an hour, and a full course can hit $500 or more.
An attorney, if you use one. Simple cases often run $1,000 to $2,000. Cases with old arrests, long trips abroad, or messy immigration history can climb to $4,000 and beyond. Not required, but sometimes very much worth it.
Time off work. Biometrics, the interview, and the oath ceremony each mean a half day away. Nobody puts that in the brochure, but it is part of your real cost.
If $760 Is a Wall, Not a Speed Bump
Here is where most people leave money on the table. USCIS has two safety valves, and you have to ask for them — nobody offers.
The reduced fee: $380. If your household income falls between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you qualify for a reduced N-400 fee. For a household of four, that income band stretches across a surprisingly wide range, and plenty of working families sit inside it without realizing. You request it with Form I-912, checking the box for a reduced fee rather than a waiver.
The full waiver: $0. If your household income is at or below 150% of the guidelines, or if you receive certain means-tested benefits, you may qualify for a complete fee waiver through Form I-912. You still file the N-400. You just do not send money with it.
One quiet exception worth knowing: if you are filing based on qualifying U.S. military service under specific sections of immigration law, the N-400 fee is waived outright. No income test, no I-912 gymnastics.
Paying Without Getting Your Whole Packet Bounced
USCIS rejects applications over payment mistakes constantly, and every rejection costs you weeks. The rules are picky but simple.
If you pay by check or money order, make it payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Write it out fully. Do not shorten it to USCIS, DHS, or USDHS. Do not send cash. Do not staple your payment to the form, and do not use starter checks or temporary checks — they get kicked back.
If you prefer plastic, attach Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. It lets USCIS charge your card directly. This is the route most online filers use, and it gives you an instant receipt you can screenshot and keep.
Send exactly the right amount. Overpay and they may reject it. Underpay and they definitely will. If your packet comes back for a payment problem, you start the queue over.
When the Money Does Not Come Back
Filing fees are generally non-refundable. If your application is denied, you do not get your $710 back — that money paid for the review, not the outcome. Your two options after a denial are appealing with Form N-336, which carries its own fee, or filing a brand new N-400 with a brand new full payment.
Withdrawing your case before a decision also does not trigger a refund in normal circumstances. About the only time money comes back is when USCIS itself made an error — say, charging your card twice.
Other Citizenship and Immigration Forms, Priced Honestly
Not everyone needs just the N-400, and it helps to see the neighbors on the price list.
Form N-600, the Certificate of Citizenship for people who are already citizens by derivation, runs around $1,335 online and $1,385 on paper — noticeably pricier than naturalization itself, which surprises people.
Form N-565, which replaces a lost, stolen, or damaged naturalization certificate, sits around $555. Do not lose that certificate. Frame it, scan it, and keep it somewhere boring and safe.
Form I-90, renewing or replacing a green card, costs around $415 online and $465 on paper. Worth knowing if you are still a permanent resident and need to refresh your card before filing for citizenship.
Fees change. Numbers drift. Treat every figure here as a strong starting point and confirm it on the official USCIS fee page before you write a check — because a bounced filing is the most expensive mistake in this entire process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I pay the citizenship fee in monthly installments?
No. USCIS does not offer payment plans for Form N-400. The fee is due in full when you file, either online by card or with a mailed check, money order, or Form G-1450. If the full amount is out of reach, your realistic paths are the $380 reduced fee or a full waiver through Form I-912 — not installments.
Does the $710 fee include my passport and the oath ceremony?
The oath ceremony and your naturalization certificate are included in the N-400 fee at no extra charge. A U.S. passport is not — that is a separate State Department purchase, generally around $165 total for a first-time adult passport book, paid after you naturalize.