The N-400 naturalization fee is $760 if you file Form N-400 on paper and $710 if you file online. Biometrics are included in both amounts. Eligible applicants may pay a reduced fee of $380 or request a fee waiver, and both options require a paper filing.
Knowing these numbers before you file can save you from rejected paperwork and unpleasant surprises. Your household income, your filing method, and even the way you pay can change what you owe, and a pending federal proposal could change the fee structure altogether.
What Is the N-400 Naturalization Fee in 2026?
The USCIS filing fee for Form N-400 is $710 online and $760 by mail. A $380 reduced fee and a $0 fee waiver are available to qualifying applicants who file on paper.
Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, is the form lawful permanent residents (green card holders) use to apply for US citizenship. The fee covers USCIS’s work reviewing your application, running background checks, scheduling your interview and test, and processing your case through the oath ceremony.
Here is how the current USCIS filing fee breaks down:
| Filing option | Fee | How to file |
| Standard, online | $710 | USCIS online account |
| Standard, paper | $760 | |
| Reduced fee | $380 | Paper only |
| Approved fee waiver | $0 | Paper only |
| Certain US armed forces applicants | $0 | Follow USCIS instructions |
It helps to keep three terms straight:
- Regular fee: The full amount, $710 online or $760 on paper.
- Reduced fee: A lower payment of $380 for applicants whose household income falls within a set range.
- Fee waiver: A request to pay nothing because you cannot afford the fee.
What Is the Proposed N-400 Fee Increase?
In a notice of proposed rulemaking titled “Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments,” DHS proposed setting the N-400 fee at $1,330 for paper filings and $1,280 for online filings. The same proposal would remove the $380 reduced fee and end fee waiver eligibility for Form N-400 and Form N-336.
The public comment period closed on August 24, 2026. A proposed rule is not law. DHS must review the comments and publish a final rule, which would state its own effective date. Until then, the fees in the table above remain the ones USCIS lists.
If you are deciding when to file, watch the Federal Register (docket USCIS-2026-0265) and the USCIS Form N-400 page for announcements. An attorney can help you weigh timing against your eligibility, since filing too early can create its own problems.
How Much Does It Cost to Apply for US Citizenship?
For most people, the government cost is the $710 or $760 filing fee. Your total naturalization application cost may be higher once you add optional or situational expenses.
The filing fee is the only USCIS charge for the N-400 itself. Other costs depend on your situation, and not everyone will have them:
- Certified copies of court or police records, if your history requires them
- Certified translations of documents not in English
- Passport-style photos or document copies, if you choose to prepare them yourself
- Travel to your biometrics appointment, interview, or oath ceremony
- Study materials for the English and civics tests
- Attorney or accredited representative fees, which vary by provider
USCIS fees are generally not refundable, even if your application is denied. That is one more reason to confirm you are eligible before you file.
N-400 Online Filing Fee vs. Paper Filing Fee
Filing Form N-400 online costs $710, which is $50 less than the $760 paper fee.
| Online filing | Paper filing | |
| Fee | $710 | $760 |
| Biometrics fee | Included | Included |
| Reduced fee request | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Fee waiver request | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Payment | Through your USCIS online account | Form G-1450 or G-1650 |
To file online, you create a USCIS online account at myaccount.uscis.gov, complete the form, upload evidence, and pay electronically. To file on paper, you download Form N-400 and its instructions from uscis.gov/n-400 and mail the package to the address listed there. USCIS has a published filing address chart, and the correct address can depend on where you live.
Is There a Separate N-400 Biometrics Fee?
No. Since USCIS’s fee rule took effect on April 1, 2024, the biometrics services fee has been bundled into the Form N-400 filing fee.
Before that date, applicants paid a separate biometrics fee on top of the filing fee. That older structure still shows up on outdated websites, which is a common source of confusion. If you see a page that tells you to add an $85 biometrics charge to your N-400 payment, it is out of date.
Your fingerprints and photo are still collected at a USCIS Application Support Center. You simply do not pay extra for it.
What Is an N-400 Fee Waiver?
A fee waiver lets qualifying applicants file Form N-400 without paying the filing fee. You request it by submitting Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or a written request, together with your paper N-400.
According to USCIS, you may qualify for a fee waiver if one of the following applies:
- You currently receive a means-tested benefit.
- Your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- You have an extreme financial hardship, such as unexpected medical bills or other emergencies.
For the income test, USCIS looks at household income and household size. The guidelines are updated periodically, so check the current Form I-912 instructions rather than relying on a number from an older article.
A few practical points:
- Do not send the fee if you are requesting a waiver.
- Do not request both a fee waiver and a reduced fee.
- Include supporting documents that prove your situation, such as benefit award letters, tax records, or pay information, as listed in the I-912 instructions.
- Mail it all together. The request goes in the same paper package as your N-400.
Who Qualifies for an N-400 Reduced Fee?
Applicants with household income between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines may pay a reduced fee of $380.
The reduced fee is requested inside Form N-400 itself, in Part 10. You do not file a separate form. You submit $380 and documents showing your household income. As with a waiver, you must file on paper.
Here is the difference in plain terms:
| Reduced fee | Fee waiver | |
| Amount paid | $380 | $0 |
| Income level | Between 150% and 400% of the guidelines | At or below 150%, or means-tested benefits, or extreme hardship |
| How to request | Part 10 of Form N-400 | Form I-912 or written request |
| Online filing | No | No |
Applicants at or below 150% of the guidelines are generally directed to request a fee waiver instead of the reduced fee. If DHS finalizes its proposal as written, both options would go away, so watch for updates.
Is the N-400 Fee Different for Seniors?
No. USCIS does not charge a lower N-400 fee based on age. Older applicants pay the same filing fee as everyone else unless they qualify for a reduced fee or fee waiver on income grounds.
People often mix up two separate issues. Age can affect the naturalization exam, but not the filing fee.
- English exemptions: Certain older applicants may be exempt from the English test, such as those who are 50 or older and have been green card holders for 20 years, or 55 or older with 15 years.
- Civics accommodations: Applicants who are 65 or older with 20 years as permanent residents may receive special consideration on the civics test.
These are exam rules, not fee rules. A senior who is on a fixed income may still qualify for a reduced fee or fee waiver, but eligibility depends on household income, benefits, or hardship, not age alone.
What Payment Methods Does USCIS Accept for Form N-400?
If you file online, you pay electronically through your USCIS account. If you file on paper, USCIS accepts payment by credit, debit, or prepaid card with Form G-1450, or by bank debit with Form G-1650.
USCIS stopped accepting paper checks and money orders for most filings after October 28, 2025. A limited exemption request, Form G-1651, exists for people who cannot use electronic payment, but it is not automatic.
For paper filers:
- Form G-1450 authorizes a card payment. Prepaid cards are accepted, which helps applicants without a US bank account.
- Form G-1650 authorizes an ACH debit from a US checking or savings account.
- Place the payment form on top of your package.
Common payment mistakes:
- Entering the wrong amount, such as the old $725 fee or a number remembered from a friend’s case
- Leaving the payment form unsigned
- Using a declined card or an account with insufficient funds
- Mailing a check or money order
- Using an outdated edition of the payment form
- Sending the fee along with a fee waiver request
Payment rules have changed recently, so confirm the current instructions on USCIS’s Form N-400 page and the G-1450 and G-1650 pages before you mail anything.
How Can You Avoid N-400 Fee Payment Mistakes?
USCIS can reject an application that arrives with the wrong fee or a payment that does not go through. A short checklist helps:
- Check the latest fee schedule. Review the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) the same week you file.
- Confirm the form edition. Use the current Form N-400 edition and instructions listed on USCIS’s website.
- Verify payment details. Double-check the amount, card or account numbers, and signature on Form G-1450 or G-1650.
- Review eligibility for a reduced fee or waiver. Compare your household income and benefits to the current guidelines before you decide.
- Match your request to your filing method. Reduced fee and waiver requests need paper filing.
- Keep copies. Save a full copy of your package and your payment authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions About N-400 Naturalization Fees
1. How much is the N-400 naturalization fee in 2026?
The N-400 filing fee is $710 online and $760 by paper. Qualifying applicants may pay a reduced fee of $380 or request a fee waiver. These amounts were verified on November 5, 2026. DHS has proposed higher fees, but no final rule had been published at that time.
2. Is the N-400 filing fee different for online and paper applications?
Yes. Filing online costs $710, while filing by mail costs $760, a $50 difference. Biometrics are included either way. Online filing is not available if you are requesting a reduced fee or fee waiver, so those applicants must file a paper Form N-400.
3. Can I apply for US citizenship without paying the N-400 fee?
Yes, if you qualify for a fee waiver. You submit Form I-912 or a written request with your paper N-400 and do not send the fee. Certain US armed forces applicants also pay no N-400 filing fee. Approval depends on USCIS’s review of your documents.
4. Who qualifies for an N-400 fee waiver?
USCIS looks at three grounds: you receive a means-tested benefit, your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or you face extreme financial hardship. You must submit supporting documents with Form I-912 or a written request, and you must file on paper.
5. Is there a reduced N-400 fee for low-income applicants?
Yes. Applicants with household income between 150% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines may pay $380. You request it in Part 10 of Form N-400, include income documentation, and file on paper. DHS has proposed eliminating this option, but it was still listed by USCIS as of November 5, 2026.
6. Do seniors have to pay the full naturalization application fee?
Generally, yes. USCIS does not offer an age-based discount on the N-400 filing fee. Older applicants may qualify for English or civics test accommodations based on age and years as a permanent resident, but those are exam rules. Seniors can still qualify for a reduced fee or waiver based on income.
7. Is the biometrics fee included in the N-400 filing fee?
Yes. Under USCIS’s fee rule effective April 1, 2024, there is no separate biometrics fee for Form N-400. The $710 or $760 filing fee covers your fingerprinting, photo, and background check. Pages that list an additional biometrics charge are outdated.
8. What payment methods does USCIS accept for Form N-400?
Online filers pay electronically through their USCIS account. Paper filers use Form G-1450 for credit, debit, or prepaid cards, or Form G-1650 for ACH bank debit. USCIS no longer accepts checks or money orders for most filings. Always confirm current instructions on uscis.gov.
9. Can USCIS reject my N-400 application because of an incorrect payment?
Yes. USCIS may reject a package with the wrong fee amount, an unsigned or incomplete payment form, a declined payment, or an unaccepted payment method. A rejection usually means you must correct the problem and refile, which can delay your case.
10. Where can I check the latest USCIS naturalization fees?
Check the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) at uscis.gov/g-1055 and the Form N-400 page at uscis.gov/n-400. For rule changes, search the Federal Register for the “Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments” rulemaking, docket USCIS-2026-0265.
Conclusion: What to Know Before You Pay the N-400 Naturalization Fee
The current N-400 naturalization fee is $710 online or $760 on paper, with biometrics included. A $380 reduced fee and a $0 waiver exist for qualifying applicants who file on paper, and seniors pay the same fee unless they qualify on income. Payment must now be electronic, and a pending DHS proposal could raise fees and end the reduced fee and waivers, so verify everything on uscis.gov before you file.
Fees are only one part of naturalization. If you are unsure whether you meet the eligibility requirements, qualify for a reduced fee or fee waiver, or how the proposed rule could affect your timing, Orange Law can help. Attorney Karan Joshi and the Orange Law team can review your situation and explain your options before you submit Form N-400.