If you hold a green card and have been thinking about applying for citizenship, headlines about a Trump USCIS citizenship fee increase may have sent you back to check your budget. Here is the short answer: the increase is proposed, not final, and not in effect. On June 23, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule that would raise the Form N-400 fee from $760 to $1,330 for paper filings and from $710 to $1,280 for online filings. It would also end the $380 reduced fee and fee waivers. Until DHS publishes a final rule with an effective date, the current fees apply. This guide covers what is proposed, why DHS says it’s needed, who could be affected, and how to prepare.
Is USCIS Increasing Citizenship Fees in 2026?
- Status: Proposed rule. It was published in the Federal Register as Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments (91 FR 37500, Docket No. USCIS-2026-0265).
- Comment period: It closed on August 24, 2026.
- Final rule: I found no final rule published, so no effective date has been set.
- What you pay today: $760 for a paper Form N-400 or $710 online, with the reduced fee and fee waivers still available.
DHS could finalize the rule as written, change it, or not move forward. Any USCIS fee change in 2026 only binds applicants once a final rule takes effect.
What Is the Proposed Naturalization Fee Rule From the Trump Administration?
The so-called Trump USCIS citizenship fee increase is, formally, a DHS rulemaking led by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It would change four things:
- Raise the N-400 fee to $1,330 (paper) and $1,280 (online).
- Raise the fee for Form N-336, the request for a hearing after a naturalization denial, to $1,475 (paper) and $1,425 (online).
- Eliminate the $380 reduced fee for lower-income N-400 applicants.
- End fee-waiver eligibility for both forms.
Current and former military members applying under sections 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) would stay exempt, because those exemptions come from statute.
A proposal is not a rule. It becomes binding only after DHS reviews public comments and publishes a final rule.
USCIS Citizenship Fee Increase 2026: Current vs. Proposed Fees
| Filing type | Previously applicable fee (before April 1, 2024) | Proposed fee | Current official fee / status | Verification note |
| N-400, paper | $725 (included biometrics) | $1,330 | $760 in effect | NPRM, 91 FR 37500; USCIS Form G-1055 |
| N-400, online | No separate online rate | $1,280 | $710 in effect | NPRM; USCIS Form N-400 page |
| N-400 reduced fee (household income ≤ 400% of Federal Poverty Guidelines; paper only) | $405 | Eliminated | $380 in effect | NPRM, Section IV.B |
| N-400 fee waiver (Form I-912; paper only) | Available | Eliminated | Available; $0 if approved | NPRM, Section IV.C |
| N-400, military (INA 328/329) | $0 | Remains $0 | $0 | NPRM, Section IV.E |
| N-336, paper / online | Not verified here | $1,475 / $1,425 | $830 / $780 in effect | NPRM, Section IV.A |
Only the “Proposed fee” column describes the pending rule. Everything in the “Current” column is what USCIS requires today.
Why Is the Trump Administration Proposing Higher Naturalization Fees?
In the proposed rule, DHS gives these reasons:
- Full cost recovery. DHS says current N-400 and N-336 fees don’t cover the cost of adjudicating them, including screening and vetting. It cites a projected N-400 revenue shortfall of about $636 million against costs of about $1.1 billion (annual averages for FY 2026/2027).
- Beneficiary-pays principle. DHS says naturalization applicants should pay for the service rather than having other applicants cover part of the cost. In its words, the shortfall is currently “filled by fees charged to other benefit requestors.”
- Policy priorities. The notice points to 2025 executive orders on vetting and naturalization integrity, which DHS says require additional USCIS resources.
- Ending the reduced fee and waivers. DHS argues these shift costs to other filers and that ending them keeps the general fee lower than it would otherwise be.
DHS also acknowledges that higher fees might cause some eligible people to delay applying. It argues that past increases haven’t led to long-term drops in filings.
That is DHS’s reasoning, not an independent assessment. Immigrant advocacy groups and attorney organizations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association, submitted comments before the deadline. You can read the public comments in the docket on Regulations.gov.
Who Could Be Affected by the Naturalization Fee Increase 2026 Proposal?
Impact depends on the final rule, its effective date, and any transition language. Based on the proposal:
- Green card holders planning to apply: Most would pay the higher general fee if the rule is finalized as proposed.
- Applicants preparing Form N-400: Timing, fee amounts, and the form edition could all matter. Watch for a final rule before you assemble payment.
- Lower-income applicants: This group would feel it most. The $380 reduced fee (household income up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines) and fee waivers would both go away.
- Applicants who have already filed: Whether a new fee applies to pending applications is a question for the final rule. In the 2024 fee rule, new fees applied to applications postmarked on or after the effective date (April 1, 2024). A final rule here could follow that approach, but that is not confirmed.
- Military applicants: The statutory fee exemption stays under the proposal.
What Is the U.S. Citizenship Application Fee in 2026?
Today, the N-400 fee is $760 by paper or $710 online. USCIS does not charge a separate biometrics fee for the N-400. The $380 reduced fee and fee waivers are currently available only on paper filings.
To confirm the right amount before you file:
- Check the USCIS Form G-1055 fee schedule and the Form N-400 page.
- Read the current N-400 instructions for accepted payment methods and the edition date of the form.
- Re-check close to your filing date, since fees can change when a final rule takes effect.
USCIS can reject a filing that includes the wrong fee, which delays your case.
What Should Applicants Do Before Filing Form N-400?
Don’t rush because of a headline. A filing made too early, or with an eligibility problem, can cost far more than a fee increase.
- Confirm you’re eligible. Generally this means five years as a permanent resident (three if married to and living with a U.S. citizen), 30 months of physical presence, continuous residence, good moral character, and English and civics knowledge.
- Check the latest USCIS fee schedule the week you plan to file.
- Review reduced-fee and fee-waiver options while they still exist, including income documentation.
- Confirm filing method and payment requirements in the instructions.
- Use the current Form N-400 edition and instructions.
- Get legal guidance if your history raises questions. Long trips abroad, arrests, tax issues, or prior immigration problems can affect naturalization. Orange Law can discuss your circumstances, and Attorney Karan Joshi can help you assess eligibility before you commit to a filing date.
How Could the Fee Increase Affect Indian Immigrants and Other Green Card Holders?
The proposal doesn’t distinguish by country of origin, so Indian immigrants and other green card holders would face the same fee schedule. The practical impact is financial, and it adds up per person. Every adult applying files their own N-400. A couple filing on paper would pay $2,660 under the proposal versus $1,520 today. Adult family members would multiply that. Households that currently rely on the $380 reduced fee would see the sharpest change.
If you’re weighing naturalization, fees are only one factor. India does not permit dual citizenship, so Indian nationals should also review the consequences for their Indian citizenship and the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card with official Indian government sources before applying. It is a different question from the Trump USCIS citizenship fee increase, and an immigration attorney can help you think through both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is USCIS increasing citizenship fees in 2026?
DHS has proposed an increase, but it is not final. A proposed rule was published June 23, 2026, and the comment period closed August 24, 2026. As of October 10, 2026, I found no final rule and no effective date. Current fees remain in force until DHS publishes a final rule and it takes effect.
What is the current Form N-400 filing fee?
The N-400 fee is $760 for a paper filing and $710 for an online filing. A reduced fee of $380 is available on paper to eligible lower-income applicants, and fee waivers are available through Form I-912. Eligible military applicants pay nothing. Always confirm on the USCIS fee schedule before filing.
How much could the naturalization fee increase?
Under the proposal, the paper N-400 fee would rise $570, from $760 to $1,330 (75%). The online fee would rise from $710 to $1,280 (80%). These numbers are proposed and could change in a final rule. For applicants now paying the $380 reduced fee, the increase would be larger.
When would the proposed citizenship fee increase take effect?
No effective date has been set. DHS must publish a final rule first, and that rule would state when it applies. For comparison, the 2024 fee rule was published January 31, 2024 and took effect April 1, 2024. Don’t assume a similar timeline here.
Will USCIS eliminate reduced fees or fee waivers?
The proposal would eliminate both the $380 N-400 reduced fee and fee waivers for the N-400 and N-336. Statutory military fee exemptions would remain. Until a final rule takes effect, reduced fees and waivers remain available under current rules.
Can I still apply for U.S. citizenship online?
Yes. You can file Form N-400 online through a USCIS online account, and online filing is currently $50 cheaper than paper. The proposal keeps that $50 difference. Reduced-fee and fee-waiver requests are currently paper-only.
Does the proposed fee increase affect applicants who have already filed?
Not at this point, because the proposal has no effect yet. Whether a final rule would apply to pending applications depends on its text. In the 2024 rule, new fees applied to filings postmarked on or after the effective date. Check the final rule if one is published.
Where can I check the latest USCIS naturalization fees?
Use USCIS Form G-1055 (the fee schedule), the Form N-400 page, and the USCIS filing fees pages. For rule status, search the Federal Register for “Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments” or follow Docket USCIS-2026-0265 on Regulations.gov.
Conclusion
The verified status on October 10, 2026: DHS has proposed raising the N-400 fee to $1,330 (paper) and $1,280 (online) and ending reduced fees and waivers, but nothing has been finalized. The Trump USCIS citizenship fee increase is a proposal under review, and today’s fees remain $760 and $710. Confirm the fee, your eligibility, and the current form edition on official USCIS pages before you file.
If you are planning to apply for U.S. citizenship and have questions about eligibility, filing requirements, or how immigration policy changes may affect your circumstances, contact Orange Law to discuss your situation and understand the options available to you.