N-400 Government Filing Fees — Current Costs

Understanding N-400 Filing Fees in 2026

USCIS operates on fee schedules that change every few years, and the N-400 Application for Naturalization carries one of the most significant filing fees in the immigration system. The distinction between the base fee, the biometric services fee, and the conditions under which either can be waived determines what you actually pay. What appears as a single line item on the USCIS website splits into multiple categories once you read the fee schedule in full.

As of 2026, USCIS lists the N-400 filing fee schedule on its official Forms page at uscis.gov/n-400. The fee structure includes a base filing fee, a biometric services fee in most cases, and several exemption and reduction categories tied to age, military service, or financial hardship. These fees were last adjusted in the April 2024 final rule and remain in effect through the current filing cycle. Always confirm the current amounts directly on the USCIS fee schedule before submitting payment — fee rules can change via Federal Register publication at any time.

The naturalization process converts lawful permanent residents into U.S. citizens. Form N-400 initiates that process, and the government fee covers USCIS's cost to adjudicate the application — background checks, fingerprinting, the naturalization interview, and the civics and English examination. It does not cover legal representation, document translations, or the oath ceremony itself, which USCIS administers at no additional charge once the application is approved.

Current N-400 Fee Structure

The N-400 fee breaks into two components: the base filing fee and the biometric services fee. Most adult applicants pay both. The combined total as of 2026 is $710 — a $640 filing fee plus a $85 biometric services fee. This amount applies to the majority of naturalization applicants who are between the ages of 18 and 74 and do not qualify for a fee waiver or reduction.

Applicants aged 75 or older at the time of filing do not pay the biometric services fee, reducing the total to $640. This is not a waiver — it reflects the fact that USCIS does not require fingerprinting for applicants in this age group, so the biometric fee does not apply.

Certain categories of applicants pay a reduced fee or no fee at all:

• Military applicants filing under INA Section 328 or 329 (service during peacetime or periods of hostility) pay no filing fee and no biometric fee. These sections cover naturalization based on qualifying military service.
• Applicants with family income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines may request a fee waiver by filing Form I-912 (Request for Fee Waiver) alongside the N-400. If approved, both the filing fee and biometric fee are waived entirely.
• Applicants with family income between 150% and 200% of the poverty guidelines may request a reduced fee of $380 total ($320 filing fee + $85 biometric fee, with the filing fee reduced by 50%).

The poverty guideline percentages are updated annually by the Department of Health and Human Services and published in the Federal Register. USCIS applies the guideline in effect at the time the fee waiver request is filed. Verify the current year's guideline before calculating eligibility — using an outdated threshold can result in a denied waiver and a delayed application.

What the Fee Covers

The N-400 filing fee funds several stages of the naturalization process. Understanding what you pay for clarifies what happens after USCIS receives the application.

First, the fee covers biometric collection — fingerprinting at a USCIS Application Support Center. USCIS uses fingerprints to conduct FBI background checks that verify the applicant has no disqualifying criminal history and meets the good moral character requirement. The biometric appointment is scheduled after USCIS accepts the application, and the appointment notice arrives by mail with a date, time, and location.

Second, the fee covers adjudication of the N-400 itself. A USCIS officer reviews the application, verifies the applicant's eligibility under INA Section 316 (general naturalization provisions), and schedules the naturalization interview. The interview includes the civics test — up to 10 questions selected from a list of 100 — and the English test, which evaluates speaking, reading, and writing ability unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption based on age and time as a lawful permanent resident.

Third, the fee covers issuance of the decision. If approved, USCIS schedules the applicant for a naturalization oath ceremony, at which the applicant takes the Oath of Allegiance and receives a Certificate of Naturalization. The ceremony itself carries no additional government fee.

The fee does not cover legal representation, translation of supporting documents, travel to the biometric appointment or interview, or replacement of a lost or damaged naturalization certificate after issuance. It also does not cover expedited processing — USCIS does not offer premium processing for Form N-400, so all applications proceed through the standard adjudication queue regardless of payment amount.

Fee Payment Methods and Timing

USCIS accepts payment by check, money order, or credit card at the time of filing. Online filers through the USCIS online account system pay by credit or debit card during submission. Paper filers include a check or money order with the mailed application, made payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security." Personal checks are accepted; USCIS does not require certified funds unless the applicant has had a previous payment rejected.

Payment must clear before USCIS begins processing. If a check is returned for insufficient funds or a credit card charge is declined, USCIS rejects the application and returns the entire package unprocessed. The applicant must resubmit with valid payment, and the new submission date becomes the filing date for processing-time purposes. This can delay the application by weeks or months, particularly in high-volume periods.

Once USCIS accepts payment, it issues a receipt notice (Form I-797C) confirming the filing date and providing a receipt number for case tracking. The fee is non-refundable after acceptance, even if the application is later denied, withdrawn, or abandoned. USCIS does not prorate fees for applicants who move out of the country or change their minds mid-process.

Fee Waiver Eligibility and Documentation

Applicants who cannot afford the filing fee may request a waiver by submitting Form I-912 with the N-400. USCIS evaluates the request based on household income, household size, and receipt of means-tested public benefits. The waiver is not automatic — USCIS denies requests that lack sufficient documentation or fall outside the income thresholds.

To qualify based on income, the applicant's household income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines for the applicant's household size and state of residence. Alaska and Hawaii use adjusted guidelines; all other states use the standard figure published annually. The applicant must provide evidence of income — recent tax returns, pay stubs, or a letter from an employer — and evidence of household size, such as tax dependency information or lease agreements listing household members.

Alternatively, applicants may qualify if they currently receive a means-tested benefit: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Medicaid (not Medicare, which is not means-tested). The applicant must submit proof of current enrollment, such as an award letter or benefit statement dated within the six months before filing.

The reduced-fee option applies to applicants with household income between 150% and 200% of the poverty guidelines. This option reduces the filing fee by 50% but does not waive the biometric fee. The reduced total is $380. Documentation requirements are the same as for a full waiver.

USCIS adjudicates the fee waiver request separately from the N-400 itself. If the waiver is approved, the application proceeds to the standard review queue. If denied, USCIS sends a notice instructing the applicant to submit the full fee within a specified deadline — usually 30 days. Failure to pay by the deadline results in denial of the N-400, and the applicant must file a new application from the beginning.

Comparing Naturalization Fees to Other Immigration Costs

The N-400 filing fee is higher than most employment-based petition fees but lower than family-based immigrant visa processing when consular fees are included. Unlike some USCIS forms, the N-400 does not offer premium processing, so all applicants wait the same adjudication time regardless of payment. As of early 2026, USCIS posts processing times by field office on its website — times range from six months to over 24 months depending on office workload and the applicant's case complexity.

What If I Filed Before the Fee Increase?

USCIS applies the fee schedule in effect on the date the application is postmarked or electronically submitted. Applicants who filed before the April 2024 fee increase paid the previous amounts — $640 total for most adult filers under the pre-2024 schedule. Those applications are grandfathered at the old fee; USCIS does not bill the difference mid-adjudication.

If an application filed under an older fee schedule is denied and the applicant refiles, the new filing is subject to the current fee schedule. The original payment does not carry over, and no credit is issued for denied applications.

What If I Need to Withdraw My Application?

Applicants may withdraw an N-400 at any point before the oath ceremony by submitting a written request to the USCIS field office handling the case. Withdrawal stops adjudication, and USCIS closes the file. The filing fee is not refunded — USCIS retains it to cover processing costs already incurred, including the background check and any officer review time.

Some applicants withdraw because they no longer meet continuous residence or physical presence requirements, or because criminal issues have arisen that affect good moral character. Withdrawal does not erase the application from USCIS records. If the applicant later reapplies, USCIS sees the withdrawn case in the system and may ask about it during the new interview.

What If My Fee Waiver Is Denied?

USCIS sends a deficiency notice or outright denial if the fee waiver request does not meet the requirements. The notice specifies whether the issue is missing documentation, income over the threshold, or an incomplete Form I-912. If it is a deficiency, the applicant has an opportunity to submit additional evidence within the deadline stated in the notice — usually 30 days.

If the waiver is denied outright, the applicant must pay the full fee to continue processing the N-400. The notice provides payment instructions and a deadline. Missing that deadline results in denial of the N-400, and the applicant must start over with a new application and a new filing fee.

Some applicants whose waiver is denied qualify for the reduced-fee option instead. If household income falls between 150% and 200% of the poverty guideline, the reduced fee may be an alternative to withdrawal or denial. USCIS does not automatically offer this — the applicant must calculate eligibility and submit the reduced fee with supporting income documentation if the waiver fails.

Here's the Honest Answer: The Fee Is Set, But the Supporting Costs Are Not

The government filing fee for Form N-400 is fixed by regulation and posted publicly. What is not fixed — and what surprises many applicants — is the cost of everything else the process requires. Document translations can run $50 to $200 depending on the language and the number of pages. Passport-style photos cost $10 to $30 for the required set. Travel to the biometric appointment and the naturalization interview may involve time off work, childcare, or multi-hour drives if the nearest Application Support Center or field office is far from the applicant's residence.

For applicants who retain an attorney, legal fees typically range from $1,500 to $3,500 for full representation through the interview and oath ceremony, depending on the complexity of the case and the local market. Those fees are separate from the government filing fee and are not waivable through Form I-912. Some applicants qualify for free or low-cost legal help through nonprofit immigration clinics or pro bono programs, but capacity is limited and not available in all areas.

Budgeting for naturalization means accounting for the filing fee as the baseline, then adding the supporting costs based on individual circumstances. The fee itself does not change depending on case complexity, but the total expense of preparing a strong application does.

Fees, Timelines, and What You Control

USCIS processing times are outside any applicant's control, and paying the filing fee does not influence how quickly USCIS schedules the biometric appointment, the interview, or the oath ceremony. The posted processing times on the USCIS website reflect the time from receipt to interview for 80% of cases at each field office — not a guarantee for any individual application.

What applicants do control: filing a complete and accurate application the first time, responding promptly to any USCIS requests for additional evidence, and attending all scheduled appointments. Errors, omissions, and missed appointments delay cases far more than office workload does. A well-prepared N-400 with all required supporting documents attached moves through the queue faster than one that triggers multiple Requests for Evidence or requires rescheduling.

Filing fees fund the system, but preparation quality determines how smoothly an individual case proceeds within it. The government's adjudication capacity is finite; an applicant's attention to detail is not.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about N-400 government filing fees and the naturalization process. It is not legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration outcomes depend on individual facts and circumstances. Consult a licensed immigration attorney for advice specific to your situation. Fees, processing times, and eligibility requirements are subject to change by USCIS regulation and policy; verify all current amounts and procedures on the official USCIS website before filing.

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