U.S. Citizenship through Naturalization

Becoming a citizen through naturalization is a process in which a non-U.S. citizen voluntarily becomes an American citizen. U.S. citizens:

Owe their allegiance to the United States
Are entitled to its protection
Should exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens

Review this visual overview (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) about the general naturalization process.

To become a U.S. citizen, you must:

Have had a Permanent Resident (Green) Card for at least five years, or for at least three years if you’re filing as the spouse of a U.S. citizen.
- You must renew your Permanent Resident Card before applying for citizenship if:

Your card will expire within six months of applying, or
Your card has already expired
You can apply for naturalization before you receive your new Green Card. But, you’ll need to submit a photocopy of the receipt for your Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, when you receive it.

Meet certain eligibility requirements. To see if you’re eligible, click on the link that is most similar to your situation. Some requirements may include being:
- At least 18 years old when you apply
- Able to read, write, and speak basic English
- Of good moral character
Go through the 10-step naturalization process which includes:
- Determining your eligibility to become an American citizen
- Completing Form N-400, the application for naturalization, and creating a free account to submit your form online
- Taking the U.S. Naturalization Test and having a personal interview

Ciudadanía estadounidense a través de la naturalización

Convertirse en ciudadano a través de la naturalización es un proceso en el que un ciudadano no estadounidense se convierte voluntariamente en ciudadano estadounidense. Ciudadanos estadounidenses:

•Deben su lealtad a los Estados Unidos
•Tienen derecho a su protección
•Deben ejercer sus derechos y deberes como ciudadanos