N-400 Fee: Cost, Waivers, Reduced Fees & How to Pay

N-400 Fee: What You'll Pay in 2026

The current N-400 fee — the cost to apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization — is $760 for paper filing and $710 for online filing through your USCIS online account. These fees went into effect on April 1, 2024, when USCIS implemented its most significant fee restructuring in years. Unlike previous fee schedules, the updated fees include biometrics services within the same filing fee — there is no separate biometrics fee when you file the N-400 in 2025 or 2026.

The $50 discount for online filing applies to most standard applicants. To take advantage of the online filing option, you need a USCIS online account. You can create one at no cost on the USCIS website, then complete and submit the N-400 digitally. USCIS encourages online filing because it allows faster processing, direct status updates, and electronic receipt notices. However, paper filing remains available for all applicants, and some applicants — including those requesting a reduced fee — must file on paper rather than online.

These fees are paid directly to USCIS at the time you submit your application. Payment is required for USCIS to accept your N-400 — a returned or insufficient payment results in a rejected application. The fee is non-refundable even if your application is denied, withdrawn, or abandoned. Understanding exactly what you owe and how to pay it correctly is one of the most practical steps you can take before submitting your N-400 application.

It's worth distinguishing the N-400 fee from total naturalization costs. While the filing fee covers the government processing cost, some applicants also budget for immigration attorney fees, translation services, or fees associated with gathering supporting documents. The government filing fee itself has no hidden charges — what USCIS charges is what you pay, with no add-on fees from USCIS for interviews, oath ceremonies, or certificate production.

The N-400 filing fee covers USCIS's costs for reviewing your application, conducting the background check (including FBI fingerprint-based checks through the biometrics appointment), scheduling and conducting your naturalization interview, adjudicating your case, administering the Oath of Allegiance ceremony, and producing your Certificate of Naturalization. From a cost perspective, these are substantial government services — the fee reflects the full cost of processing without a congressional appropriation subsidy. This is why USCIS fees tend to be higher than fees for comparable government services in other countries.

Once you submit your N-400 and payment, USCIS issues a receipt notice (Form I-797) that includes your receipt number. This number is your primary tracking identifier — you can use it at USCIS.gov to check your case status at any time. Keep the receipt notice with your immigration documents, as you'll need the receipt number if you need to contact USCIS about your case, request an expedited interview, or verify the status of your application during the months between filing and your interview date.

Fee Waivers and Reduced Fees: Who Qualifies

USCIS offers two income-based cost relief options for N-400 applicants: a full fee waiver and a reduced fee. Both require you to demonstrate financial eligibility at the time you file — not just at the time you apply for the waiver. The determination is based on current household income relative to the Federal Poverty Guidelines published annually by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The full fee waiver (Form I-912) is available if your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For 2025, that means roughly $22,590 for an individual or $46,800 for a family of four (these figures update annually — verify current levels at HHS.gov before filing). You may also qualify for a fee waiver if you currently receive means-tested public benefits, including Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Federal Public Housing Assistance.

Receiving any of these benefits is treated as presumptive eligibility for a fee waiver, even without an income calculation.

The reduced fee option — $380 instead of $760 — is for applicants whose household income falls between 150% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For 2025, this corresponds roughly to income between $22,590 and $30,120 for an individual (higher for larger households). You must file your N-400 on paper to use the reduced fee, and you must attach documentation showing your income: your most recent federal tax return, recent pay stubs, employer letters, or benefit award letters are all acceptable.

The reduced fee application does not require a separate form — you simply indicate the reduced fee option on the N-400 itself and include your income documentation.

If you're unsure whether you qualify, review the current Federal Poverty Guidelines and compare them to your household's total gross income. USCIS counts income from all household members, not just the applicant. If your income is close to the threshold, gather documentation for the most recent 12 months.

Submitting a fee waiver or reduced fee request without adequate documentation is one of the most common reasons these requests are denied — and a denied fee waiver means USCIS will reject your entire N-400 application without processing it. Review the N-400 instructions for the income documentation requirements that apply when you file.

When gathering documentation for a reduced fee or fee waiver, be thorough rather than minimal. USCIS adjudicators reviewing fee waiver requests are looking for a complete picture of your household's financial situation. If your income fluctuates (as is common for gig workers, seasonal employees, or part-time workers), document your average income over the past 12 months rather than just your most recent pay period. If you have multiple income sources — wages plus freelance income, for example — document all of them. USCIS expects full disclosure and may request additional evidence if the initial documentation is unclear or incomplete.

One practical consideration: the Federal Poverty Guidelines are updated annually in January or February. If you are planning to file your N-400 near the beginning of the year, check whether the new guidelines have been published, as the thresholds change each year. An applicant who was just over the fee waiver threshold in December may fall under the new threshold in March if the guidelines increase — or vice versa. Using outdated poverty guidelines to calculate your eligibility is one of the less obvious but more consequential errors applicants make when preparing income-based fee requests.

How to Pay the N-400 Fee

If you're filing your N-400 form on paper, you have several payment options. The most common is a personal check or money order made payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" — do not abbreviate to DHS or USDHS, as this can cause payment processing delays. You can also use a cashier's check from your bank. If you prefer to pay by credit or debit card, attach Form G-1450 (Authorization for Credit Card Transactions) to your N-400. USCIS accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover for paper filings when Form G-1450 is included.

For online filers, payment is handled entirely within your USCIS online account. After completing your N-400 electronically, you'll reach a payment screen where you enter credit card, debit card, or bank account (ACH debit) information. USCIS does not accept PayPal, Venmo, cryptocurrency, or similar payment methods for any immigration fees. Once payment is processed, you receive an immediate electronic receipt notice that shows your receipt number — save this for status tracking.

Never send cash by mail. USCIS will not accept cash payments for N-400 applications submitted by mail. If you're unsure about the correct filing address, check the USCIS N-400 direct filing addresses page — the correct lockbox depends on whether you're filing for yourself or for certain categories of applicants. Mailing to the wrong address can cause processing delays. The N-400 processing time clock doesn't start until USCIS physically receives and scans your application at the lockbox.

Make your check or money order out for the exact fee amount: $760 for standard paper, or $380 if you qualify for the reduced fee. Do not overpay or underpay — an incorrect amount results in rejection. Write your full name and date of birth on the memo line of your check or money order so USCIS can match the payment if it becomes separated from your application packet.

When writing a check for your N-400, use the exact payee name: U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Do not write USCIS alone, DHS alone, or the name of a specific immigration officer or field office. These variations can cause your check to be returned by the banking system as unmatched to a valid payee account. The check date should reflect when you're actually submitting the application — post-dating a check is not appropriate for USCIS payment purposes, and a check that appears to predate the application by more than 30 days may create confusion during processing.

If you're using a money order rather than a personal check, purchase it for the exact fee amount. Money orders cannot be purchased for split amounts across multiple instruments — if your fee is 60, you submit a single 60 money order. Keep your money order receipt stub as proof of payment until you receive your receipt notice from USCIS confirming payment was accepted.

If your application is returned due to a processing issue unrelated to payment, USCIS will typically return the money order uncashed so you can resubmit, but having your receipt stub provides additional protection if any dispute arises about whether payment was included.

Military Applicants: No N-400 Fee

Members and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who qualify under INA Section 328 or INA Section 329 are fully exempt from the N-400 filing fee — they pay $0 to apply for naturalization. Section 328 covers current and former military members who served honorably for at least one year at any time and are lawful permanent residents. Section 329 covers those who served during specifically designated periods of hostility, including service since September 11, 2001 — these applicants don't even need to be permanent residents first and can naturalize directly from certain visa categories.

To claim the military exemption, applicants check the appropriate box on the N-400 indicating they are filing under Section 328 or Section 329 and submit Form N-426 (Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service) along with their application. USCIS coordinates with the Department of Defense to certify the applicant's military service record. No payment should be included with a military naturalization application. Dishonorably discharged veterans do not qualify for the exemption and must pay the standard fee if they are otherwise eligible for naturalization.

N-400 Fee History

The N-400 fee has increased substantially over the past decade as USCIS moved toward a model of full fee recovery — meaning the agency is funded primarily through application fees rather than congressional appropriations. In 2016, the fee was $595 (with biometrics) for most applicants. By 2023, it remained at $725 (with biometrics) before the April 2024 rule raised it to $760 for paper and introduced the $710 online filing rate.

The April 2024 rule also introduced the new $380 reduced fee tier — a change that advocates had sought for years to address affordability barriers. Previous fee schedules had only a binary choice: full fee or complete waiver. The addition of a reduced-fee tier is a significant policy change that benefits moderate-income applicants who don't qualify for a full waiver but struggle to afford the full $760 fee.

When planning your naturalization timeline, budget not just for the USCIS filing fee but for the full range of costs associated with the process. Supporting documents — such as certified translations of foreign language birth certificates or marriage certificates, state vital records, or certified court dispositions — can add 0 to 00 per document depending on your circumstances.

If you work with an immigration attorney or authorized representative, professional fees typically range from 00 to ,500 depending on the complexity of your case and the attorney's location and experience. Many nonprofit legal aid organizations offer free or low-cost N-400 assistance for low-income applicants, particularly in immigrant-dense communities.

The N-400 filing fee is due at the time of application and cannot be paid in installments. There is no payment plan available for USCIS immigration fees. If you cannot pay the full fee at once and do not qualify for a waiver or reduced fee, consider whether you can delay filing until you can budget the full amount.

Filing an application with an insufficient payment will result in outright rejection, wasting both your time and any effort you invested in completing the application correctly. Building up the fee amount before filing is a practical step that many applicants take when the full 60 represents a significant financial commitment.

For applicants who file multiple family members simultaneously — a situation that can arise when a couple or parent and adult children all become eligible at the same time — the N-400 fee applies separately to each applicant. There is no family or group discount on the filing fee. Each person files their own N-400 and pays their own fee, though each person may independently qualify for a fee waiver or reduced fee based on their own household income calculation.