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- The standard fee is $710 online or $760 on paper
- The reduced N-400 fee is $380
- A fee waiver reduces the N-400 fee to zero
- Reduced-fee and waiver filings must be on paper
- Qualifying military naturalization has no N-400 fee
- Household income must be documented
- Payment mechanics matter for paper filings
- The N-400 fee is not every possible case expense
- Check the current fee on the filing date
- Sources
Key Facts
- Current federal fee: As of August 9, 2026, the standard Form N-400 fee is $710 online or $760 on paper.
- Reduced fee: A qualifying applicant with documented household income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines may request the $380 paper filing fee.
- Fee waiver: A qualifying Form N-400 applicant may request a $0 fee through Form I-912 or a compliant written request filed with a paper N-400.
- Military filing: Applicants naturalizing under INA sections 328 or 329 based on qualifying military service pay no Form N-400 filing fee.
- Filing method: Reduced-fee and fee-waiver requests cannot be filed through the online N-400 process.
The N-400 filing fee depends on how the application is submitted and whether a reduced fee, fee waiver, or military exemption applies. The amount is separate from the broader requirements for a citizenship application.
USCIS can reject a filing submitted with an incorrect payment. The current Form G-1055 Fee Schedule and Form N-400 page should therefore be checked immediately before filing.
The standard fee is $710 online or $760 on paper
Under the USCIS fee schedule reviewed on August 9, 2026, a standard Form N-400 costs $710 when filed online and $760 when filed on paper. These amounts include biometric-services costs when biometrics are required.
The $50 difference is based on filing method, not a different N-400 benefit or adjudication standard. The fee schedule assigns the two standard amounts according to whether the application is submitted online or on paper.
An online filer pays through the USCIS account as part of submission. A paper filer must use a payment method USCIS accepts for mailed applications and follow the current payment instructions.
The reduced N-400 fee is $380
USCIS provides a reduced $380 filing fee when the applicant’s documented annual household income is not more than 400% of the applicable Federal Poverty Guidelines. The request and supporting income evidence must accompany a paper Form N-400.
The 400% threshold is a percentage, not one permanent dollar figure. The dollar limit changes with household size, guideline year, and the poverty-guideline table applicable to the applicant’s residence.
A reduced fee is not a fee waiver. The applicant submits the $380 payment and the documentation required by the N-400 instructions; submitting the reduced amount without establishing eligibility can lead to rejection.
A fee waiver reduces the N-400 fee to zero
A fee waiver is available to applicants who demonstrate inability to pay under USCIS criteria. The request may be made with Form I-912 or a written request that contains the required information and evidence.
USCIS fee-waiver guidance recognizes grounds including receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit, household income at or below the applicable waiver threshold, or extreme financial hardship. The evidence must establish the ground claimed rather than merely state that paying would be difficult.
The fee-waiver request and paper N-400 are filed together. USCIS instructs an applicant requesting a waiver not to include payment; if payment is submitted, the agency may process the payment instead of treating the package as a waiver request.
Reduced-fee and waiver filings must be on paper
The online N-400 path is available for a standard-fee filing, but it does not support a reduced-fee or fee-waiver request. Those applicants submit a paper Form N-400 with the request, evidence, and correct payment, if any.
Creating a USCIS online account does not change this rule. A person can later use an account to track a paper-filed case after receiving a receipt number, but the initial reduced-fee or waiver package remains a paper submission.
Qualifying military naturalization has no N-400 fee
Form G-1055 lists a $0 N-400 fee for applicants who meet the requirements of INA section 328 or 329 based on military service. This is a fee exemption, so the applicant does not need Form I-912 merely to claim the listed military no-fee category.
Military service alone does not automatically establish eligibility under section 328 or 329. The relevant service, character, period, and procedural requirements still must be established through the naturalization application and required military certification.
A military spouse or child does not automatically receive the service member’s N-400 fee exemption. Separate military-family naturalization provisions and the fee schedule determine whether a different exemption applies.
Household income must be documented
Income-based requests use the household definition and evidence rules in the current N-400 and I-912 instructions. Tax transcripts or returns, pay records, benefit notices, unemployment evidence, and explanations of changed circumstances may be relevant depending on the request.
The Federal Poverty Guidelines are updated periodically and differ for Alaska and Hawaii. An old dollar example should not be used as the filing threshold for a later year.
Documents in another language require a complete English translation with the translator’s certification. Inconsistent household size or income figures can cause USCIS to request evidence or reject the requested fee treatment.
Payment mechanics matter for paper filings
For mailed benefit requests, USCIS now generally requires electronic payment through Form G-1450 for a credit, debit, or prepaid card or Form G-1650 for ACH debit from a U.S. bank account. A paper check or money order is accepted only when the filer qualifies for a limited electronic-payment exemption and submits Form G-1651 with the correct payment.
For paper submissions, the payment should match the selected fee route exactly. A standard paper filing uses $760, a supported reduced-fee filing uses $380, a valid waiver request includes no payment, and a qualifying military filing is exempt.
Filing fees are generally final even if USCIS later denies the application. Paying the fee does not establish naturalization eligibility or guarantee approval.
The N-400 fee is not every possible case expense
Applicants may incur separate costs for obtaining records, translations, photographs where required, mailing, travel, or professional assistance. Those are not part of the USCIS N-400 filing fee.
USCIS forms and filing instructions are free. No one needs to pay a private website merely to download Form N-400, Form I-912, or the official fee schedule.
Check the current fee on the filing date
The operative sequence is to identify the correct naturalization basis, choose online or paper filing, determine whether standard, reduced, waived, or exempt treatment applies, gather supporting evidence, and verify the current amount before submission.
Fee qualification does not answer whether a person may apply for U.S. citizenship. Residence, physical presence, good moral character, English and civics, attachment, and oath requirements remain separate.
