How to Get United States CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Americas
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024GLOBALCIT baseline, plus 2 later in-force changes applied where the data records a new value.
- Last checked
- 5 November 2026
What changed since 2024
- In force
Supreme Court (Trump v. Barbara) invalidated Executive Order 14160; birthright citizenship for children born in the US is unchanged.
- In force
New 2025 naturalization civics test applies to N-400 applications filed on or after 20 October 2025.
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. 2 later in-force changes in the timeline above take precedence where they differ.
Naturalisation (residence)
Residence in the United States is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
In force, 20 October 2025: New 2025 naturalization civics test applies to N-400 applications filed on or after 20 October 2025.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in the United States for a continuous period of 5 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Knowledge of fundamentals of the English language required (test).
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Knowledge of the history and form of government of the United States required.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Good morals required (as defined by INA 101(f) and 8 CFR 316.10)
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of the United States is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has been the spouse of a citizen and resident in the United States for 3 years with common household. (Residence requirement can be waived under certain circumstances.) Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of the United States, the rules below set out how this route works.
Person is born abroad to two citizens one of whom had residence in the United States or its outlying possessions prior to the person's birth.
Person is born abroad to a citizen who has been physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a continuous period of 1 year prior to the person's birth, and the other parent is a national, but not a citizen.
Person is born abroad to an alien and a citizen and the latter was, prior to the person's birth, physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a total period of at least 5 years, at least 2 of which were after attaining the age of 14. (Residence abroad in a certain capacity may be counted to satisfy the physical-presence requirement.).
Person is the minor child of a citizen who has parental authority and the child legally and permanently resides in the United States.
Person is the minor child of a citizen AND (1) the parent has been physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a total period of at least 5 years, at least 2 of which were after attaining the age of 14, OR (2) that parent him/herself had a parent who has been physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a total period of at least 5 years, at least 2 of which were after attaining the age of 14, AND the child is resident abroad but is temporarily and lawfully present in the United States.
Birth in the country
This route concerns people born in the United States, and only in the situations described below. Citizenship arises directly under the law of the United States, without any authority making a decision.
In force, 1 July 2026: Supreme Court (Trump v. Barbara) invalidated Executive Order 14160; birthright citizenship for children born in the US is unchanged.
Person is born in the United States, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands or Guam.
Person is born in an outlying possession of the United States to a parent who is a citizen and who has been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for a continuous period of 1 year at any time prior to the person's birth.
Person born in 'outlying possessions' (defined to include American Samoa only) are nationals but not citizens at birth.
Adoption
For people adopted by citizens of the United States, the rules below set out what applies. Citizenship arises directly under the law of the United States, without any authority making a decision.
Person is the minor child of a citizen who has parental authority and the child legally and permanently resides in the United States.
Very long residence
Extended residence in the United States is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is over the age of 50 or 55 and has been living in the United States for a total period of at least 20 or 15 years, respectively, subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except language requirement). Persons over 65 years of age and living in the United States for periods totalling at least 20 years are additionally given 'special consideration' for purposes of knowledge of history and principles of governance.
Stateless persons
Statelessness, or the risk of it, is the basis of this route in the United States. Citizenship arises directly under the law of the United States, without any authority making a decision.
Person is found in the United States of unknown parentage and is younger than 5 years.
Public or military service
This route covers people who have served the United States in a public or military role, subject to the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has served at any time in the armed forces for a total period of at least 1 year, served in the armed forces during military hostilities, or made an extraordinary contribution to the national security of the United States or to the conduct of the United States intelligence activities. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement).
Not available in the United States: Child of a new citizen, Other family members of citizens, Former citizens (reacquisition), Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Refugees, Special achievements, Investment. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Both groups can hold a second citizenship under the law of the United States: new citizens, and citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Among the 3 countries in North America with a residence route, 5 years is the most common requirement, and the United States follows it.
See how United States compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Belize | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Canada | 3 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Chile | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Mexico | 5 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 312, 313, 316, 334(b).
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (2026, November 5). How to Get United States Citizenship. https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/united-states/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/united-states/">How to Get United States Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, last checked 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a US citizen?
The residence period for ordinary naturalisation in the United States is 5 years. Other legal conditions also apply. A change in force since January 2024 also affects this: see the timeline above.
Does the United States allow dual citizenship?
Yes, in both directions: new citizens and citizens who naturalise abroad can hold another citizenship.
Do I need a language test for US citizenship?
Yes, US citizenship requires a language test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for US citizenship?
Civic knowledge is required for US citizenship, assessed through a test or certificate. A change in force since January 2024 also affects this: see the timeline above.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get US citizenship?
No, you do not have to give up your current citizenship to get US citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get United States citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the United States provides a marriage route. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get United States citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of the United States provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic, entitlement.
Can I get United States citizenship by investment?
The data shows no investment route for the United States.
Related pages
Also see: United States passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.