How to get US citizenship in 2026
First a green card, then 5 years living in the country, or 3 if married to a citizen. The application itself costs $710.
The US does not sell citizenship or grant it for buying a home: the passport comes only through naturalisation. First you need a green card, then 3-5 years in the country, an English and civics test and an interview. Below are all the routes, timelines and the total in dollars.
One-minute check
Can I have dual citizenship: check two countries
States are jealous, but not equally. Pick the passport you already hold: we will show whether you keep it alongside the new one, under which legal rule and what to do step by step.
The interactive check needs JavaScript. Below are the same rules for each country.
Legal grounds
Foreign nationals who have lived in the US as permanent residents (Green Card holders) for at least 5 years can apply for citizenship. For spouses of US citizens the term is reduced to 3 years. A separate ground is service in the US armed forces, which can give the right to expedited naturalization.
How to get a green card
- Family reunification. Spouses, minor children and parents of US citizens receive a green card with no quotas and no waiting. More distant relatives fall under annual quotas and may face a long wait.
- Employment. Categories EB-1 (people of extraordinary ability), EB-2 (professionals with advanced degrees), EB-3 (skilled workers) and EB-4 (special categories, including religious workers).
- Investment. The EB-5 visa - investors who put at least $800,000 into a new enterprise and create at least 10 jobs for Americans.
- Green card lottery. Every year the US government draws about 55,000 visas for citizens of countries with low levels of immigration to the US.
- Asylum and refugee status. For people who face persecution in their home country.
- Special routes. Widows and widowers of US citizens, and holders of the K-1 fiance visa once the marriage has taken place.
Every route has its own requirements and timelines. On a free consultation we pick the best option for your situation.
We will work out online when you can apply and what fees and documents will cost for your family.
Routes to US citizenship: timelines and total in dollars
The fastest route is marriage to a US citizen, the cheapest is military service, the most expensive is investment. In every case except the military you need a green card first.
| Route to citizenship | Time to passport | Government fees to passport |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage to a US citizen | from 4 years: about a year for the green card and 3 years with it | ~$2,700 |
| Work: EB-1 or EB-2 NIW | from 6 years: 1-2 years for the green card and 5 years with it | ~$2,300 |
| Green card lottery | from 6 years: about a year to the visa and 5 years with the green card | ~$1,300 |
| EB-5 investment | from 6 years | from $800,000 invested and ~$9,800 in fees |
| US military service | from a year of service, no minimum during a period of hostilities | $0 for the application |
The US immigration service and State Department fees for one adult with the visa issued through a consulate, including the citizenship application. Medical exam, translations and support are extra.
US citizenship through marriage
Marriage cuts the wait from 5 years to 3, but only if your spouse was a US citizen for all 3 years and you lived together. You need at least 18 months of physical presence in the country out of 3 years.
- Your spouse's petition for you - $625 online.
- Immigrant visa through a consulate - $325, then the $235 green card fee.
- A conditional green card for 2 years if the marriage is under two years old. Conditions are removed by a petition filed in the 90 days before it expires - $700 online.
- The citizenship application after 3 years with a green card - $710 online.
At every stage an officer checks that the marriage is genuine: shared household, accounts, photos, witnesses. Marriage fraud is a criminal case, not just a refusal.
Citizenship through US military service
Service is the only route with no fee for the citizenship application. In peacetime you need a year of honourable service and a green card by the interview.
The period of hostilities declared after 11 September 2001 is officially still ongoing. While it lasts there is no minimum length of service. But the armed forces generally enlist only citizens and green card holders.
Naturalisation requirements
| Requirement | Standard route | Spouse of a US citizen |
|---|---|---|
| Time as a green card holder | 5 years | 3 years married and with a green card |
| Physical presence in the US | at least 30 months of 5 years | at least 18 months of 3 years |
| Residence in the filing state or district | 3 months | 3 months |
| English | reading, writing, speaking | reading, writing, speaking |
| Civics test | required | required |
| Good moral character | throughout | throughout |
Absences over 6 months in a row may break continuous residence; over a year almost always break it.
The new civics test
For applications filed from 20 October 2025 a new version of the test applies: 128 questions on history, government and citizens' rights. At the interview the officer asks up to 20 questions, and 12 correct answers are needed to pass. If you fail, a second attempt is given within 60-90 days.
What it costs, item by item
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Form N-400 fee online | $710, biometrics included |
| Form N-400 fee on paper | $760 |
| Reduced fee for low-income applicants | $380 |
| First US passport | State Department tariff |
| Translations into English | from $30 per page |
| Our support | fixed price after a free consultation |
$710 to apply, but a refusal wipes out both the fee and the months of waiting
Mistakes cost more than the fees: a trip over 6 months that breaks continuous residence, an inaccurate 5-year travel history, a missed tax return, a forgotten fine or arrest the officer will find anyway. The fee is not refunded on refusal and you have to apply again. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists calculate filing dates around your trips, check your tax history and prepare you for the interview and test. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and we prepare the file for a result on the first filing.
The support fee depends on your route to a green card and family size; a manager calculates it in the chat.
Steps and timeline
- Eligibility check. You can file 90 days before reaching 5 or 3 years.
- Online application and fee.
- Biometrics at an application support centre.
- Interview with English and civics tests.
- Decision, often on the interview day.
- Oath and naturalisation certificate, then a passport.
From filing to oath usually takes from a few months to a year depending on the office.
Documents
- green card and passport;
- 5-year travel history with dates;
- tax returns and transcripts;
- for the marriage route, marriage certificate and proof of shared life;
- court records if there were arrests or citations;
- divorce and children's documents.
How to get approved the first time
- long trips that broke continuous residence;
- failing the English or civics test on the second attempt;
- unfiled tax returns or tax debts;
- undisclosed arrests, violations or false statements in past applications;
- a marriage the officer considers sham.
Taxes for US citizens
US citizens pay federal income tax on worldwide income wherever they live and file a return every year. Double taxation is avoided through the foreign tax credit and the foreign earned income exclusion. If you plan to live outside the US, factor this in before naturalising. More on the US taxes page.
Dual citizenship
The US does not require renouncing previous citizenship: at the oath you pledge allegiance to the US, but another country's passport formally stays under that country's laws. Russian citizens must notify the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days.
Faster ways to a green card
| Route | Who it suits | More |
|---|---|---|
| Extraordinary ability EB-1A | recognised specialists | EB-1 |
| EB-2 national interest | scientists and engineers | EB-2 NIW |
| EB-5 investment | investors from $800,000 in a targeted area | investment route |
| O-1 talent visa | recognised specialists, as a step towards EB-1 | O-1 |
| Green card lottery | nationals of eligible countries | about 55,000 visas a year |
Specialists without an employer can file for a green card themselves - see the talent green card in 2026. The investment route is covered on the EB-5 investment green card page.
What we do
We choose the route to a green card, calculate filing dates around your travel, check your tax history, prepare the application and prepare you for the interview and tests. We fix our fee in writing after a free consultation.
Advantages of a US passport
Freedom to travel
Access to more than 185 countries without a visa, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Singapore.
Protection for citizens
The right to consular help and protection from American diplomats anywhere in the world.
Advantages for the family
US citizens can file immigration petitions for close relatives, and those petitions are given priority.
Citizenship for children
Children of US citizens born abroad acquire citizenship if the parent lived in the US for the period set by law before the birth.
How to get US citizenship: step by step
Initial assessment
A Murblz immigration expert assesses your situation for free and picks the best relocation route.
Document preparation
Gathering the package of documents for the chosen programme - on your own or with help from Murblz.
Getting the green card
Obtaining US permanent resident status on the chosen ground.
Living as a resident
Green card holders can apply for citizenship after 5 years of living in the US, spouses of US citizens after 3 years.
Naturalization
Filing form N-400, biometrics, an interview with an immigration service officer including an English and civics test, and taking the oath.
FAQ
How do I get US citizenship?
How do I get US citizenship through marriage?
Can military service lead to US citizenship?
How many years do you need to live in the US to get citizenship?
Can you hold dual citizenship with the US?
Do I need to pass an English test?
What is on the civics test?
How much does it cost to get US citizenship?
How much time in the US is needed out of 5 years?
Do I pay US tax if I live abroad?
When can I apply?
What if I fail the test?
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Murblz services in the USA
A passport or residence permit opens the door, but life behind it is awkward without a bank account and a roof over your head. Murblz specialists help with the account, property and company in the same country. The quote is fixed in writing before work starts.
See also
Related programs and destinations
All programs - USA:
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The same program in other countries:
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We count your green card time and days of presence, check trips and tax returns and prepare the citizenship application and interview. The catalogue lists citizenship in every country.
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