N-400 Fee Waiver or $380 Reduced Fee: Who Qualifies in 2026
The N-400 filing fee is $710 if you file online and $760 on paper. For many families that is a real obstacle. USCIS still offers two ways to pay less: a reduced fee of $380, and a fee waiver that brings the fee to $0. Both are available today, as of November 9, 2026.
They are worth checking now for a second reason: a federal proposal published in June 2026 would end both options. It is not final, and nothing has changed yet (more on that below).
The current N-400 fees at a glance
| How you file | Fee | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Online | $710 | Most applicants |
| Paper | $760 | Most applicants who mail the form |
| Paper, reduced fee | $380 | Household income below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines |
| Paper, with a fee waiver | $0 | Means-tested benefit, income at or below 150% of the poverty guidelines, or extreme financial hardship |
| Military (INA 328 or 329) | $0 | Qualifying current and former service members |
Check the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) or the USCIS fee calculator on the day you file. If you send the wrong fee, USCIS rejects the application.
Important: you cannot ask for the reduced fee or a fee waiver if you file online. Both require a paper Form N-400.
Option 1: the $380 reduced fee
USCIS says you can request the reduced fee if you file a paper N-400 and show that your documented annual household income is less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines when you file.
How to ask for it:
- Fill out Part 10 of Form N-400. There is no separate form for this.
- Attach proof of household income, such as federal tax returns or IRS tax transcripts. Read the N-400 instructions for the full list.
- Include a certified English translation of any document in another language.
- Pay $380 with the application.
If your household income is at or below 150% of the poverty guidelines, USCIS says not to request the reduced fee. You can ask for a full fee waiver instead.
Option 2: a full fee waiver with Form I-912
A fee waiver means USCIS still has a fee for the N-400 but waives it for you because you cannot pay. You ask for it with Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver (or a written request with the same information), mailed together with your paper N-400.
USCIS lists three ways to qualify. You need one:
- A means-tested benefit. You, your spouse, your child, or your parent (if you are under 21 or disabled) is currently receiving one. Examples on the USCIS list include Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, SSI, Section 8 housing assistance, WIC and LIHEAP. Medicare, unemployment benefits, Social Security and SSDI do not count.
- Household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines when you file.
- Extreme financial hardship, such as unemployment, medical emergencies, eviction, homelessness, a natural disaster, or the death of a spouse that cut your income. You describe the situation and send whatever evidence you have.
For a benefit, the letter or notice must show the person’s name, the agency, the type of benefit, and that it is current. USCIS says a benefit card by itself usually is not enough, and a letter without an expiration date should be dated within 12 months of filing.
The income limits change every year. USCIS publishes the current numbers by household size on its poverty guidelines page (Form I-912P).
Who counts in your household
Both options use the same household rules. You count yourself, the head of household, a spouse who lives with you, and certain relatives who live with you: unmarried children under 21, full-time students under 24, your parents, and other dependents on the tax return. A roommate or relative who is not in that list does not count, but any money they give to support your household does.
Mistakes that get requests rejected
From the USCIS fee waiver and reduced fee guidance:
- Filing the N-400 online and expecting a waiver or reduced fee. Both need a paper application.
- Asking for both the reduced fee and a fee waiver. USCIS says to choose one.
- Not signing Form I-912, or not checking a basis for the request in Part 1.
- Sending Form I-912 later, after USCIS already received the N-400. It must come in the same package.
- Missing evidence: no benefit letter, no income proof, or no explanation of the hardship.
- Foreign-language documents without a certified English translation.
If USCIS denies a fee waiver, it can reject the whole N-400 package, and you would then need to refile with the fee. Get your evidence in order first.
The proposed rule: what could change, and what hasn’t
On June 23, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published a proposed rule, “Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments” (91 FR 37500). It would raise the N-400 fee to $1,280 online and $1,330 on paper, end the reduced fee, and end fee waivers for the N-400. Military applicants under INA 328 and 329 would stay exempt.
It is a proposal. As of November 9, 2026, no final rule has been published, and the USCIS fee schedule still lists $710, $760 and $380. Until a final rule takes effect, the current fees and both fee-relief options still apply. We explain the proposal in more detail in Proposed N-400 Fee Increase: What Citizenship Applicants Should Know Now.
If you qualify for a waiver or reduced fee and are already eligible to apply, it may be worth filing sooner rather than later. You can apply up to 90 days before your permanent resident anniversary; our early filing calculator shows your first filing date.
Where to get free help
Nonprofit legal service providers can often help you prepare a fee waiver request at low or no cost. Avoid “notarios” who charge for forms. See Free Citizenship Classes and Legal Help: Where to Find Them (and How to Avoid Notario Scams).
While your application is pending, keep studying. The free 2025 civics practice test works on your phone.
Read next
- Proposed N-400 Fee Increase: What Citizenship Applicants Should Know Now
- When Can You Apply for Citizenship? The N-400 90-Day Early Filing Rule (With a Date Calculator)
- What to Bring to Your Naturalization Interview (Document Checklist)
Sources: USCIS: Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request; USCIS: Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver; USCIS: Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver; USCIS Fee Schedule (G-1055); USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part B, Chapter 4 (Fee Waivers and Fee Exemptions); Federal Register: Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments (proposed rule, June 23, 2026). Photo: stevepb, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
This post is general information, not legal advice. CitizenExams is an independent study site and is not affiliated with USCIS.