Lost or Wrong Certificate of Naturalization? How Form N-565 Works
Your Certificate of Naturalization is the paper USCIS hands you after the Oath of Allegiance. It proves you are a U.S. citizen. If it’s lost, stolen, damaged, or printed wrong, you ask USCIS for a new one with Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document.
Here’s who can file, what it costs, and what to send.
First: check it before you leave the ceremony
USCIS tells new citizens to carefully review the certificate and notify USCIS of any errors before leaving the ceremony. Check your name, date of birth, and the other printed details while the officers are still there. Fixing it on the spot is much easier than filing a form later.
When you can file Form N-565
The N-565 instructions list these reasons for a replacement certificate:
- It was lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated (badly damaged).
- It has a typographical or clerical error made by USCIS.
- Your name changed after you naturalized (by marriage, divorce, annulment, or court order), and you want a certificate in your new name.
- The sex listed doesn’t match your sex at birth (USCIS issues the new document based on your birth certificate).
The same form is also used to request a special certificate of naturalization, which is for when a foreign government asks for proof that you’re a U.S. citizen.
One thing USCIS won’t fix: if you gave a wrong name or date of birth on your Form N-400 and then swore to it at your interview, the instructions say USCIS can’t change it on the certificate later. That’s one more reason to check every detail of your N-400 before the interview.
How much it costs
From the current USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055):
| Situation | Fee |
|---|---|
| Filed online | $505 |
| Filed on paper (by mail) | $555 |
| Certificate is wrong because of a USCIS error | $0 |
| You qualify for a fee waiver (Form I-912) | $0 |
If you file by mail, USCIS takes payment electronically. Use Form G-1450 for a credit, debit, or prepaid card, or Form G-1650 to pay from a U.S. bank account. Fees change, so check the fee schedule on the day you file.
What to send, by situation
Everyone sends a copy of a U.S. government-issued photo ID. Then add the evidence for your reason:
| Your reason | What the instructions ask for |
|---|---|
| Lost, stolen, or destroyed | A copy of the certificate (if you have one), plus a police report and/or a sworn statement explaining what happened and how you tried to find it |
| Mutilated (damaged) | The damaged certificate itself |
| USCIS typo or clerical error | The original incorrect certificate, Part 5 of the form, and evidence of the correct information |
| Name changed after naturalization | The original certificate plus a copy of the marriage certificate, divorce or annulment decree, or court order. Complete Part 6 |
| Marital status changed | A copy of the document showing the change |
If you live in the United States, you don’t need to send photos. Only applicants who live outside the U.S. must include two identical passport-style photos. USCIS may still schedule a biometrics appointment or an interview.
Any document in another language needs a full English translation with a translator’s certification.
How to file
You can file online or by mail:
- Online: create a USCIS online account, file, and pay there. If your reason requires the original certificate (for example, a typo or name change), you still mail the original to the Nebraska Service Center. The address appears in the Evidence section of the online form.
- By mail: send the form to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox (USPS: USCIS, Attn: N-565, P.O. Box 20050, Phoenix, AZ 85036-0050). Confirm the address on the form page before mailing.
Sign the form. USCIS rejects unsigned forms. It also rejects forms missing your family name or mailing address in Part 2, or with more than one box checked in Part 3, Item 1.
Do you even need a replacement right now?
Maybe not. Under federal law, a valid, unexpired U.S. passport counts as proof of citizenship, just like a certificate. The USCIS Policy Manual explains this (citing 22 U.S.C. 2705). If you already have a passport, it covers most everyday needs, like a new job’s I-9 or travel.
The catch: you usually need the certificate to get your first passport (our DS-11 guide). Also, a passport expires but a certificate doesn’t. Many people keep both, and replace a lost certificate when they have time.
Keep it safe
- Store the original somewhere safe and dry. Don’t laminate it or carry it around day to day.
- When an agency like the State Department needs it, they return it by mail. The passport post explains when it comes back.
- Keep the receipt notice from any N-565 you file, and track the case in your USCIS account.
Still preparing for the interview?
Your certificate comes at the very end. Q68 asks how people become U.S. citizens, and “Naturalize” is one of the answers. Practice all 128 questions with a free practice test or hands-free Listen mode.
Read next
- Your First U.S. Passport After the Oath Ceremony
- Can You Change Your Name When You Become a Citizen?
- Became a U.S. Citizen? How to Update Your Social Security Record
- After the Civics Test: Approved, Continued or Denied?
Sources: USCIS, Form N-565 page (last updated June 1, 2026), Instructions for Form N-565 (edition 02/27/25), G-1055 Fee Schedule (edition 10/16/26), Naturalization Ceremonies, and Policy Manual Vol. 12, Part H, Ch. 4. Image: Bain News Service, Library of Congress (no known restrictions on publication).
This post summarizes public government information for general education. Fees and forms change, so confirm on uscis.gov before you file. It is not legal advice.