How do I know if I qualify for the $380?

It depends on your documented household income being at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size. We have a dedicated calculator to check.

Are the reduced fee and the waiver the same thing?

No. The reduced fee lowers the payment to $380 (400% threshold). The waiver via Form I-912 eliminates it, and its threshold is 150% — far stricter.

Can I request the reduced fee online?

No. Both the reduced fee and the waiver require filing the N-400 on paper.

Is biometrics charged separately?

The amount shown here is what the official USCIS fee calculator publishes for the N-400.

U.S. Citizenship Cost 2026 — N-400 Fee Calculator

How much does U.S. citizenship cost?

Most people pay $710 online or $760 on paper. But two situations cut that sharply, and almost no page explains them.

What is your situation?General caseHousehold income at or below 400% of the poverty lineLowers the fee to $380, but can only be requested on paper. Check if you qualify →Military service under INA sections 328 or 329No fee.

How will you file?OnlineOn paper

Your N-400 fee: $710

You save $50 versus the general paper fee.

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The general fee

Applying for naturalization with Form N-400 costs $710 filed online and $760 on paper. That is the figure you will find nearly everywhere, and in this case the sources actually agree.

The two tiers almost nobody publishes

Reduced fee of $380. If your documented household income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, you pay half. This is not an extreme-poverty exemption: 400% is a fairly high ceiling, and many people who qualify do not know it. For a single-person household, that threshold sits around $63,840 a year.

Full waiver. Applicants who meet the requirements of INA sections 328 or 329 through military service pay nothing.

The online filing trap

Here is a detail that costs money if you miss it: the reduced fee and the waiver can only be requested on paper. Neither exists as an option in the online filing flow.

So if you qualify for $380 and file online to save the $50 difference, you end up paying $710 instead of $380. The online discount is only real if you are paying the general fee.

Watch for changes

There are Department of Homeland Security proposals to raise the general N-400 fee. None is in effect as of this page's verification date, but it is exactly the kind of figure worth re-checking before you file. The verification date is at the bottom.

What is not included

Photos, if taken at a studio; attorney or accredited representative fees; and the cost of obtaining documents or translations. The N-400 fee is the only thing USCIS charges.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I qualify for the $380?: It depends on your documented household income being at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size. We have a dedicated calculator to check.
Are the reduced fee and the waiver the same thing?: No. The reduced fee lowers the payment to $380 (400% threshold). The waiver via Form I-912 eliminates it, and its threshold is 150% — far stricter.
Can I request the reduced fee online?: No. Both the reduced fee and the waiver require filing the N-400 on paper.
Is biometrics charged separately?: The amount shown here is what the official USCIS fee calculator publishes for the N-400.