📋 Document requirements on this page are based on the official USCIS Form N-400 instructions and the USCIS M-477 Naturalization Document Checklist.
Verify at uscis.gov/n-400 →DOCUMENTS EVERY APPLICANT MUST FILE WITH N-400
These apply regardless of your eligibility path. Check each one as you gather it.
Permanent Resident Card — front and back copyEven if expired — include it. Do not send the original by mail.
Copy of all government-issued photo IDsDriver's license, state ID, or any other government-issued photo ID.
Two passport-style photographs2×2 inches, white background, taken within 30 days. Write your A-Number lightly on the back in pencil.
Copies of all marriage certificates (if currently married)Foreign marriage certificates must include certified English translation.
Divorce decrees, annulments, or death certificates for all prior marriagesEvery prior marriage — even marriages that ended before you got your green card.
Legal name change documents (if your legal name differs from your green card)Court orders, marriage certificates, or other legal name change documents.
Federal tax returns — past 5 years (or 3 years for marriage-based path)Include W-2s, 1099s, and all schedules. If returns are unavailable, order free IRS transcripts at irs.gov/transcripts.
Copies of all passports (valid and expired)All pages of all passports held during your continuous residence period.
Documentation of all international trips over 24 hoursDates departed, dates returned, destination, purpose. For any trip of 6+ months — additional documentation required.
Selective Service registration documentation (men born after January 1, 1960)Required if you were in the US between ages 18–26 and were required to register. Check your status at sss.gov.
Complete court disposition documents for any arrest, citation, or conviction
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ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS BY ELIGIBILITY PATH
5-YEAR STANDARD PATH
No additional documents beyond the standard filing checklist above — provided you have no extended international travel (6+ months) and no criminal history.
If any single trip exceeded 6 months: add documentation showing you maintained U.S. ties during the trip — employment records, lease, tax filings, family correspondence.
3-YEAR MARRIAGE-BASED PATH
In addition to the standard checklist, you must prove your marriage is bona fide for the entire 3-year period:
Joint bank account statements3 years of statements showing both spouses as account holders
Joint lease or mortgage documentsShowing both spouses at the same address
Joint federal tax returnsFiled jointly for the 3-year period
Insurance policies listing both spousesHealth, auto, or life insurance showing both names
Photographs of the couple togetherDated photographs over the 3-year period
Full marriage-based requirements: citizenship through marriage guide →
MILITARY PATH
Military naturalization has different rules than civilian naturalization. Documentation requirements vary by service period and branch. Do not rely on this page for your complete military requirements. Confirm at uscis.gov/military before filing.
At minimum: Form N-426 (Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service) and DD-214 discharge papers if applicable.
DOCUMENTS TO BRING TO YOUR CITIZENSHIP INTERVIEW
These are separate from your filing documents. Do not mail these — bring originals to your interview appointment. Missing documents are the most common cause of case continuations.
Interview appointment notice (Form I-797)
Original Permanent Resident Card
All passports — valid and expired
Valid government-issued photo ID
Original tax returns — same period as filed documents
Originals of all documents submitted with your N-400Every document you filed — the officer will inspect and may make copies
Any documents specifically requested in your interview noticeThe notice is specific to your case — it may request items not on this list
FOUR DOCUMENTS MOST OFTEN FORGOTTEN
Original court disposition documents
Applicants who listed criminal history often bring copies — the officer requires originals or certified court documents, not photocopies.
Original marriage certificate (marriage-based path)
Many applicants submit copies at filing and forget the original for the interview. Bring it even if not specifically requested.
Updated passport photos
If your appearance has changed significantly since you filed, bring new photos. Officers may request updated photos if your current appearance differs significantly from your application photos.
IRS correspondence on tax compliance issues
If you filed amended returns or have a payment plan, bring documentation showing the resolution. Officers review tax compliance as part of good moral character assessment.
CERTIFIED TRANSLATION REQUIREMENTS
Every foreign-language document must include a full English translation. The translation must include a signed certification from the translator stating they are competent to translate the language and that the translation is complete and accurate.
Common misconception: USCIS does NOT require a notarized translation — only the signed translator certification. Any qualified bilingual person can translate and certify, including professional translation services. The translator may not be the applicant.
DOCUMENTS YOU DO NOT NEED
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Original birth certificate — USCIS does not require your original birth certificate to file. A copy is sufficient for most applicants. Your birth certificate is not typically required at all unless specifically requested.
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Affidavit of support (Form I-864) — this is for green card applications, not naturalization. Do not include it.
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Proof of income or employment — not required for standard naturalization. Income documentation is only relevant if you are applying for a fee waiver.
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Medical examination (Form I-693) — required for green card applications. Not required for N-400.
WHAT TO DO IF A DOCUMENT IS UNAVAILABLE
Missing tax records
Order a free IRS Tax Return Transcript at
irs.gov/transcripts. Processing takes 5-10 business days. Order early — do not wait until filing day.
Damaged or lost Permanent Resident Card
File Form I-90 to replace it, but do not delay your N-400 filing. Note on your application that the card is unavailable and include documentation of the pending I-90.
Court records
Contact the court clerk in the jurisdiction where the arrest or conviction occurred. For federal cases, request records through PACER (pacer.gov). Allow several weeks — do not file without complete disposition documents.
Foreign documents unavailable from country of origin
Submit a signed declaration explaining why the document is unavailable, what steps you took to obtain it, and any secondary evidence you can provide. Attach any partial documentation you were able to obtain.
N-400 DOCUMENTS BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Your civil documents — birth and marriage certificates — come from your home country's civil registry, and you must submit them with a certified English translation (see Certified Translation Requirements above). Here is the correct issuing authority and the points that most often trip up applicants, by country. Every detail below is drawn from the U.S. Department of State Country Reciprocity Schedule and USCIS guidance.
You do NOT need an apostille. USCIS does not require apostille or legalization of foreign civil documents for the N-400 — a certified English translation is what's required. Paying for apostille service is a common and unnecessary expense.
🇲🇽 Mexico
Birth and marriage certificates (acta de nacimiento / acta de matrimonio) come from the Civil Registry (Registro Civil). Use the standardized national format (formato único, green — in use since 2016) with a certified English translation. At your interview bring a state-issued photo ID and your valid and expired passports; the matrícula consular is not among USCIS's listed accepted photo IDs.
🇵🇭 Philippines
Birth and marriage certificates are issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) (NSO before 2013), printed on PSA security paper. If your record was changed by a court decree (annulment, legitimation, name change), request the copy bearing the "CDLI" annotation; a Local Civil Registrar copy is acceptable only if the PSA certifies "no record available."
🇨🇳 China (Mainland)
USCIS accepts notarial certificates (公证书) issued by a Notary Public Office (公证处) — not raw civil-affairs-bureau records. A notarial birth certificate must state your date and place of birth and both parents' names. Taiwan (ROC) uses a separate system (Household Registration Transcript).
🇮🇳 India
Birth certificate from the local Municipal authority (or an office authorized by the Registrar of Births & Deaths), available for births after April 1, 1970. For earlier or unavailable births, obtain a certificate of non-availability plus secondary evidence (school-leaving / matriculation certificate) or a notarized affidavit from a parent or older relative.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Birth, marriage, and death records come from the People's Committee (commune or district level); divorce records from the District People's Court. Records for people born before 1975 — and documents of refugees who left after 1975 — may have been lost; secondary evidence (including U.S. refugee-program records) may apply.
🇸🇻 El Salvador
Civil records (birth, marriage, death) are issued by the municipal Registro del Estado Familiar where the event was registered — not the RNPN, which issues only the DUI national ID card. Spanish documents need a certified English translation.
🇬🇹 Guatemala
Civil documents (birth, marriage, death) are issued by RENAP (Registro Nacional de las Personas) — request them from RENAP, not from a municipal office. Include a certified English translation.
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
The birth certificate (Acta de Nacimiento) is issued by the Civil Registry Office (Oficialía del Estado Civil) — not the Junta Central Electoral. No apostille or legalization is required; submit a certified English translation.
🇧🇷 Brazil
Birth and marriage certificates (Certidão de Nascimento / Casamento) come from the Civil Registry (Cartório de Registro Civil); births registered after Nov 21, 2017 use the unabridged "Inteiro Teor" certificate. Portuguese documents need a certified English translation — no apostille required.
🇨🇺 Cuba
Birth, marriage, and death certificates are issued by the Registro del Estado Civil (one per municipality), obtainable from within Cuba or, from abroad, through a Cuban consulate or a representative in Cuba. If a record genuinely cannot be obtained, USCIS's standard secondary-evidence rules apply only after you prove unavailability.
Sources: U.S. Department of State Country Reciprocity Schedule (travel.state.gov) and the USCIS Policy Manual / Form N-400 instructions. Issuing authorities and rules change — verify your country's current requirements at travel.state.gov before filing.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need to include tax returns if I didn't file in one year? +
If you were required to file taxes and did not, you must address this before filing your N-400. USCIS considers tax compliance as part of the good moral character requirement. File any missing returns and bring documentation showing they have been filed. An IRS payment plan is acceptable — bring documentation of the arrangement.
What happens if I submit an incomplete document packet? +
USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) requesting the missing documents. An RFE pauses your application and typically adds 3 to 6 months to your timeline. In some cases, USCIS may deny the application for insufficient evidence. Filing a complete packet the first time is the single most effective way to avoid delays.
What is the difference between the N-400 filing checklist and the interview checklist? +
The filing checklist covers copies of documents you mail or upload with your initial N-400 application. The interview checklist covers originals of those same documents that you bring to your in-person citizenship interview — typically 6 to 10 months later. The officer will inspect originals at the interview that you only submitted copies of when filing.
Document requirements based on USCIS Form N-400 instructions and M-477 Naturalization Document Checklist. Requirements may change — always verify at uscis.gov before filing. LEGALIAI is a preparation tool, not a law firm.