Quick Answer: What Is Form N-600 and Who Is It For?
Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, is used to document U.S. citizenship that a person has already acquired through one or both U.S. citizen parents. Filing Form N-600 does not naturalize someone or create citizenship.
Citizenship may have been acquired at birth outside the United States through a U.S. citizen parent or automatically after birth when the applicable citizenship requirements were met.
Adults may file Form N-600 to obtain documentation of citizenship they acquired earlier. A qualifying U.S. citizen parent or legal guardian may also file on behalf of a child where permitted.
This guide explains the main N-600 process, including eligibility, filing fees, supporting documents, filing options, and what generally happens after USCIS receives the application.
Last verified: September 2026; Official source: USCIS Form N-600
Check Your Form N-600 Eligibility
ImmigrationDirect can help you check whether Form N-600 may apply to your situation based on the information you provide. If eligible, you can continue with guided Form N-600 preparation, organize the required information, and review your answers for missing or inconsistent details.
ImmigrationDirect is not USCIS. USCIS makes the final eligibility determination and decision on your application.
What Does a Certificate of Citizenship Prove?
A Certificate of Citizenship is USCIS-issued evidence that a person already became a U.S. citizen under the citizenship law that applied to their situation. Form N-600 is the application used to request this certificate; approval does not create a new citizenship status.
A person who already acquired U.S. citizenship is not required to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship. A valid U.S. passport issued by the U.S. Department of State can also serve as evidence of U.S. citizenship.
The Certificate of Citizenship is different from a Certificate of Naturalization, which is issued to someone who becomes a U.S. citizen through the naturalization process.
Who Can File Form N-600?
Form N-600 may be filed by a person who was born outside the United States and already acquired U.S. citizenship through a U.S. citizen parent. This can include citizenship acquired at birth or citizenship that was automatically acquired after birth when the applicable legal requirements were met.
Adults can file Form N-600 on their own behalf if they acquired citizenship earlier and want a Certificate of Citizenship as official proof of that status. A U.S. citizen parent or qualifying legal guardian may also file for a child where USCIS rules allow it.
Adopted children may also qualify for a Certificate of Citizenship if the applicable citizenship and adoption requirements were satisfied.
Eligibility depends on the law that applied when citizenship was acquired, so not every person with a U.S. citizen parent qualifies.
For the complete rules by citizenship pathway, age, parentage, custody, and adoption, see our Form N-600 eligibility and requirements guide.
How Can Citizenship Be Acquired Through a Parent?
A person born outside the United States may acquire U.S. citizenship through a U.S. citizen parent in different ways. For Form N-600, identifying when and how citizenship was acquired is important because the legal requirements differ between citizenship acquired at birth and citizenship acquired automatically after birth.
Citizenship Acquired at Birth
Some people acquire U.S. citizenship at the time they are born outside the United States through one or both U.S. citizen parents. The law that applies generally depends on the person’s date of birth, the citizenship status of the parent or parents, and the citizenship law in effect at that time.
Citizenship Automatically Acquired After Birth
Some children born outside the United States may instead automatically acquire citizenship after birth when the applicable requirements are satisfied before the relevant age limit.
Form N-600 can be used to document citizenship acquired through either pathway. Determining the correct pathway helps identify which legal requirements apply.
For the complete rules for each pathway, see our Form N-600 eligibility and requirements guide.
Can You File Form N-600 After Age 18?
Yes. An adult may file Form N-600 if they already acquired U.S. citizenship at birth or automatically acquired citizenship earlier under the law that applied at the required time.
Being over age 18 does not by itself prevent someone from filing Form N-600. The key question is whether the citizenship requirements were satisfied when they needed to be, not the applicant’s age when the form is filed.
For the detailed age, date-of-birth, and citizenship-pathway rules, see our Form N-600 eligibility and requirements guide.
Can You File Form N-600 While Living Abroad?
Yes. Living outside the United States does not automatically prevent someone from filing Form N-600. USCIS accepts Form N-600 from people who reside abroad, but generally does not adjudicate the application on the merits until the applicant is physically present in the United States.
Some children living abroad who have not already acquired U.S. citizenship may need Form N-600K instead of Form N-600. These forms serve different purposes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Special rules may also apply to certain children of U.S. armed forces members or qualifying U.S. government employees stationed abroad.
For detailed overseas eligibility rules, check our Form N-600 eligibility and requirements guide.
Form N-600 vs. N-600K, N-400 and N-565
These forms serve different citizenship purposes. The correct form depends on whether the person already acquired citizenship, is seeking citizenship while living abroad, wants to naturalize, or needs to replace or correct an existing citizenship document. Form N-600 should not be used when another form better matches the applicant’s situation.
| Form | Use it when |
|---|---|
| N-600 | You already acquired U.S. citizenship through a parent and want a Certificate of Citizenship. |
| N-600K | Certain children residing abroad are seeking citizenship under INA 322. |
| N-400 | An eligible noncitizen is applying to become a U.S. citizen through naturalization. |
| N-565 | You need to replace or correct certain Certificates of Citizenship or Naturalization. |
How Much Does Form N-600 Cost?
The Form N-600 filing fee depends on how the application is submitted. The current USCIS fee is $1,335 for eligible online filing and $1,385 for paper filing, making online filing $50 less where that option is available.
Certain applicants may qualify for a fee exemption or fee waiver, depending on their circumstances. Because USCIS fees and accepted payment methods can change, confirm the current amount in the USCIS Fee Schedule before filing.
For exemption rules, fee-waiver information, payment methods, and other fee details, see our Form N-600 filing fee guide.
What Documents Are Needed for Form N-600?
The documents required for Form N-600 depend on how the applicant acquired U.S. citizenship and the facts of the case. Not every applicant needs the same evidence.
Common evidence categories may include:
- the applicant’s birth certificate or other birth record;
- proof of the U.S. citizen parent’s citizenship;
- evidence of the parent-child or other qualifying family relationship;
- proof of lawful permanent resident status, U.S. residence, and custody for applicable citizenship-after-birth cases;
- evidence of a U.S. citizen parent’s required residence or physical presence for certain citizenship-at-birth claims; and
- additional records involving adoption, legitimation or paternity, marital history, or legal name changes, when relevant.
The exact documents depend on the citizenship pathway and family circumstances. See our Form N-600 document checklist for evidence by situation.
How Do You File Form N-600?
Form N-600 may be filed online or by mail, depending on the applicant’s circumstances and whether online filing is available for that case. Some applicants must use the paper filing method, so check the current USCIS filing options before submitting the application.
Whichever method applies, Form N-600 should be completed accurately, signed as required, and submitted with the supporting evidence that applies to the citizenship claim. Before filing, review the application to make sure the information on the form is consistent with the supporting documents.
USCIS filing options and submission requirements can change, so confirm the current instructions before sending the application.
For step-by-step guidance on completing the form and filing online or by mail, see our Form N-600 instructions guide.
How Long Does Form N-600 Take?
Form N-600 processing time varies by the applicant’s case and the local USCIS field office handling the application. USCIS’s current processing-time estimates and the historical national median are different measurements, so they should not be treated as the same timeline.
Processing times can also change as USCIS completes new cases. An individual application may take longer if USCIS needs additional evidence, schedules an interview, or requires further review before making a decision.
For the most accurate estimate, check current USCIS processing-time data rather than relying on older nationwide ranges.
For current field-office times, historical trends, and case-inquiry guidance, see our Form N-600 processing time guide.
What Happens After You File Form N-600?
After USCIS accepts Form N-600, it sends a Form I-797C, Notice of Action, as the receipt notice. The notice includes the receipt number used to track the case.
USCIS then reviews the application and supporting evidence. Depending on the case, USCIS may require the applicant to provide biometrics, a photograph, or a signature. These steps are not required in every N-600 case.
If additional information is needed, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) or schedule an interview.
If USCIS approves the application, the applicant must complete any required Oath of Allegiance before USCIS issues the Certificate of Citizenship.
Will You Have an N-600 Interview or Take the Oath of Allegiance?
USCIS generally uses an interview as part of Form N-600 adjudication, but it may waive the interview when the required information and supporting evidence are already sufficient to decide the case. If an appearance is required, USCIS will send the applicant an appointment notice.
Some applicants must also take the Oath of Allegiance before receiving a Certificate of Citizenship. USCIS generally waives the oath for children under age 14.
If Form N-600 is approved, USCIS issues the Certificate of Citizenship after any required interview and after the oath requirement is completed or waived.
For more detail about post-filing steps, see our Form N-600 processing time guide.
What Happens if USCIS Denies Form N-600?
If USCIS denies Form N-600, it sends a written decision explaining the reasons for the denial and any available appeal rights. A denial is different from a filing rejection, which generally means USCIS did not properly accept the application for adjudication.
Depending on the decision, the applicant may be able to file an appeal or motion using Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion. For an appeal, USCIS generally allows 30 calendar days after service of the decision, or 33 days if the decision was mailed. Always follow the deadline and instructions stated in the decision notice.
After USCIS has issued a decision on Form N-600, do not simply submit another N-600. The appropriate next step may be an appeal or motion, depending on the case.
Preparing Form N-600?
ImmigrationDirect can help you prepare Form N-600 with guided questions, step-by-step support, and help organizing the information needed for your application. The service also helps you review responses for missing or inconsistent information and provides filing instructions before submission.
ImmigrationDirect is not USCIS. Any eligibility assessment is based on the information you provide; USCIS makes the final eligibility determination and decision on your application. Preparation assistance does not guarantee approval.
