Citizenship Requirements

If you meet certain requirements, you may become a U.S. citizen either at birth or after birth.

To become a citizen at birth, you must:

• Have been born in the United States or certain territories or outlying possessions of the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States;
• OR had a parent or parents who were citizens at the time of your birth (if you were born abroad) and meet other requirements

To become a citizen after birth, you must:

• Apply for “derived” or “acquired” citizenship through parents, or
• Apply for naturalization and take the Naturalization Test

For more information, see USCIS Policy Manual Citizenship and Naturalization Guidance and the Citizenship Resource Center.

The Naturalization Test
Most naturalization applicants are required to take a test on:

• English
• Civics (U.S. history and government)
• Take the Naturalization Test