On June 23, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a rule to increase the U.S. citizenship application fee by an additional $570.
The proposal also plans to eliminate the fee waiver and reduction programs currently available to low-income applicants, while simultaneously increasing the cost to appeal a citizenship denial by 80%.
For now, this is only a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The rule must still go through the standard federal regulatory process and will remain open for public comment for 60 days before it can take effect.
Therefore, the current citizenship filing fees remain in place.
How much will the fee for U.S. citizenship increase?
If the rule is approved, the standard paper filing fee for naturalization (Form N-400) will jump from $760 to $1,330. If you choose to file online, the cost will rise from $710 to $1,280.
| Form N-400 Filing Method | Previous Fee | Proposed New Fee | Dollar Increase | Percentage Increase |
| Paper Filing (By Mail) | $760 | $1,330 | +$570 | 75% |
| Online Filing | $710 | $1,280 | +$570 | 80% |
Appealing a citizenship denial will also cost more
The new regulations also propose raising the filing fees for appeals and motions to reopen or reconsider cases.
- Form N-336 (Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings): The cost will rise to $1,425 for online filing and up to $1,475 for paper filing.
- Form I-290B (Notice of Appeal or Motion): Currently costs between $675 and $800, depending on the type of decision being appealed.
Therefore, if an individual applies for citizenship and U.S. immigration services denies their application, the true financial impact would be:
- Initial Filing (Form N-400): $1,330 (paper) / $1,280 (online).
- Appeal (Scenario A – Form N-336): $1,475 (paper) / $1,425 (online).
- Appeal (Scenario B – Form I-290B average): $737.50.
- Total Cumulative Cost (Scenario A): Up to $2,805.
- Total Cumulative Cost (Scenario B): Up to $2,067.50.
Note: These amounts reflect only the mandatory government filing fees. This total does not include attorney fees, costs for obtaining new documents, translation services, or other expenses that typically arise during the citizenship process.
Elimination of fee waivers and reduced fees for naturalization
Finally, the measure aims to eliminate the cost reductions currently available to some low-income families applying for naturalization.
Currently, certain applicants can access reduced fees if their household income falls within specific federal poverty guidelines. The proposal would also eliminate most fee waivers.
The only fee exemptions that will remain intact are those designated for current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
DHS argues that U.S. citizenship is one of the most significant immigration benefits granted by the United States and, therefore, its operational costs should not be subsidized by applicants filing for other immigration benefits.
While the previous administration kept fees low to promote naturalization, the current Trump administration is taking a fundamentally different approach.
The reality is that, if implemented, these changes would leave low-income permanent residents seeking to naturalize in a highly vulnerable position.
When will new citizenship fees take effect?
This measure has not yet been approved; it remains a proposal.
The government has opened a 60-day public comment period. Once this window closes, authorities will review the feedback, publish the final rule, and announce the exact date the new fees will go into effect.
We can expect more updates regarding its potential approval on or after August 22, 2026.
Why is the cost of U.S citizenship going up?
According to the official announcement, USCIS claims that the revenue they currently collect is insufficient to fund their operations. This fee hike is intended to cover the costs of the strict vetting protocols the agency is implementing following President Trump’s Executive Orders.
For immigration advocates, this measure is not an isolated event. It adds to a broader set of policies clearly designed to make the path to legal immigration much more complex. Today, those applying for a green card or citizenship face time-consuming and resource-draining hurdles, such as:
- Social media screening: Scrutinizing social media profiles to track any inconsistencies in the applicant’s life.
- Stricter “Good Moral Character” evaluations: A drastically more rigorous assessment of the GMC requirement.
- Neighborhood sweeps: The reinstatement of unannounced field visits and interviews with neighbors and employers.
- Processing delays: Prolonged wait times for both scheduling naturalization interviews and final oath ceremonies.
As immigration attorney Rosanna Berardi recently stated in an interview with ABC News:
“The goal of the Trump administration with all these measures is to make legal immigration, not just illegal immigration, more difficult, more expensive, and less accessible.”