Edit Form N-600 online free, or download the PDF
Certificate of Citizenship Application: Application for Certificate of Citizenship
or choose your own copy:
- ✓ Official current version
- ✓ Free download, no account
- ✓ No card, no trial
- ✓ Never uploaded
Form N-600 in short
Form N-600 asks USCIS for a Certificate of Citizenship for someone who is already a U.S. citizen through a U.S. citizen parent. That can be at birth abroad or automatically after birth before age 18. It is not a request to become a citizen; a U.S. passport is another way to prove citizenship.
| Issued by | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) |
|---|---|
| Current version | Edition 01/20/25 (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | A person who acquired or derived citizenship through a U.S. citizen parent, or a U.S. citizen parent or legal guardian filing for a minor child. Children living abroad who did not acquire citizenship at birth may need Form N-600K instead. |
| Who receives it | USCIS. |
| Where to send it | File online, or mail to the Phoenix lockbox or the Elgin lockbox depending on where you live. Applicants outside the U.S., fee waiver requests, and current or former military members filing for themselves must mail it. |
| Deadline | No deadline. The instructions say you can file at any time if you became a citizen at birth or before age 18. |
| Fee | $1,385 paper filing, $1,335 online filing (Form G-1055 Fee Schedule, edition 10/16/26, checked 2026-10-25). $0 for current or former U.S. armed forces members requesting a certificate for themselves, and for certain adopted children. A fee waiver may be available with Form I-912. Mailed filings are paid by card (Form G-1450) or bank ACH (Form G-1650) unless you qualify for the paper payment exemption (Form G-1651). |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF · Official instructions |
How to fill out Form N-600, line by line
| Part 1 | Information about your eligibility Check one box for who is filing and one box for the relationship to the U.S. citizen parent. USCIS rejects the form if you check more than one box in either question. |
| Part 2 | Information about you (the child) Name, A-Number, date and country of birth, mailing address, marital status, admission and Green Card details, custody, and adoption information. Family name, date of birth, and mailing address are required. |
| Part 3 | Your U.S. citizen mother or father The U.S. citizen parent's name, birth details, how they became a citizen, and marital history. |
| Part 4 | Your other mother or father The same details for the other parent. |
| Part 5 | Legal guardian Only if a legal guardian is applying for a child. |
| Part 6 | Physical presence of the U.S. citizen parent For citizenship at birth abroad: the dates the U.S. citizen parent lived in the United States from their birth until the child's birth. |
| Part 7 | Military service of U.S. citizen parents Only if claiming citizenship at birth and a parent served in the U.S. armed forces. |
| Part 8 | Statement and signature The applicant signs, or a parent or legal guardian signs for a child under 14. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Checking more than one box in Part 1, Question 1 or 2. USCIS rejects the form.
- Filing N-600 to replace a lost certificate. Use Form N-565.
- Filing again after a decision on an earlier N-600. USCIS rejects a later N-600.
- Leaving out the U.S. citizen parent's proof of citizenship, physical presence evidence, or marriage and divorce records.
- Filing online while living abroad or with a fee waiver. Those cases must be mailed.
- Sending photos from inside the United States. USCIS schedules a photo appointment; only applicants abroad send two photos.
- Forgetting to sign. USCIS rejects unsigned forms.
Questions about Form N-600
Do I need a Certificate of Citizenship?
The instructions say you are not required to get one. A U.S. passport from the Department of State is another proof of citizenship.
How much does Form N-600 cost?
$1,385 on paper or $1,335 online, with $0 for certain military members and adopted children.
Can a parent file for a child?
Yes. A U.S. citizen parent or legal guardian can file for a minor child and signs for a child under 14.
Can I file N-600 online?
Yes, unless you apply from outside the U.S., request a fee waiver, or are a military member or veteran filing for yourself.
Do I need photos?
Only if you live outside the United States. Applicants in the U.S. get an appointment to have photos taken.
What is the difference between N-600 and N-600K?
N-600K is for certain children who live abroad and did not acquire citizenship at birth. Over 18, you do not file N-600K.
Related forms
Tools for this form
Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
- https://www.uscis.gov/n-600
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/n-600.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/n-600instr.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online
- https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-1055.pdf