The Department of Homeland Security recently published a notice in the Federal Register officially implementing a new naturalization civics test, namely the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test. This new test, published Sept. 18, 2025, expands the number of civics questions from 100 to 128 and requires 12 correct answers instead of six as previously required under the 2008 civics test.
The new 2025 Naturalization Civics Test will be administered to applicants who file Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. In other words, those who have submitted or will submit their applications before October 20, 2025, will continue to take the 2008 version of the test; an applicant’s N-400 filing date, therefore, and not an applicant’s interview date, determines which test will be administered. Noteworthy, the English reading, writing and speaking requirements remain unchanged as the new rules affect only the civics portion of the naturalization test.
What Has Changed on the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test
Under the 2008 civics test, applicants were asked up to 10 questions from a bank of 100. Among these 100 questions, to pass the civics test, applicants needed 6 correct answers to pass. The 2025 Naturalization Civics Test expands the bank of orally asked questions to 128 questions. Applicants may now be asked up to 20 questions and must answer at least 12 correctly to pass. The interviewing officer will stop asking additional civics questions once the applicant either achieves 12 correct answers (a pass) or nine incorrect answers (a fail).
What Has Stayed the Same
The English portion of the naturalization test — demonstrating an understanding of the English language, including the ability to read, write and speak basic English — remains unchanged. The ability to speak and understand English will be determined during an applicant’s eligibility interview as an USCIS officer reviews the questions on Form N-400. For the reading test, an applicant must read out loud 1 of 3 sentences correctly; for the writing test, an applicant must write 1 out of 3 sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to write in English.
Special Consideration/Older applicants (65/20 rule)
The special exception for older applicants also remains in place. Applicants who are 65 years or older and who have been lawful permanent residents for at least 20 years will continue to take a shorter version of the civics test. This test consists of 10 questions, out of which six correct answers are required to pass. Depending on when the N-400 application is filed, either before October 20, 2025, or after, the specific questions will come from either the 2008 or the 2025 Naturalization Civics test version. Applicants only need to study the 20 questions that have been marked with an asterisk (*) and may also choose to take the naturalization test in the language of their choice.
Applying for Naturalization
In a previous blog post published in March 2025, we discussed how, beyond birthright citizenship, individuals can obtain U.S. citizenship through other avenues — namely, derived and acquired citizenship, as well as naturalization. In an era when immigration policies affecting legal immigration are becoming increasingly restrictive, applying for U.S. citizenship when eligible is generally advisable as citizenship offers significant advantages and serves as a permanent safeguard of one’s legal status. U.S. citizenship, for example, provides additional legal protections, such as immunity from deportation, the ability to travel visa-free to many countries and the freedom to remain abroad indefinitely without jeopardizing one’s status. Naturalized citizens also avoid the need to renew their green cards and gain the ability to sponsor a broader range of family members for immigration benefits. Most importantly, citizenship confers full political rights, including the right to vote, run for public office and qualify for certain federal and government jobs.
The Purpose of the New Test
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the new test is part of a broader USCIS initiative to strengthen the naturalization process. In exchange for rights such as voting and holding office, U.S. citizens are expected to assume responsibilities such as jury service, loyalty to the U.S. Constitution, and, if required, military or civilian service. The revised civics test with an expanded question bank, USCIS argues, is designed to ensure “an alien’s commitment to fulfill the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship and to actively assimilate into American society.”
For individuals navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration and citizenship laws, it is important to consult with an experienced immigration attorney to assess eligibility for citizenship, especially in light of more restrictive immigration policies, including that of naturalization.
