U.S. Citizenship Requirements for U.S. Armed Forces

Establishing Eligibility to File Form N400, Application for Naturalization

As a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, you may be eligible for naturalization after just one year of military service. This is a significant benefit (as it normally requires five years as a permanent resident before applying for citizenship). It's only available to military members that have served the United States with honor.

To qualify, you must have served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces for at least one year. If you’ve separated from the U.S. Armed Forces, you must file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization within six months of an honorable discharge. There is expedited citizenship for U.S. Armed Forces and families. The Immigration and Nationality Act (Section 328(a)) details all of the citizenship requirements for military personnel. We explain it in simple terms here.

citizenship requirements for military and us armed forces

An applicant for naturalization based on military service must meet the following requirements:

Alternative Paths to Citizenship

5-Year Permanent Resident

If you've been a permanent resident for at least five years, you may be eligible to naturalize now.
Learn More

Married to a U.S. Citizen

If you’re a permanent resident who is married to a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible to naturalize after just three years.
Learn More

How CitizenPath Helps You Apply for Naturalization

Is there a way to confirm my eligibility and prepare everything correctly?

CitizenPath's affordable, online service makes it easy to prepare Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Designed by immigration lawyers, the Naturalization Package helps you eliminate the common errors that create delays, rejections and even denials. That's because the service alerts you when your answer to a question may be a problem. You'll also get customized filing instructions based on your situation. It's a powerful, do-it-yourself tool that puts you in control. And we've got your back -- CitizenPath provides live customer support and provides a money-back guarantee that USCIS will approve your application. Get started >>

STEP
1
Check Eligibility
No signup required.

We're going to ask you a few questions to make sure you're eligible and preparing the correct form.

STEP
2
Prepare Form N-400
There’s no obligation to purchase.

Our software will guide you through the N-400 application using simple step-by-step instructions.

STEP
3
Download, Print and File
Pay only $199 + USCIS fees.

Once you're completely satisfied, you’ll be able to print your N-400 and customized filing instructions.

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