The Naturalization Oath Ceremony: What to Expect

Updated: October 30, 2026

The oath ceremony is the final step. You become a U.S. citizen at the moment you take the Oath of Allegiance. Before that, you're still a permanent resident, even if your application was approved. You check in, answer a short questionnaire about any changes since your interview, hand in your green card, take the oath with the other new citizens, and receive your Certificate of Naturalization. Check that certificate for errors before you leave.

How you get scheduled

There are two ways:

Same-day oath. Some USCIS offices hold a ceremony on the same day as your interview, if your case is approved and a ceremony is available.
Scheduled ceremony. Otherwise, USCIS mails you Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony, with the date, time and place. It also appears in your USCIS online account.

There are two types of ceremony:

Administrative ceremonies, conducted by USCIS, often at a field office
Judicial ceremonies, conducted by a federal (or in some places state) court. If you requested a legal name change on your N-400, you generally need a judicial ceremony, because only a court can change your name. See name change during naturalization.

Before the day: the N-445 questionnaire

The back of Form N-445 has questions about the period since your interview. Did you:

Travel outside the United States?
Get married, divorced or widowed?
Get arrested, cited or charged with any offense, or commit a crime?
Claim exemption from military service?
Join any organization?

Answer honestly before you arrive. A USCIS officer reviews your answers at check-in. A new arrest or other serious change can delay or stop your oath, so if something happened, get advice before the ceremony.

What to bring

Form N-445, with the questionnaire completed and signed
Your green card, which you must hand in
Any re-entry permit or refugee travel document you have
Photo ID
Anything else listed on your notice

If your green card is lost, you'll need to have shown that at your interview. Otherwise, explain at check-in as your notice directs. Bring as little as possible beyond these items. Ceremonies are on federal property, and security rules apply.

What happens on the day

Arrival and security. Plan to arrive early. Lines can be long, especially at large court ceremonies.
Check-in. An officer reviews your N-445, takes your green card and checks your identity.
Seating. You're seated with the other new citizens. Guests usually sit separately. Some venues limit the number of guests, so check your notice.
Opening. Often the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, remarks from an official or judge, and sometimes a video message.
The Oath of Allegiance. Everyone stands, raises a right hand and repeats the oath after the officer or judge.
Certificates. You receive your Certificate of Naturalization, often by name.
After the ceremony. At some ceremonies, organizations offer voter registration help. A USCIS policy alert of August 31, 2026 reinstated the policy allowing non-governmental, nonpartisan organizations to provide voter registration services at administrative ceremonies.

The whole event can take from about an hour to a few hours, depending on size.

The text of the Oath of Allegiance

This is the oath you'll take:

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Two modifications are available. You can ask to replace "on oath" with "solemnly affirm" and leave out "so help me God," for any reason and without documentation. If you have a religious or conscientious objection, you can ask to leave out the parts about bearing arms or noncombatant service. You can't leave out the part about work of national importance. Ask for modifications in advance, ideally on your N-400 or at your interview.

The 2025 civics test even asks you to name two promises new citizens make in the oath, such as giving up loyalty to other countries, defending the Constitution, obeying U.S. laws, and serving in the military if needed. For what the oath means for any other citizenship you hold, see dual citizenship.

Check your certificate before you leave

Look carefully at your Certificate of Naturalization:

Name spelling
Date of birth
Country of birth
Sex, height and marital status
Your photo

USCIS asks you to report errors before leaving the ceremony. Fixing a mistake later requires Form N-565. If the error was USCIS's fault there's no fee, but otherwise it costs $555 on paper or $505 online (as of October 2026), and it takes time.

Rescheduling

If you can't attend, return the N-445 to your USCIS office with a letter explaining why and asking for a new date, as the notice instructs. Missing your ceremony more than once without good reason can lead to a denial of your application. Until you take the oath, you aren't a citizen. Don't vote, don't apply for a U.S. passport, and keep traveling on your foreign passport and green card.

Right after the ceremony

Keep the certificate safe. Don't laminate it. The certificate itself warns against copying or photographing it without lawful authority, so make copies only when you need them for an official purpose, such as a passport application.
Apply for a U.S. passport. You'll need the original certificate, which is returned to you.
Register to vote.
Update Social Security if you didn't give consent on the N-400.

Our after-naturalization checklist walks you through each step.

Frequently asked questions

Am I a citizen after my interview is approved?

No. You become a citizen only when you take the Oath of Allegiance at the ceremony. Until then, you remain a permanent resident.

Can my family attend the ceremony?

Usually yes, but space may be limited depending on the venue. Your N-445 notice or the local USCIS office will say whether guests are allowed and how many.

What should I wear?

There's no dress code, but many people dress as they would for an important event. Avoid clothing that could be seen as political or disrespectful.

What if I traveled abroad between my interview and the ceremony?

List the trip on the N-445 questionnaire. Short trips usually aren't a problem, but you must still meet continuous residence until the oath, so avoid long trips during this period.

Prepare for the civics test with Civio: every official question from the 2025 USCIS civics test, Exam Mode with your state's questions, and spaced repetition.

Informational article, not legal advice. Civio is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency; always check current requirements at uscis.gov.