Chapter 2: Certificate of Citizenship

A. Eligibility for Certificate of Citizenship

In order to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship, an applicant submits to USCIS:

• An Application for Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600), if the applicant is residing in the United States and automatically acquired or derived citizenship at birth or after birth;^[1] This volume uses the terms “acquired” or “derived” citizenship in cases where citizenship automatically attaches to a person regardless of any affirmative action by that person to document his or her citizenship.  or

• An Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 (Form N-600K) for a child of a United States citizens residing outside of the United States.

The application must be submitted in accordance with the form instructions and with the appropriate fee.^[2] See 8 CFR 103.7. In addition, applications must include any supporting evidence. An Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 may only be filed if the child is under 18 years of age. An Application for Certificate of Citizenship may be filed either before or after the child turns 18 years of age.

If the person claiming citizenship is 18 years of age or older, the person must establish that he or she has met the eligibility requirements for U.S. citizenship and issuance of the certificate. If the application is for a child under 18 years of age, the person applying on behalf of the child must establish that the child has met the pertinent eligibility requirements.^[3] See Part H, Children of U.S. Citizens.

B. Contents of Certificate of Citizenship

The Certificate of Citizenship contains information identifying the person and confirming his or her U.S. citizenship. Specifically, the Certificate of Citizenship contains:

Information about the Applicant in Certificates of Citizenship

• USCIS Registration Number (A-number);

• Complete name;

• Marital status;

• Place of Residence;

• Country of birth;^[4] An applicant who was born in Taiwan may indicate Taiwan as the country of birth on their Form N-400 if he or she shows supporting evidence. Such applicants’ Certificates of Citizenship are issued showing Taiwan as country of birth. USCIS does not issue certificates showing “Taiwan, PRC,” “Taiwan, China,” “Taiwan, Republic of China,” or “Taiwan, ROC.” People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the country name used for applicants born in the PRC.

• Photograph;

• Signature of applicant; and

• Other descriptors: sex, date of birth, and height.

Additional Information in Certificates of Citizenship

• Certificate number;

• Statement by the USCIS Director indicating that the applicant has complied with all the eligibility requirements for citizenship under the laws of the United States;

• Date on which the person became a U.S. citizen;

• Date of issuance; and

• DHS seal and Director’s signature as the authority under which the certificate is issued.

C.  Issuance of Certificate of Citizenship 

In general, USCIS issues a Certificate of Citizenship after an officer approves the person’s application and the person has taken the Oath of Allegiance, if applicable, before a designated USCIS officer. USCIS will not issue a Certificate of Citizenship to a person who has not surrendered his or her Permanent Resident Card (PRC) or Alien Registration Card (ARC) evidencing the person’s lawful permanent residence. If the person established that his or her card was lost or destroyed, USCIS may waive the requirement of surrendering the card.^[5] See 8 CFR 341.4. The requirement to surrender the PRC or ARC does not apply to applicants naturalizing under INA 322. 

If USCIS waives the oath requirement for a person, USCIS issues the certificate after approval of his or her application for the certificate. In such cases, USCIS issues the certificate in person or by certified mail to the parent or guardian in cases involving children under 18 years of age, or to the person (or guardian if applicable) in cases involving persons 18 years of age or older.^[6] See 8 CFR 341.5. See Part J, Oath of Allegiance, Chapter 3, Oath of Allegiance Modifications and Waivers.