USCIS Implements 2025 Naturalization Test

On September 17, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the implementation of the 2025 naturalization civics test. Under the new change, all aliens filling for naturalization on or after October 20, 2025, must take the 2025 test. Those who filed before that date will still be able to take the 2008 naturalization civics test.

Background

The naturalization civics test, a step in the naturalization process, aims to assess an alien’s knowledge of United States history and government. According to USCIS, this is part of the larger effort to ensure that individuals applying for naturalization meet all eligibility requirements and can effectively contribute to American society. According to the Federal Register Notice released by USCIS, aliens must demonstrate their English and civics knowledge as it is an essential part of their ability to adequately fulfill their rights and responsibilities as a U.S. citizen and assimilate to American society.

The change in the naturalization civics test is a reimplementation of the previous 2020 Naturalization Civics Test, with some modifications. These changes increase the question bank from 100 to 128 civics questions with a corresponding increase of test questions for the exam from 10 to 20 questions. Of those 20 questions, aliens must correctly answer 12 questions. If you are 65 years or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for 20 or more years, USCIS will continue to administer either the 2008 test or the 2025 test, depending on when the N-400 was filed with USCIS, and depending on your circumstances, you may choose which language to take the test, which is still 10 questions from a bank of 20 specially selected questions. In correspondence with the implementation of the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test, USCIS will also update the Naturalization Test and Study Materials and Resources for Education Programs to reflect these changes.

The Significance of This Update

This change in the Naturalization Civics Exam is one of several changes that USCIS has announced as part of its efforts to ensure that American citizenship is granted to aliens who fully embrace American values and will contribute to American society. Other changes include higher standards for proving good moral character, which now include USCIS looking for positive contributions to American Society, a change from the earlier standard which was mere absence of bad behavior. Additionally, USCIS will resume neighborhood investigations to ensure compliance with all requirements for naturalization as well as increased scrutiny towards disability exceptions to the English and civics requirements.

As USCIS is expected to announce other initiatives and changes in the upcoming weeks and months, we encourage readers to check our website regularly for updates on this and all topics regarding immigration law. Should readers have any questions about this matter or your own, we recommend you contact our office and schedule an appointment with us.