United States · Immigration54
Five-Year Standard Naturalization
The standard route: most permanent residents can apply for citizenship after five years as a Green Card holder, with continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, and English and civics tests.
Currently available · Editorial record dated 10/20/2026 · Not lawyer review or an eligibility decision. Check current official instructions.
Who this is for
Lawful permanent residents with at least five years of residence (filing is allowed up to 90 days early).
Common problems
Continuous residence
Long trips abroad are the most common surprise problem; document the reasons and ties kept in the U.S.
Old issues resurface
Naturalization re-opens the whole immigration history — a problem in the original Green Card case can surface now.