United States · Citizenship
US Citizenship Through Naturalization
US citizenship becomes available to founders and investors only after permanent residence. The standard wait is five years as a green card holder, with 30 months physically present, an English test and the civics test introduced in October 2025.
- Startup route
- International Entrepreneur Parole
- Minimum capital
- USD 311,071 from qualified investors or USD 124,429 grants
- Permanent residence
- No direct route; needs NIW, EB-1A, EB-5 or Gold Card
- Citizenship
- 5 years as a permanent resident
Naturalization (Form N-400)
Most permanent residents become eligible after five years as a lawful permanent resident, and a shorter three-year route exists for spouses of US citizens who meet its conditions. Applicants must be at least 18, show continuous residence for the five years, physical presence for at least 30 months of that time, and at least three months in the state or USCIS district where they file. They must show good moral character and attachment to the principles of the Constitution, read, write and speak basic English, and pass a civics test. Applicants who file on or after October 20, 2025 take the 2025 test: 20 oral questions drawn from 128, with 12 correct answers needed to pass.
- Residence as LPR
- 5 years (3 on the US-citizen-spouse route)
- Physical presence
- 30 months within the 5 years
- Civics test
- 20 questions from 128; 12 correct to pass
- English
- Read, write and speak basic English
- Filing fee
- USD 710 online, USD 760 on paper
- Dual nationality
- US law does not require choosing
Requirements
- Be at least 18 when filing Form N-400.
- Hold permanent residence for five years, with continuous residence and 30 months of physical presence.
- Live for at least three months in the state or USCIS district where the application is filed.
- Show good moral character and attachment to the principles of the US Constitution.
- Pass the English test and the civics test.
How to apply
- File Form N-400 online or on paper with the fee.
- Attend the biometrics appointment if one is scheduled.
- Complete the interview, including the English and civics tests.
- Take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony.
Dual nationality and investor timelines
US law does not require a citizen to choose between US citizenship and another nationality. The State Department recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy, and losing US citizenship requires a voluntary act carried out with the intention of giving it up. Whether a founder's country of origin lets them keep its nationality after naturalizing in the United States depends on that country's own law, which its authorities can confirm.
There is no citizenship-by-investment program. EB-5 investors and Gold Card holders naturalize under the same rules as any other permanent resident, and time as a conditional resident counts as permanent residence for this purpose. Travel patterns matter more than the investment: absences of six months or more may disrupt the continuous residence required for naturalization, even when the green card itself remains valid, so founders running businesses abroad should plan long trips with that rule in mind.
Questions and answers
How soon can a green card holder apply for US citizenship?
The general rule is five years as a lawful permanent resident, with at least 30 months of physical presence and three months living in the filing state or USCIS district. Spouses of US citizens may qualify after three years on a separate route with its own conditions. Investors and founders follow the same rules as everyone else.
Does the United States allow dual citizenship?
US law does not require a person to choose between US citizenship and another nationality. The State Department recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it, citing the problems it can cause. The law of the other country decides whether its nationality survives a naturalization in the United States.
Is there a faster US citizenship route for investors?
No. The United States does not sell citizenship, and neither EB-5 nor the Gold Card shortens the naturalization period. Both lead to permanent residence, after which the standard five-year wait, the physical presence rule, and the English and civics tests apply in full.
What changed in the US civics test?
Applicants who file Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025 take the 2025 civics test. The officer asks up to 20 questions orally from a bank of 128, and the applicant must answer 12 correctly to pass. People who filed before that date take the 2008 version of the test.
Official sources
- I am a Lawful Permanent Resident of 5 Yearswww.uscis.gov
- 2025 Civics Testwww.uscis.gov
- N-400, Application for Naturalizationwww.uscis.gov
- Dual Nationalitytravel.state.gov
- International Travel as a Permanent Residentwww.uscis.gov
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in United States.
Startup visa
Entrepreneur parole, E-2 or O-1A; no visa is named a startup visa
02Temporary residence
Parole up to 5 years; E-2 in 2-year steps; O-1A up to 3 years
03Permanent residence
Green card via EB-2 NIW, EB-5 at USD 800,000 or more, or the Gold Card
04Citizenship
Naturalization after 5 years as a permanent resident, plus civics test