Form N-600: Certificate of Citizenship — Fees, Processing Time & Requirements

Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, is used to request official proof of U.S. citizenship for individuals who acquired or derived citizenship through their parents. It’s the primary USCIS form to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship, confirming your legal status as a U.S. citizen.

A Certificate of Citizenship is an official U.S. government document that confirms a person became a U.S. citizen through their parents. For a complete overview of the certificate and why it's different than a passport, see our Certificate of Citizenship Explainer →

You should file Form N-600 if you were born outside the United States and automatically became a U.S. citizen through your parent(s). It also applies to children of naturalized citizens under age 18. Filing ensures you receive a Certificate of Citizenship as permanent proof of your U.S. citizenship status.

Yes. Parents may generally file the application on behalf of a child. If you are the U.S. citizen parent or legal guardian who has legal and physical custody of an adopted or biological child (under 18 years of age), you can prepare and file the application for that child.

Forms N-600K and N-600 are very similar but have unique use cases. Certain people use the N-600 application to obtain a certificate that evidences the date they became a U.S. citizen. If the applicant is a child who regularly resides outside the United States, the applicant (or parents acting on behalf of the applicant) must instead file Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322.

USCIS processing times for Form N-600 typically range from 6 to 12 months, depending on your local field office and case volume. Applicants can check current processing times on the USCIS website. Preparing a complete and accurate application helps avoid delays and Request for Evidence (RFE) notices. See the Form N-600 processing time →

Yes. USCIS allows eligible applicants to file an N-600 application online through a secure USCIS account. Online filing helps prevent common mistakes and allows you to upload supporting documents. Many applicants use online tools like CitizenPath to ensure the N-600 is properly completed before submission.

If your parent lost their U.S. citizenship document, you can still prove their status for the N-600 application. First, try replacing the missing record. If your parent was born in the United States, request a new birth certificate through the state or territorial vital records office — our guide on finding civil records explains how.

If your parent became a citizen through naturalization or through parents, they may request a replacement Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization. They can request an official replacement certificate using our Citizenship Document Replacement Package →

If the record is impossible to replace, you may submit secondary evidence instead. This can include early school records, baptismal certificates, census entries, old passports, or other documents that help show your parent’s citizenship. Include a brief explanation describing why the original certificate cannot be obtained. See examples of secondary evidence →