What is Form N-565?

Form N-565 is the application to replace a certificate of naturalization or of citizenship. It is a large paper document that USCIS issues once; if it is lost, another is not printed without this filing.

The official page lists the reasons: it was lost, stolen or destroyed, your name changed, the date of birth needs correcting, or USCIS made an error when writing it.

Losing the certificate does not change the citizenship. Citizenship is a status; the certificate is the proof. This form replaces the proof, nothing more.

According to the instructions, the person whose name is on the certificate files it. If what you need is proof of citizenship for a child who never had a certificate, that is a different filing, Form N-600, which has its own guide.

People almost always gather a copy of the certificate if you have one, two passport-style photos and proof of the reason: the police report if it was stolen, the court order for a name change, the birth certificate to correct a date.

USCIS asks that you not send original documents unless it says so, and that anything in another language come with a certified translation. The general list and the official sources live on the form's page.

We ask for the certificate's details, where and when you received it, and the reason, one thing at a time, and transfer the answers onto the official form with technical checks.

You receive an unsigned PDF. You review it, sign it by hand and mail it with the fee, which is paid directly to USCIS. USCIS also accepts this form online; how to file it is your choice.

Writing the certificate number from memory. Checking “lost” when it was actually stolen: they are different boxes with different evidence. Sending the damaged original without being asked.

And requesting a name correction without the court order or certificate backing it. Without that paper, USCIS cannot change what the certificate says.

USCIS sends a receipt notice and, in many cases, a biometrics appointment. When it is done, the new certificate arrives by mail. How long it takes changes; USCIS publishes its times and we only link to them.

In the guide on what happens after you mail your form we explain that notice, where the number is, and how to check your case.

We are not a law firm and we do not give legal advice. We fill the form in with your answers and check the formatting. If your certificate has a problem that goes beyond a misspelled detail, a licensed attorney or a Department of Justice accredited representative can guide you.