Question
When can I apply for citizenship?
Short answer
USCIS says Form N-400 may be filed 90 calendar days before you complete the continuous-residence requirement: 5 years as a permanent resident, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen. There are more requirements.
Paso Libre editorial team
Reviewed September 29, 2026 · Educational information, not legal advice
The rule, as USCIS publishes it
“You may file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, 90 calendar days before you complete your continuous residence requirement if your eligibility for naturalization is based upon being a: Permanent resident for at least 5 years; or Permanent resident for at least 3 years if you are married to a US citizen.”
An example with numbers
Your card says “resident since” March 10, 2022. Five years are complete on March 10, 2027. Ninety days earlier is December 10, 2026: that is the first day to file the N-400 under the 5-year rule.
Count from the “resident since” date on your card, not from when you arrived in the country.
What we do not decide
The years are only one requirement. Long trips, your history and other points also count, and whether you meet all of them is a legal question.
If your question needs legal advice
This question needs legal advice. To protect you, we do not want to guess. Here is how to find a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.
Official sources
- Form N-400 — USCIS ↗ · Read on September 29, 2026
- Find legal services — USCIS ↗ · Read on September 29, 2026
- Accredited representatives — Department of Justice ↗ · Read on September 29, 2026