Form N-565 is the application USCIS uses to issue a replacement naturalization or citizenship certificate, and also to update the document when the name, date of birth, or gender changes. According to the official N-565 page, the application can be filed online or by mail, and the regulation sets a fee of $555 in the schedule found in 8 CFR 106.2(b)(6). This guide describes what the form and the agency require, the order in which the steps happen, and where the fee exception applies.
What is Form N-565?
USCIS describes the N-565 (Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document) as the form used to request "a replacement Naturalization Certificate; Certificate of Citizenship" and other documents in the same family, such as the Declaration of Intention and the Repatriation Certificate, according to the form's page. The regulation governing this topic, 8 CFR 343a.1, states that the application follows the form designated by USCIS and the fee set out in 8 CFR part 106.
This form is not used to apply for citizenship for the first time. Those who do not yet have a certificate and want to prove citizenship use a different path, the N-600, which we explain in this guide. And those who are still in the naturalization process should follow the N-400 document checklist.
When does USCIS accept a replacement request?
The USCIS page lists three situations for the N-565. The first is replacing a document that was lost, stolen, or destroyed. The second is issuing a new document due to a change of name, date of birth, or gender. The third is replacing a document that contains a typographical or administrative error made by USCIS itself, in which case the page requests evidence of that error (USCIS).
For a name change, 8 CFR 343a.1 states that a naturalized citizen whose name changed after naturalization, by court order or by marriage, must apply for a new certificate with the updated name.
How much does the N-565 cost?
The schedule in 8 CFR 106.2(b)(6) sets the N-565 fee at $555, in the text consulted on October 30, 2026. The same provision states that there is no fee when the application is filed under 8 CFR 338.5(a), that is, to correct a certificate that contains an error. The N-565 page itself directs applicants to check the current amount in the USCIS Fee Schedule, so it's worth confirming the figure there before paying.
Those filing by mail pay by money order, personal check, cashier's check, or credit card using Form G-1450, and checks are made payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The page also states that fees are not refundable (USCIS).
What documents accompany the application?
The list of supporting documents depends on the reason for the request. According to the USCIS page, these include:
- For a lost, stolen, or destroyed document: a copy of the original document and a police report or a sworn statement.
- For a change of name, date of birth, or gender: the original document, plus evidence of the change in civil status, when applicable.
- For a USCIS error: evidence of the typographical or administrative error.
- For those living outside the US: two passport-style photos.
If any document is in another language, 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) requires a complete translation into English, as we detail in Translating Documents for USCIS: What the Rule Requires.
How does the step-by-step process work?
- Determine the reason for the request (loss, change of information, or error) and gather the evidence that the official list requires for that reason.
- Choose a filing method. For online filing, USCIS states that you must create an online account, which is also used to pay fees, track the case, receive notices, and respond to requests for evidence. For mail filing, the submission goes to the USCIS address listed on the form's page (USCIS).
- Pay the fee according to the current schedule, or confirm the fee exception when the request is for an error correction, under 8 CFR 106.2(b)(6).
- For online filers, mail the original document to the Nebraska Service Center after filing. The page states: "You must mail your original document to the Nebraska Service Center after you file online." For those filing by mail, the page notes that originals should not be sent unless the form's instructions or the regulation require it (USCIS).
- Keep your receipt number and track the case, as we explain in USCIS Receipt Number: How to Check Case Status.
- Wait for the decision. 8 CFR 343a.1 provides that USCIS decides which cases require an interview under oath and at which office. If the application is approved, the new certificate is delivered in person, under 8 CFR 103.8(a)(2). If it is denied, the applicant receives the reasons and the right to appeal, under 8 CFR 103.3.
What does the regulation say about correcting an error on the certificate?
8 CFR 338.5 addresses the correction of certificates. It states that the application may be filed without a fee when the certificate does not match the facts stated in the naturalization application, or when there was a clerical error in preparing the document. If the correction damages the certificate, USCIS issues a replacement certificate and destroys the one that was returned.
The same provision sets a limit: correction is not warranted when the person later claims that the name or date of birth provided at naturalization were not correct at that time. For this reason, the rule describes correction of a document-preparation error, not a change of information that the person made afterward.
Why organize your application before submitting it?
The N-565 is a short form, but it depends on evidence: a copy of the old document, the police report, the marriage certificate, or the court order, depending on the reason. Gathering everything in the order the official page requests reduces the chance that the application will be returned. The rules above describe what the form and the agency require, and they do not replace reading the form's official instructions. To see other naturalization and document topics, visit the Prime blog.
Sources
- USCIS — Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document
- 8 CFR 343a.1 — Replacement or new naturalization papers
- 8 CFR 338.5 — Correction of certificates
- 8 CFR 106.2 — USCIS Fee Schedule
- 8 CFR 103.2 — Application filing requirements
Educational information, not legal advice. Prime Immigration Office is a paralegal service — document preparation only. For legal advice, consult a licensed Texas attorney or DOJ-accredited representative.