USCIS

Form N-600

Rev. 04/01/24

Application for Certificate of Citizenship

Apply for a Certificate of Citizenship if you acquired or derived U.S. citizenship through a parent.

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Plain English

Form N-600 is for people who became U.S. citizens automatically through a parent but never received official proof. Filing it gets you a Certificate of Citizenship that serves as definitive evidence of your citizenship.

Quick Facts

Who: Individuals who acquired or derived U.S. citizenship at birth or as a minor through a U.S. citizen parent but need official documentation.
What: Application for Certificate of Citizenship — official proof that you acquired or derived U.S. citizenship automatically through a parent without going through naturalization.
When: Anytime — but needed specifically when applying for a U.S. passport or if your derivative citizenship claim requires validation.
Where: Filed with USCIS by mail with supporting documents proving parent's U.S. citizenship, your legal relationship to parent, and physical custody information.
Why: A Certificate of Citizenship serves as conclusive proof of U.S. citizenship for passport applications, government benefits, and employment.
How: Complete form with applicant info, parent citizen info (including how they became a citizen), legal custody details, and your permanent residence status. Submit parent's citizenship evidence and your birth certificate.

Common Risks & Mistakes

  • •Insufficient proof of parent's physical presence in U.S. before birth — citizenship derivation requires parent to have been physically present in U.S. for specified periods
  • •No proof of legal and physical custody after divorce — if parents were divorced, citizenship derivation depends on custody
  • •Applying for passport instead may be simpler — for straightforward cases, a U.S. passport is cheaper and faster than N-600
  • •Missing generation restrictions for citizenship derivation — different rules apply depending on whether parent became a citizen before or after the applicant was born
  • •Incorrect fees or outdated form version — USCIS rejects filings with wrong fee or old form edition

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Field-by-Field Guide

Part 1
Applicant Full Name & Date of BirthREQUIREDtext

Applicant's current legal name and date of birth.

Country of BirthREQUIREDtext

Country where applicant was born.

Part 2
U.S. Citizen Parent's NameREQUIREDtext

Full legal name of the U.S. citizen parent through whom citizenship is claimed.

U.S. Citizen Parent's CitizenshipREQUIREDselect

How parent became a U.S. citizen: birth, naturalization, or prior certificate.

Legal Custody InformationREQUIREDtext

Who had legal and physical custody at the time citizenship was acquired (relevant for children of divorced parents).

Part 3
Applicant's Legal Permanent Residencytext

A-Number and Green Card information if applicable.

Signature
Applicant or Parent SignatureREQUIREDsignature

If applicant is under 18, parent or legal guardian must sign.

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Form Stats

7
Fields
6
Required
4
Sections

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Disclaimer: We do not provide legal advice. We translate legal language into plain English and help you prepare for a conversation with a lawyer.