The ultimate goal of many immigrants to the US is citizenship through naturalization, which is the 
acquisition of citizenship after birth.  There are a number of requirements for naturalization, which will 
be listed in this article.  Over the next few weeks, we will provide more information about each of these 
requirements.

The most basic requirement for naturalization is that the applicant must be at least 18 years old.  
Children younger than 18 whose parents are naturalized automatically obtain US citizenship. 

There are a number of requirements related to residency in the US that must be satisfied for 
naturalization.  In most cases, the applicant must have continuously resided in the US for five years
after becoming a permanent resident; at least 30 months of this time must be spent physically in the 
US.  The applicant must have lived for at least three months in the jurisdiction where the application 
will be filed.

The applicant must demonstrate good moral character and an attachment to the principles embodied 
in the US Constitution.  Finally, they must possess basic English skills and a knowledge of the history 
and government of the US. 

There are some groups of people who, even if they could demonstrate these requirements, are still 
not eligible to become citizens.  These include people who have held certain ideological beliefs and 
people who have deserted the US military.  While criminal offenses do not of themselves preclude a 
person from being naturalized, after 1996 people convicted of aggravated felonies are unable to show 
good moral character.  US law no longer contains provisions that prevent a person from naturalizing 
because of their ethnicity.

NATURALIZATION – RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS, PART I
NATURALIZATION – RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS, PART II

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