The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified that not all applicants for US citizenship are required to take the Oath of Allegiance before receiving their Certificate of Citizenship.
Under normal procedures, applicants must take the oath to complete naturalization. However, the Immigration and Nationality Act empowers USCIS to waive this requirement for individuals who cannot understand its significance.
Who Qualifies for the Oath Waiver?
- Children under 14 years old: USCIS policy automatically exempts this group, concluding they are generally unable to grasp the oath’s meaning.
When an application for citizenship is approved for a child under 14, the Certificate of Citizenship is issued directly without administering the oath.
What If the Oath Is Not Taken and No Waiver Applies?
Applicants who do not meet the waiver criteria and fail to take the Oath of Allegiance will not be issued a citizenship certificate. USCIS maintains no alternative process for bypassing the oath except through the waiver.
Additional Naturalization Requirements
USCIS also confirmed that the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test applies to all applicants filing Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. This test is oral and requires candidates to answer questions verbally.
Applicants must pass both English and civics components to complete naturalization. Those who fail initially are given a second chance to retake the failed portion without restarting the entire process.
