How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Certificate of Naturalization With Form N-565

When can you use Form N-565?

USCIS uses Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document, to replace several citizenship and naturalization documents. For a Certificate of Naturalization, one of the clearest qualifying situations is when the certificate was lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

Form N-565 can also be used for certain other situations, including a document containing a USCIS typographical or clerical error and a request for a new document after a qualifying legal name change. Those situations have different evidence requirements, so do not use the lost-or-stolen evidence checklist when another filing basis actually applies.

If you have not yet become a U.S. citizen and instead need to apply for naturalization, that is a separate process. See the guide to applying for U.S. citizenship with Form N-400.

What do you need if the certificate was lost or stolen?

For a Certificate of Naturalization that was lost, stolen or destroyed, the current Form N-565 instructions require evidence explaining what happened. Submit a copy of the certificate if you have one, plus a police report and/or a sworn statement explaining when, where and how the document was lost, stolen or destroyed and any attempts you made to retrieve it.

You must also submit a copy of a U.S. government-issued photo identification. Follow the current N-565 instructions for any passport-style photographs or other evidence required for your filing.

Not having a copy of the lost certificate does not by itself prevent this filing route: USCIS expressly says to provide a copy if available. The explanation and supporting evidence should accurately describe what happened.

Different replacement reasons require different evidence

If your Certificate of Naturalization is mutilated rather than missing, USCIS instructs you to submit the mutilated original document. If you seek a replacement because USCIS made a typographical or clerical error, you must submit the original incorrect document and complete the applicable part of Form N-565.

If you are requesting a new document because your name changed after naturalization, USCIS requires the original USCIS document and an original or certified document establishing the name change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, annulment decree or court order.

USCIS also states an important limitation: it cannot use Form N-565 to change an incorrect name or date of birth on a Certificate of Naturalization when you provided that incorrect information on your Form N-400 and later swore to those facts during naturalization. A name on a Certificate of Naturalization can be changed through N-565 when the qualifying name change occurred after naturalization.

How much does Form N-565 cost?

Under the current USCIS fee schedule, the general N-565 fee depends on how you file:

• $505 for online filing.
• $555 for paper filing.

If you are filing because the certificate contains incorrect information due to a USCIS error, the current fee schedule lists the filing fee as $0. USCIS also states that certain N-565 applicants may qualify for a fee waiver under its fee-waiver rules.

USCIS warns that an application submitted with an incorrect required fee may be rejected. Check the current USCIS Fee Schedule immediately before filing rather than relying on an older downloaded fee table.

Can you file Form N-565 online?

Yes. USCIS provides online and paper filing options for Form N-565. Online filing requires a USCIS online account. An online account also lets you pay the filing fee, check case status, receive case updates, respond to requests for evidence and manage contact information.

Some original documents or photographs may still have to be mailed to USCIS after an electronic filing when applicable. Follow the instructions generated for your case rather than assuming that uploading a scan eliminates every physical-document requirement.

If you request a USCIS fee waiver, follow the current fee-waiver instructions. USCIS states that for most forms a fee waiver cannot be requested through online filing; the fee-waiver request and underlying application must be submitted on paper.

How to file the replacement request step by step

1. Identify the document. On Form N-565, indicate that you are requesting a new Certificate of Naturalization.
2. Select the correct reason. For a missing certificate, identify that the certificate was lost, stolen or destroyed and explain when, where and how it happened.
3. Prepare identity evidence. Include the required copy of your U.S. government-issued photo identification.
4. Document the loss. Include a copy of the missing certificate if available and a police report and/or sworn statement explaining the loss or theft and attempts to recover it.
5. Choose the filing channel. File online through your USCIS account when eligible or submit the current paper form according to USCIS instructions.
6. Pay the correct fee. The current general fee is $505 online or $555 on paper, unless a fee exemption or approved fee waiver applies.
7. Keep the receipt information. Use the USCIS receipt number to track the application and respond to any USCIS request for evidence or appointment notice.

How long does a replacement Certificate of Naturalization take?

There is no single guaranteed completion date for every N-565 application. USCIS publishes case-processing information that changes as workloads and case circumstances change.

USCIS historical national data for fiscal year 2026 through June 30, 2026 reports a 7.2-month median processing time for completed N-565 cases involving a U.S. citizen applying for replacement of a naturalization or citizenship certificate. USCIS defines this historical figure as the time in which half of completed cases were processed. It is not a promise that your application will be completed in 7.2 months.

Your receipt number can be used with USCIS case-management tools to follow your individual case.

What happens after USCIS approves the application?

USCIS will issue the replacement document after approving an eligible N-565 application and completing any required case steps. Keep your mailing address current and follow any USCIS notices concerning evidence, appointments or document delivery.

If you file from outside the United States and provide a foreign mailing address, the current N-565 instructions state that USCIS will send an approved new document to the nearest U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate or USCIS field office and notify you by mail where to pick it up.

A replacement certificate is not the same as replacing a passport

Form N-565 replaces the qualifying USCIS citizenship or naturalization document. It does not replace a U.S. passport. If your passport was also lost or stolen, use the separate process to replace a lost or stolen U.S. passport.

If your passport is still in your possession but is due for renewal, the rules are different again. Eligible applicants can review the separate guide to renewing a U.S. passport online.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using Form N-565 to apply for citizenship rather than to replace or correct an eligible document already issued to you.
• Failing to explain when, where and how a lost or stolen certificate disappeared.
• Omitting the required government-issued photo ID copy.
• Failing to submit the original certificate when USCIS requires it for the specific filing basis, such as a mutilated document or certain correction requests.
• Using an outdated fee instead of checking the current USCIS Fee Schedule.
• Assuming a post-naturalization name-change request and a correction of information supplied during the original naturalization process are treated the same way.
• Ignoring a USCIS request for additional evidence or instructions to send an original document after filing online.