Legal immigrants face a new hurdle: The U.S. citizenship test just got tougher
The U.S. government announced Wednesday a major change to the naturalization process: all immigrants seeking to become American citizens will have to take a new civics test starting in 2025.
The measure was published in the Federal Register by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and is part of a broader package of reforms that the Trump administration says is aimed at “restoring the integrity of the naturalization process.”
The new test comes alongside a general tightening of requirements, including stricter background checks, narrower use of medical waivers to avoid the exam, tougher evaluations of “good moral character” and even neighborhood investigations to verify applicants’ eligibility.
The message is clear: gaining U.S. citizenship will be a bigger challenge, and only those who demonstrate fluency in English, knowledge of U.S. history and an embrace of American values will succeed.
Read more: Millions of immigrants could soon have to reveal their social media on these U.S. forms
USCIS reveals first changes to the naturalization test
The new civics test revives the 2020 version, considered more rigorous than the 2008 test:
- The question bank expands to 128 possible questions on U.S. history and government.
- During the interview, applicants will be asked 20 questions (previously 10).
- To pass, they must answer at least 12 correctly (previously 6).
Who will have to take the 2025 USCIS citizenship exam?
- Applicants who have already submitted their applications, or do so within 30 days of the rule’s publication, will continue to take the 2008 test.
- Those who apply after Oct. 20 will be required to take the new version.
- Applicants aged 65 or older with at least 20 years of lawful permanent residence will be given a reduced exam (10 questions from a special bank of 20).
‘The most sacred citizenship in the world’: USCIS message to applicants
USCIS made clear that the goal is to ensure that only those with a solid grasp of the country’s history and principles will be naturalized.
“American citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world and should only be reserved for aliens who will fully embrace our values and principles as a nationn,” said USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser in a press release.
“By ensuring only those aliens who meet all eligibility requirements, including the ability to read, write, and speak English and understand U.S. government and civics, are able to naturalize, the American people can be assured that those joining us as fellow citizens are fully assimilated and will contribute to America’s greatness. These critical changes are the first of many,” he added.
In addition to the tougher test, the agency has resumed neighborhood investigations of citizenship applicants, reinforced background checks and tightened the evaluation of disability waivers.
What this means for thousands of immigrants in the U.S.
The change could lengthen preparation time and raise the risk that thousands of applicants may fail on their first attempt, delaying the process and generating additional costs.
Immigration experts recommend starting to study USCIS’s official materials right away, which are available online, since the new tests will begin to be administered during interviews scheduled within the next three months.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 11:29 AM.
