The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced updates to the citizenship test, including the reimplementation of the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test.
This revised exam, effective for green card holders filing for citizenship on or after October 20, 2025, is said to be aimed at ensuring a deeper understanding of U.S. history and government principles.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the 2025 citizenship test marks the first phase of a multi-step overhaul directed by Executive Order 14161, focusing on strengthening assimilation and civic preparedness.
Drawing from the 2020 version, the test expands the question pool from 100 to 128, with applicants facing 20 oral questions during their interview, an increment from the previous 10 questions.
To pass, candidates must correctly answer at least 12, a threshold designed to promote a “unified American identity” as stated in the Federal Register notice.
This shift replaces the 2008 Naturalization Civics Test, which had been reinstated under the prior administration due to accessibility concerns.
USCIS officials emphasize that the changes better assess applicants’ grasp of constitutional foundations and civic duties, without altering the English language requirements for reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension.
USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said the changes ensure only eligible applicants who understand English and U.S. civics can naturalize
“Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services posted a Federal Register notice announcing implementation of the 2025 naturalization civics test. The 2025 test assesses an alien’s understanding of U.S. history and government in line with the statutory requirement and is one of many steps in an ongoing effort to restore integrity to the naturalization process and meet congressional intent,” they said
Applicants will now face:
• USCIS is restoring robust vetting for all applicants seeking naturalization.
• The agency is conducting stricter reviews of disability exceptions to the English and civics requirements.
• Officers have been given guidance to assess applicants’ good moral character by looking for positive contributions to American society, rather than just the absence of bad behavior.
• USCIS is resuming neighborhood investigations to ensure that applicants meet statutory requirements and are worthy of U.S. citizenship.
• Clarification that unlawfully voting, registering to vote, and making false claims to U.S. citizenship disqualify applicants from demonstrating good moral character.
• The agency noted that in the coming weeks and months, it will announce additional steps to enhance the integrity of the naturalization process further.
This comes after the U.S. had signaled potential reforms to the H-1B visa program and the naturalization civics test.
The new head of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Joseph Edlow, indicated that the H-1B system needs a fundamental overhaul to better serve the domestic labor market. He emphasized that the program should supplement, not supplant, the U.S. economy and workers.
Mr. Edlow also said the administration wanted to change the naturalization test required by prospective U.S. citizens.
