U.S. Announces Major Changes to Naturalization Civics Test

The U.S. government is overhauling the naturalization civics test, making it longer and more difficult, the Trump administration announced Thursday. Beginning October 20, 2025, applicants will face up to 20 questions drawn from a wider pool and will need to answer more correctly to pass.

The changes, published Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will not affect those who already applied or who file their N-400 (Application for Naturalization) before the deadline. They will continue to take the simpler 2008 version of the test.

The update represents the first significant revision to citizenship testing standards in years, marking the return of the 2020 test format, which was briefly implemented but ultimately discontinued, with some modifications.

“This 2025 version of the test carries forward the major elements of the 2020 test, including making the test longer, expanding the pool of possible questions, and increasing the number of correct answers necessary to pass,” said Erik Finch, director of global operations at Boundless and a former USCIS officer. “The key difference from the 2020 proposal is that, instead of asking all 20 questions, regardless of the number of correct or incorrect answers provided by the applicant, the officer will now stop administering the test once the applicant has either passed or failed.”

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Key Policy Details

Summary of Changes

Additional Notes

• Special provisions: Applicants aged 65 or older who have maintained lawful permanent residence for at least 20 years will continue taking a simplified 10-question version from a specially selected bank, requiring 6 correct answers to pass.
• Enhanced vetting measures: USCIS is simultaneously tightening overall naturalization standards, including stricter reviews of disability exceptions, enhanced assessment of “good moral character,” and the resumption of neighborhood checks to verify eligibility requirements.
• English language test: This USCIS notice does not change the English language exam component of the naturalization test (reading, writing, speaking, and understanding).

What Citizenship Applicants Need to Know

For individuals pursuing U.S. citizenship, the expanded question bank will cover a broader range of topics, setting a higher standard for civic knowledge and requiring more extensive preparation. This may be especially challenging for immigrants whose first language is not English, as they may need more time to study, potentially lengthening an already long path to citizenship.

For current naturalization applicants:

Anyone who files for naturalization before October 20, 2025 — or already has a pending application — will take the shorter, simpler 2008 version of the test. That means applicants have just 30 days to submit their paperwork if they want to avoid the new, harder exam.

For future naturalization applicants:

Those planning to file for naturalization after October 20, 2025 must prepare for the more comprehensive test content and should consider factoring additional study time into their immigration plans.

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Looking Ahead

The decision to update the civics test is part of the Trump administration’s broader initiative to implement more restrictive immigration policies and apply more scrutiny to those navigating the immigration process. Supporters of the change argue that enhanced standards promote assimilation and shared civic values. Critics warn that the more difficult test adds yet another barrier to an already highly scrutinized application process, making it even harder for immigrants to become U.S. citizens.

Boundless will provide additional updates to help immigrants, families, and employers navigate the evolving path to U.S. citizenship with confidence.

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