Certificate of Naturalization Apostille

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Issuing agency

US Citizenship and Immigration Services

We can obtain it?

No — you request the certified copy from USCIS

Certification first?

No state certification — a USCIS certified copy is required

Also known as

N-550, N-570, naturalization papers

A Certificate of Naturalization is the document USCIS issues when you become a U.S. citizen. When you need to prove that citizenship abroad — for dual nationality, foreign property, residency by descent, or a marriage overseas — the certificate usually has to be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State before a foreign government will accept it.

But this document carries a restriction most others do not, and getting it wrong wastes weeks and money. Read the next section before you do anything with your certificate.

What a Certificate of Naturalization is

A Certificate of Naturalization is an official federal record issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to a person who became a U.S. citizen through naturalization. It is the primary evidence of acquired citizenship, and it is the version foreign governments ask for when they want proof recognized under U.S. federal authority.

A standard certificate shows your full legal name at the oath ceremony, your USCIS A-number, the unique certificate number, the date and place of naturalization, your photograph, and the seal and authorized signature of the issuing officer.

It is not the same as a Certificate of Citizenship, which USCIS issues to people who acquired or derived citizenship through a U.S.-citizen parent rather than going through the naturalization process.

Why it needs an apostille abroad

Foreign authorities cannot independently verify a U.S. citizenship record, which is why they require the apostille as proof the document is genuine. The apostille, issued by the U.S. Department of State, is recognized across the 120-plus Hague Convention countries. Non-Hague destinations need that authentication followed by embassy or consulate legalization.

How to obtain a certified copy USCIS will accept

USCIS is the only authority that can issue an acceptable certified copy. The usual route is Form N-565, the Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document — filed online through your USCIS account or by mail to the lockbox on the form instructions.

A filing fee applies (currently $555), and routine USCIS processing commonly runs 6–12 months — far longer than the apostille step itself, so plan ahead. In some situations USCIS will issue a certified true copy through a records request instead.

Not sure which path fits? That's exactly the call we help you make before you spend the USCIS fee.

What it’s used for internationally

The naturalization certificate is one of the most frequently authenticated USCIS documents. The most common reasons people apostille one:

• Dual citizenship or nationality registration — claiming or registering citizenship in a country of origin that recognizes dual nationality (Italy, Ireland, Germany, Mexico, the Philippines, and others).
• Foreign passport issuance — many countries require proof of U.S. naturalization before issuing or renewing their own passport.
• Marriage registration overseas — civil registries in many countries require federally authenticated proof of citizenship in the marriage file.
• Residency or citizenship by descent — establishing your status for a family-based claim abroad.
• Foreign property purchase, transfer, or inheritance — especially where property or succession rules turn on citizenship.

Why originals can’t be apostilled — and copies can’t be homemade

The Department of State will not apostille your original Certificate of Naturalization — originals are irreplaceable federal identity records, and federal rules prohibit affixing an apostille or additional seals to them. At the same time, you cannot simply photocopy the original and have that copy apostilled: reproducing a naturalization certificate is restricted under federal law, and a self-made or notarized photocopy will be rejected.

What the Department of State will authenticate is a USCIS-issued certified copy — one carrying USCIS certification language and seal, not one from you, a copy shop, or a notary.

Why it must be authenticated federally, not by a state

Apostille authority in the U.S. is split between state Secretaries of State and the U.S. Department of State, based on who issued the document. Because USCIS is a federal agency, a naturalization certificate can only be authenticated federally — a state apostille placed on it is invalid and will be rejected abroad.

Document preparation requirements

• Submit the certified copy exactly as USCIS issued it — no edits, additions, or annotations.
• Do not send the original certificate for apostille — it will be returned unprocessed.
• Do not notarize it. Notarizing a federal record invalidates it for authentication.
• Do not laminate it. Lamination blocks the seal and prevents the apostille being affixed.
• Do not staple, hole-punch, fold across the seal, highlight, or write on the document.

The step-by-step process

1. We confirm your route

   Tell us what you hold and where it's going. We confirm whether you need Form N-565 or a records request, and whether the destination is Hague or non-Hague — before you spend anything.

2. You obtain the USCIS certified copy

   You file with USCIS and receive the certified copy. This is the long part (6–12 months for N-565), so we start the clock with you and stay available for questions.

3. Order & document review

   You place your order and send us the certified copy. We verify it is in a form the Department of State will accept — catching the copy, notarization, and lamination problems that cause most rejections.

4. Department of State submission

   We hand-deliver your document to the Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C., with the federal authentication request and fee.

5. Apostille or authentication issued

   The Department of State issues an apostille (Hague) or an authentication certificate (non-Hague), affixed to your certified copy.

6. Embassy legalization & translation, if required

   For non-Hague destinations we handle embassy legalization, and arrange certified translation where required.

Common rejection reasons — and how to avoid them

Common uses

• Dual citizenship registration — Italy, Ireland, Germany, Mexico, the Philippines and others.
• Foreign passport issuance — proving U.S. naturalization to another country.
• Marriage registration overseas — civil registry filings requiring proof of citizenship.
• Residency or citizenship by descent — family-based claims abroad.
• Foreign property and inheritance — where rules turn on citizenship.

Hague vs. non-Hague countries

Pick your destination below, or see all countries we serve.

Official references: USCIS Form N-565 · USCIS — Naturalization Information · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document. Government fees are set by these agencies and are separate from our service fee.