You can apply for a U.S. passport as soon as you take the Oath of Allegiance and receive your Certificate of Naturalization. There is no required waiting period after the ceremony.
The passport itself may take several weeks unless you qualify for urgent service. A newly naturalized citizen is a first-time applicant and must apply in person with Form DS-11.
How long each service option takes
| Service | State Department processing | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Routine | 4 to 6 weeks | Use when international travel is more than six weeks away. Mailing time is separate and can add time before and after processing. |
| Expedited | 2 to 3 weeks | Use when travel is less than six weeks away. The additional government expedite fee applies, and mailing time is separate. |
| Urgent travel | Appointment required | Use when international travel is within 14 calendar days or a foreign visa is needed within 28 days. Appointment availability and issuance timing are not guaranteed. |
You must complete the oath ceremony first
USCIS does not consider you a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance. At the end of the ceremony, USCIS issues the Certificate of Naturalization that proves your new citizenship.
You cannot submit the passport application before the oath or use an approval notice in place of the certificate. Review the certificate before leaving the ceremony and make sure your name, date of birth, and other information are correct.
After the ceremony, complete Form DS-11 and apply at a passport acceptance facility. These facilities include many post offices, clerks of court, public libraries, and local government offices.
What to bring to the first passport appointment
- A completed Form DS-11. Do not sign it before the acceptance agent tells you to sign.
- Your original Certificate of Naturalization.
- A clear, single-sided photocopy of the certificate on white 8.5-by-11-inch paper. Copy the back if it contains printed information.
- A physical government-issued photo ID and a photocopy of the front and back.
- One current passport photo.
- Any required name-change document when the name requested differs from the supporting records.
- The application and acceptance fees. Check the current passport fee schedule and the payment methods accepted by the facility.
If USCIS assigned you an Alien Registration Number, include that A-Number on the first passport application where Form DS-11 requests it.
See our first-time passport guide for the full appointment process.
Your original Certificate of Naturalization must be submitted
The State Department requires the original certificate or an official replacement, along with a photocopy. A scan, phone image, or ordinary photocopy cannot replace the original citizenship evidence.
Make a copy for your records before the appointment. The State Department returns supporting documents separately by First Class Mail, so the certificate may arrive after the new passport.
Do not schedule a use of the original certificate while the passport application is pending. When the certificate does not arrive after the State Department’s published supporting-document return period, contact the National Passport Information Center.
Urgent travel after naturalization
If international travel is within 14 calendar days, or you need a foreign visa within 28 days, make a regional passport agency appointment. The appointment date must be after the oath ceremony because you must appear as a U.S. citizen with the original Certificate of Naturalization.
Do not apply through routine service. Attend a regional passport agency appointment, or use a registered passport courier service to provide personalized support and handle permitted agency-submission logistics.
Bring printed proof of international travel, the appointment confirmation, Form DS-11, the original certificate and photocopy, photo ID and photocopy, one passport photo, and all required fees.
An urgent appointment does not guarantee same-day or next-day issuance. The passport agency decides whether the application is complete and when the passport can be issued. A courier cannot issue the passport or override that decision.
Do not leave the United States without the required travel document
USCIS normally collects the Permanent Resident Card at the naturalization ceremony. After taking the oath, you are a U.S. citizen and should not plan to use the former green card for international travel.
U.S. citizens need a valid U.S. passport book for international air travel. The Certificate of Naturalization proves citizenship for the passport application, but it is not a substitute for a passport book when boarding an international flight.
Wait until the passport is in hand before leaving unless you have confirmed that a different document is valid for the entire land or sea itinerary.
Passport after naturalization FAQs
You may apply as soon as the ceremony is complete and USCIS gives you the Certificate of Naturalization.
No waiting period is required for the passport application. Use the citizenship and identification documents required for Form DS-11.
No. You are not a U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance, and you need the Certificate of Naturalization as citizenship evidence.
No. A first-time applicant must use Form DS-11 and apply in person.
It keeps the original while processing the application and returns it separately by mail. The certificate may arrive after the passport.
Do not count on same-day issuance. You must first receive the certificate, qualify for an urgent appointment, submit a complete application, and receive the passport agency’s approval. Appointment availability and issuance timing are not guaranteed.
No. U.S. citizens need a passport book for international air travel. The certificate is citizenship evidence, not an airline travel document.
No. You must appear before an authorized acceptance agent or passport employee. After that required step, a courier may handle permitted urgent-submission logistics.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Our role: We explain how newly naturalized citizens apply for a first U.S. passport and compare routine, expedited, and urgent service. USCIS controls naturalization and issues the certificate. The State Department decides whether to approve and issue the passport.
