Naturalized U.S. citizens are asked for an apostilled naturalization certificate when they reclaim or confirm citizenship of their country of birth, register a marriage or a child abroad, or prove a change of nationality to a foreign registry.
The certificate itself, Form N-550 or N-570, is the one document people most often try to send in as it is, and it is refused every time. The U.S. Department of State will not attach an apostille to an original naturalization certificate, and no state Secretary of State can apostille it at all, because it is a federal document.
It also cannot be photocopied and notarized. The certificate carries a printed warning that copying it without lawful authority is a federal offence, and a notary has no power to certify a federal record in any case. A “notarized copy” offered by some services is not a route we will take.
What works is a certified true copy issued by USCIS, which carries a USCIS officer’s certification. That copy goes to the U.S. Department of State for a federal apostille. We tell you how to get the certified copy, check it when you have it, and handle the apostille.
At a glance
What you have, and whether it can be apostilled
| Version | Can it be apostilled? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Original certificate (N-550, N-570) | No | The State Department does not apostille original USCIS certificates |
| Replacement certificate from Form N-565 | No | A replacement is another original |
| Photocopy, or notarized photocopy | No | Copying is restricted by federal law, and a notary cannot certify a federal record |
| Certified true copy issued by USCIS | Yes | Carries a USCIS officer’s certification the State Department can authenticate |
Never post your only original certificate anywhere. Replacing one through Form N-565 is slow and expensive.
Getting a USCIS certified true copy
- At a USCIS field office. Call the USCIS Contact Center and ask for an appointment to obtain a certified true copy of your naturalization certificate. Bring the original and your ID; the officer certifies a copy and you keep the original.
- Through a records request, when an appointment is not practical. This is slower, and you should say clearly that you need a certified copy for apostille.
- For a relative who has died, the record usually comes from the USCIS Genealogy Program or, for older naturalizations, from the National Archives. See National Archives records.
Points that cause problems
- Name changes. If your name today differs from the certificate, the foreign authority may want the marriage or court record linking the two, apostilled as well.
- Proving the date of naturalization is often the actual point, for example in Italian citizenship claims through a parent. The certificate date is what the consulate reads.
- Non-Hague destinations need the certified copy authenticated and then legalized by that country’s embassy. See embassy legalization.
How it works
Step 1
Get the USCIS certified copy
By field office appointment or records request. Keep your original at home.
Step 2
Send us the certified copy
We check the USCIS certification is complete and legible before anything is submitted.
Step 3
Federal apostille
We submit to the U.S. Department of State, government fee included.
Step 4
Back to you
Tracked and insured, or on to the embassy if the destination needs legalization.
Certificate of Naturalization Apostille: common questions
Can I apostille my original naturalization certificate?
No. The U.S. Department of State does not apostille original naturalization certificates. You need a certified true copy issued by USCIS.
Can a notary certify a copy of it instead?
No. Copying the certificate is restricted by federal law, and a notary has no authority to certify a federal record. A state cannot apostille it either, because it is a federal document.
Does my state Secretary of State handle this?
No. A naturalization certificate is federal, so only the U.S. Department of State can apostille it, wherever you live.
How long does it take?
Getting the USCIS certified copy is usually the slow part and depends on appointment availability. Once we have it, the federal apostille typically takes seven to ten business days. See processing times.
What about a certificate of citizenship?
The same rules apply. See certificate of citizenship apostille.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
USCIS, Form N-565 (replacement documents) · USCIS Genealogy Program · U.S. Dept. of State, Office of Authentications
Ready to get started?
Have your USCIS certified copy? Book the federal apostille online. Not sure what you have? Send it through the free review first.
Related: Certificate of citizenship · Federal apostille · Apostille for Italy · Certificate of Non-Existence