Check your N-400 eligibility
Front of your green card — not the issue date or expiration date.
Add up every trip — including short vacations — during the 5 years immediately before you file, not since you got your green card.
The single longest continuous absence, not the total.
You must live in the state/USCIS district for 3 months before filing.
Requirement-by-requirement check
| Requirement | Rule | You | Status |
|---|
This tool checks the four requirements that can be calculated from dates. It cannot assess good moral character, English/civics ability, or Selective Service registration — all of which are also required. It is an estimate, not legal advice.
The 90-Day Rule Trap Most Calculators Miss
Nearly every "early filing calculator" online does one thing: green card date + 5 years − 90 days = your date. That arithmetic is correct, and it is also where most applicants get into trouble, because it answers only half the question.
The 90-day early filing provision applies to the continuous residence requirement only. It does not extend, waive, or discount the physical presence requirement. On the day you actually file — not 90 days later — you must already have accumulated 913 days in the U.S. (5-year path) or 548 days (3-year path). Filing 90 days early does not buy you 90 more days of presence.
There is a second, subtler reason it does not help: the statutory period is a sliding window. Physical presence is counted over the 5 years immediately preceding the day you file — roughly 1,826 days — not over your whole time as a permanent resident. Move your filing date 90 days earlier and the window moves 90 days earlier with it. You do not gain a day.
This bites travelers. Take someone filing at their earliest date with 900 days spent abroad during that 5-year window: 1,826 − 900 = 926 days present. They clear the 913-day bar by 13 days — a margin thin enough that a single miscounted vacation sinks the application. Someone with 920 days abroad is below the line and would be denied and lose the filing fee, even though the calendar said they could file. The calculator above runs both clocks and shows the exact window it measured.
If it tells you that you clear physical presence by a thin margin, the safe move is to wait past the anniversary rather than file at the earliest possible moment — every extra day at home adds one to your count, and the window slides forward with you.
N-400 Eligibility Requirements (2026)
| Requirement | 5-Year Rule | 3-Year Rule (spouse of citizen) |
|---|---|---|
| Time as permanent resident | 5 years | 3 years |
| Earliest filing | 90 days before the 5-year mark | 90 days before the 3-year mark |
| Physical presence (not extended by the 90-day rule) | 913 days (~30 months) | 548 days (~18 months) |
| Continuous residence | No single absence of 6+ months (rebuttable presumption of a break) or 1+ year (automatic break) | |
| State / district residence | 3 months immediately before filing | |
| Marriage condition | — | Married to and living with the same U.S. citizen for the full 3 years |
| Age | 18 or older at filing | |
| Filing fee | $710 online / $760 paper — check reduced fee & waiver eligibility | |
Sources: 8 CFR § 316.2 (general naturalization requirements and the early filing provision), INA § 319(a) (spouse of U.S. citizen), and the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Parts D–E. Fees per the USCIS fee schedule in effect July 2026. Rules and fees change — always verify at uscis.gov/n-400 before filing.
How Trips Abroad Affect Your Case
Under 6 months
Continuous residence is not questioned. The days still count against your physical presence total, so a habit of long vacations can quietly put the 913-day threshold out of reach even though no single trip was a problem.
6 months to 1 year
Creates a rebuttable presumption that you abandoned continuous residence. You can overcome it with evidence of unbroken U.S. ties — you kept your job, home, bank accounts, family, and filed U.S. taxes as a resident. Expect scrutiny at the interview and bring documentation.
1 year or more
Breaks continuous residence automatically, with no opportunity to rebut. Your clock restarts, and you generally must wait 4 years and 1 day after returning (2 years and 1 day on the 3-year spousal path) before you can file. An approved Form N-470 can preserve residence in narrow cases.
One nuance in your favor: USCIS generally counts partial days in the United States — including your departure day and your return day — as days of physical presence. But if the calculator shows you clearing 913 days by a handful of days, do not lean on that. Give yourself weeks of margin, not days.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I file Form N-400?
Up to 90 calendar days before you complete the required 5 years (or 3 years, if married to and living with a U.S. citizen) of continuous residence. Take the "Resident Since" date on your green card, add 5 or 3 years, then subtract 90 days.
Does the 90-day rule also apply to physical presence?
No — and this is the costliest misunderstanding in the process. The 90-day provision applies only to continuous residence. You must already meet the 913-day (or 548-day) physical presence requirement on the day you file.
How many days must I be physically present?
913 days (about 30 months) during the 5-year period, or 548 days (about 18 months) during the 3-year period. Every day abroad — including short vacations — reduces the count.
Do trips abroad break continuous residence?
A single absence of 6 months to under 1 year creates a rebuttable presumption of a break, which you can fight with evidence of U.S. ties. An absence of 1 year or more breaks it automatically and restarts your clock.
What is the 3-month state residence rule?
You must have lived in the state or USCIS district where you file for at least 3 months immediately before filing. If you moved recently, either wait out the 3 months or file where you still qualify.
What if I file too early?
USCIS rejects or denies the application and you lose the filing fee — $710 online, $760 paper. One day early costs you the whole fee and a restart, which is exactly why the earliest filing date is worth getting right.
How much does the N-400 cost in 2026?
$710 online or $760 by paper. A reduced fee of $380 (paper only) applies at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and a full waiver may be available at or below 150% — check with our N-400 fee calculator.
How long does naturalization take after filing?
Processing varies by field office and changes frequently. See our USCIS processing times guide for current ranges, and always confirm against the official USCIS processing times page for your office.
Not legal advice. This calculator provides estimates based on the general naturalization rules and cannot account for every situation — including prior immigration violations, criminal history, tax issues, Selective Service, N-470 residence preservation, or military service provisions, each of which can change the answer. Always verify your eligibility at uscis.gov/n-400 and consult a licensed immigration attorney before filing.