The difficulty of an immigration or citizenship test largely depends on your preparation, English proficiency, and which country's test you are taking. Generally, the tests are considered manageable for those who study the provided materials, but lack of preparation can make them difficult.
List of Top 15 Hardest Countries To Get Citizenship in 2026
The citizenship test is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam. It consists of 20 questions, and applicants must achieve a pass mark of at least 75% (15 correct answers). Importantly, since 2020, applicants must also correctly answer all five questions on Australian values.
How to Pass the US Citizenship Test
Australia's test by contrast should be laughably simple for new arrivals, based on the 20-question, multiple choice practice exam available on the Department of Home Affairs website. Given a 75 per cent pass mark – and an easier three, rather than four, response choices – it's hard to see how anyone could fail it.
Applicants will be asked questions to test their understanding of U.S. history and government, and will be required to give correct answers to 12 of up to 20 questions, which are drawn from a pool of 128. This is an increase from the previous required threshold of six correct answers out of 10 questions.
You will receive your results right after completing the exam.
The U.S. citizenship interview usually lasts between 20-30 minutes. The length of the interview can vary depending on how long it takes to verify the information in your application and assess your English and civics skills.
These are: by birth, by descent, by naturalization, and by marriage. These core categories form the foundation for how most individuals acquire their legal status within a nation.
If an alien fails any portion of the English test, the civics test, or all tests during the initial naturalization examination, USCIS reschedules the alien to appear for a second examination between 60 and 90 days after the initial examination.
Your interview appointment notice; Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card; A state-issued identification such as a driver's license; and. All valid and expired passports and travel documents issued to you that document your absences from the United States since becoming a permanent resident.
If you qualify for the 65/20 special consideration, a USCIS officer will ask you to answer 10 out of the 20 civics test questions with an asterisk. You must answer at least 6 out of 10 questions (or 60%) correctly to pass the 2020 version of the civics test.
The most common reasons for citizenship denial include criminal record issues affecting good moral character, continuous residence breaks from long trips abroad, physical presence shortfalls, unpaid taxes or child support, selective service non-registration, and misrepresentation on naturalization applications.
Here are some of the most challenging countries to immigrate to:
Applicants who fail 1 or both test components will have a second opportunity to pass both portions of the test, called a re-exam. The diagram below shows that 95.7% of all applicants pass the naturalization test.
Once you've passed the interview and citizenship test, USCIS will send you a notification that your application was approved. You will then be scheduled for your oath ceremony, usually 1–2 months after your successful interview.
A common mistake is negative body language. Yawning, slouching, chewing gum or looking at your watch, could all give the impression you aren't interested in the job. If you ask about salary and benefits too early in the interview it may appear that you are only in it for the rewards.
USCIS Processing Times are Slowing in 2025
The wait time for Form N-400 (citizenship) has been the fastest since 2016.
Here are the 10 biggest interview killers to be aware of:
For the "3 strengths" interview question, pick relevant strengths, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide specific examples, and connect them to the job, focusing on adaptability, problem-solving, and collaboration with examples like learning new software quickly, resolving a customer issue empathetically, or leading a project to success to show impact.
Why Become a U.S. Citizen?
The hearing will last 30 to 90 minutes. It helps us verify if you're eligible for Canadian citizenship. After your hearing, we'll send you a letter with the results. If you pass the hearing, wait for your invitation to the citizenship ceremony.
The citizenship test that USCIS has used since 2008 requires applicants to answer six questions correctly out of 10. The new test will require 12 correct answers out of 20. The list of possible questions the agent chooses from will grow from 100 to 128, and many will be more difficult.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sometimes schedules same-day oath ceremonies for applicants who are approved at their naturalization interview.