Can I Get a U.S. Passport at My Naturalization Oath Ceremony?

Let's say you just received a notice from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) containing the date for your citizenship swearing in or "oath" ceremony. On top of being excited to finally become a naturalized U.S. citizen, you might hope to take an overseas trip and enjoy the ease of travel and return that comes with a U.S. passport.

If you have heard rumors that you can get a U.S. passport at the oath ceremony, however, these aren't true. However, you are not far away from this important benefit of citizenship.

What Document Will I Receive at My U.S. Naturalization Oath Ceremony?

You will receive an important document on the day of the naturalization swearing-in or oath ceremony. It's your "certificate of naturalization." It is not a passport, but rather an official-looking sheet of paper with your photo and some text on it. This certificate is useful for proving your citizenship status in various contexts, such as applying for foreign-born family members to immigrate—but it cannot be used in place of a U.S. passport.

You will not receive a U.S. passport on the day of your swearing-in ceremony. But in some parts of the United States (particularly in large cities), if you plan ahead and also leave yourself some time at the end of the ceremony to stand in a long line, you might be able to submit an application for one. Ask the USCIS interviewer who approves you for citizenship whether you can expect the U.S. State Department to provide staff to accept passport applications at your swearing-in ceremony.

What Do I Bring If a State Department Representative Will Be Accepting Passport Applications at My Oath Ceremony?

If applying for a passport at your naturalization oath ceremony looks like a good possibility, plan ahead by obtaining two passport-style photos. You can have these done at most chain drugstores, copy shops, or photo shops, typically for less than $15. It's best to go to a professional, because these photos must meet federal guidelines.

It's also a good idea to fill out the passport application form (DS-11) BEFORE you get to the oath ceremony, to make extra sure that it is complete and correct. If you weren't given a copy of this form at your naturalization interview with USCIS, you may download it from the Passport Application Forms page of the State Department website.

DO NOT, however, sign the form until you are in the presence of a State Department official.

Be prepared to pay not only the application fee (check the latest on the Passport Fees page of the State Department website) but the fee to have the completed passport mailed to you.

Also be prepared to give up your fresh new certificate of naturalization! If there's a copy machine near the ceremony hall, be sure to take advantage of it, particularly if you plan to use it to petition for family members to receive U.S. residence. At a minimum, take a photo of your naturalization certificate. The number on it is a useful piece of information if it gets lost.

How Much Longer Will It Take to Get My U.S. Passport?

Normally, there is a wait of around six weeks to receive a U.S. passport. However, the DOS sometimes has long delays in producing passports (not to mention in scheduling oath ceremonies.)

If I Don't Apply for a Passport During My Oath Ceremony, How Do I Get One?

If you can't apply for your passport during the oath ceremony, there are other ways to do so after attending it. You will get an application for a U.S. passport at your naturalization ceremony in the "U.S. Citizenship Welcome Packet," with instructions on how to apply. Go to the Passports page of the U.S. Department of State website for further instructions.

Everyone must go personally to a U.S. government office or a post office (a passport acceptance facility) to apply for their first U.S. passport, though you will later be able to apply for renewals by mail. The personnel at these locations are not U.S. consular officers, but they should accept your application as long as you provide the correct documents, then will forward it to the Department of State for passport processing.