US Launches New 2025 Civics Test for Green Card Holders Starting Today

The United States has introduced stricter naturalisation rules, including a tougher civics test and expanded background checks for citizenship applicants, effective 20 October 2025.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revised the Naturalisation Civics Test by increasing the number of oral questions from ten to twenty. Applicants must now answer at least twelve questions correctly to pass. The updated exam focuses more heavily on US history and government, removing geography-related questions and requiring a stronger grasp of constitutional principles.

USCIS has said the changes are intended to ensure applicants demonstrate both factual knowledge and a clear understanding of American civic values. The agency has also tightened reviews of disability exemptions and issued new guidance allowing officers to assess an applicant’s moral character based on positive contributions to their community, not just the absence of legal violations.

Applicants aged 65 and over who have held permanent residency for at least twenty years will continue to take a simplified version of the test. This group must answer ten questions from a specific list and may complete the exam in their preferred language.

The naturalisation process will also include more thorough vetting. USCIS will now require testimonial letters from individuals such as neighbours, employers, and colleagues to verify applicants’ integration into their communities and their compliance with US laws.

In parallel, the Department of Justice has authorised broader use of denaturalisation proceedings. Civil Division staff have been given greater authority to pursue cases against individuals suspected of obtaining citizenship through fraud or by concealing material information. Even violations such as underreporting income on tax returns may lead to the revocation of citizenship.

These measures form part of a wider federal effort to increase oversight and accountability in the naturalisation system.