Citizenship Test Exemptions: 50/20, 55/15, 65/20 and Medical Waivers (N-648)

You are exempt from the English part of the US citizenship test if, on the day you file Form N-400, you are 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or 55 or older with 15 years. You still take the civics test, but you can take it in your own language. If you are 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, you also get an easier civics test: 10 questions from a special list of 20, with 6 correct needed. A medical certification on Form N-648 can waive English, civics, or both.

Key points

• 50/20 and 55/15: no English test; civics test in your language with an interpreter you bring.
• 65/20: no English test; civics test of 10 questions from 20 starred questions, 6 correct to pass, in your language.
• Age and years as a permanent resident are measured on the day you file, not the day of your interview.
• Form N-648 (no USCIS fee) can waive English, civics, or both for a disability expected to last at least 12 months.
• Nobody is exempt from the oath requirement unless USCIS separately grants a disability waiver of the oath.

The exemptions at a glance

Exemption	Age at filing	Time as a permanent resident	English test	Civics test
Standard	Any (18+)	5 years (3 if married to a citizen)	Required	20 questions from 128, 12 to pass (2025 test)
50/20	50 or older	At least 20 years	Exempt	Full civics test, in your language if you choose
55/15	55 or older	At least 15 years	Exempt	Full civics test, in your language if you choose
65/20	65 or older	Periods totaling at least 20 years	Exempt	10 questions from 20 starred, 6 to pass, in your language
Medical (N-648)	Any	Any	Waived if certified	Waived if certified

Sources: USCIS exceptions and accommodations and the USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 12, Part E, Ch. 2.

50/20 and 55/15: skipping the English test

The English test normally has three parts: reading (1 of 3 sentences), writing (1 of 3 sentences) and speaking (judged during the interview). Under the 50/20 and 55/15 exceptions, you skip all three.

The Policy Manual says “the age and time requirements must be met at the time of filing the naturalization application.” Two examples:

• Maria became a permanent resident in June 2006 and turns 50 in March 2026. If she files in April 2026, she has been a resident for less than 20 years, so 50/20 does not apply. If she waits until June 2026, she meets 50/20 on filing.
• Ahmed is 56 and has been a permanent resident for 16 years. He qualifies for 55/15 even though he does not yet meet 50/20.

Your time is counted from the date you became a permanent resident (the “Resident Since” date on your card). Time spent abroad can raise questions, so if you have had long absences, ask an immigration lawyer how USCIS will count your years.

Taking civics in your own language

If you use 50/20 or 55/15, you still take the regular civics test. For applications filed on or after October 20, 2025, that is the 2025 test: up to 20 questions from 128, 12 correct to pass, and the test stops at 12 correct or 9 wrong. You may take it in English or in your language of choice. If you choose another language, you must bring your own interpreter, who must be fluent in English and your language. USCIS does not supply one for the civics test.

Officers can use the 2025 list in translation, so you can study in your own language. For how the test is scored, see the 2025 US citizenship test explained.

65/20: the shorter civics test

If you are 65 or older and have lived in the US for periods totaling at least 20 years as a permanent resident when you file, you get “special consideration” on civics:

• You study only the 20 questions marked with an asterisk on the official 128-question list.
• The officer asks 10 of them.
• You need 6 correct (60%) to pass.
• You may take it in your language of choice, with an interpreter.
• You are also exempt from English, because you meet 50/20.

This applies to both the 2008 and 2025 tests. Which version you take still depends on your filing date: on or after October 20, 2025 means the 2025 version, as confirmed on the USCIS test updates page.

The 20 starred questions (2025 version)

On the 2025 list, the starred questions are numbers 2, 7, 12, 20, 30, 36, 38, 39, 44, 52, 61, 66, 74, 78, 86, 94, 113, 115, 121 and 126. They include:

• What is the supreme law of the land? (Q2)
• How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have? (Q7)
• What is the name of the President of the United States now? (Q38)
• Who is the governor of your state now? (Q61)
• Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? (Q78)
• What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States? (Q115)
• Name three national U.S. holidays. (Q126)

Several answers change with elections. You must name whoever holds the office on your interview day. As of October 2026 USCIS lists President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (Q30). Look up your own governor.

You can practice with the 65/20 mode of our free US citizenship practice test, which asks 10 of the 20 starred questions and needs 6 correct, the same as the real test.

Medical disability exception: Form N-648

If a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment prevents you from learning or showing knowledge of English, civics, or both, you can ask for a waiver with Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions.

Item	Rule
Who completes it	A medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist licensed in the US
Exam	In person, or by real-time telehealth where state law allows
Duration of condition	Has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months
Cause	Must not be related to illegal drug use
What it can waive	English, civics, or both, as the professional certifies
Timing	Certified no more than 180 days before you file the N-400; submit with the N-400 or later
USCIS fee	$0 (the professional may charge for the exam)
Current edition	09/25/24

Sources: USCIS N-648 page and the Policy Manual, Vol. 12, Part E, Ch. 3.

The certification must explain how the condition prevents you from meeting the requirement. Simply listing a diagnosis is a common reason officers find an N-648 insufficient. If the officer does not accept it, you take the tests that were not waived.

If the professional certifies that you cannot meet the English speaking requirement, USCIS holds the interview and civics test in your preferred language, using an interpreter.

Accommodations are different from exemptions

You do not need an N-648 to get help at the interview. If you use a wheelchair, have hearing or vision loss, or need extra time or a sign language interpreter, request an accommodation at uscis.gov/accommodations as soon as you receive your appointment notice. Accommodations change how you take the test; they do not remove it.

Which exemption should you claim?

Mark the exemption on your N-400 if you qualify on the filing date. If you are close to a threshold, compare:

1. Filing now under the standard rules, with English and the full civics test.
2. Waiting a few months to reach 50/20, 55/15 or 65/20.

Waiting can make sense if English is your main barrier. But it also delays citizenship, so weigh family, travel and voting plans. The general process is in our N-400 step-by-step guide, and the interview flow is in the US citizenship interview: what to expect.

What to do next

1. Check your age and “Resident Since” date and work out which exemption, if any, you meet today.
2. If you qualify for 65/20, study the 20 starred questions and try the 65/20 mode on the practice test.
3. If you plan to test in your language, line up a fluent interpreter.
4. If you are considering an N-648, book an exam with a licensed doctor or clinical psychologist no more than 180 days before you file.
5. Follow the US country hub for test updates.

General information, not legal advice. Checked against USCIS sources on October 11, 2026.