After naturalization in 2026: passport, Social Security, voter registration, and other next steps

First: protect your Certificate of Naturalization

Before anything else, safeguard the document you just received. Your Certificate of Naturalization is the master key to every other step on this list — you will need it to get a passport, update Social Security, and prove your citizenship for years to come. Treat it like the irreplaceable original it nearly is.

One rule matters above all others: never laminate your certificate. Lamination can be treated as altering the document and can make it unusable for official purposes. If you want to protect it physically, use an acid-free sleeve or a document folder instead — never plastic lamination.

Here is a simple routine that saves a lot of future headaches:

• Make several photocopies right away. Use the copies for day-to-day tasks and keep the original tucked away.
• Store the original somewhere safe and dry — a fireproof document box or a folder with your other vital records. Avoid carrying it around in a bag.
• Keep a scan. A clear digital copy on a secure device or drive is invaluable if the original is ever lost or damaged.

Why take this so seriously? Because replacing a lost certificate is genuinely painful. It requires filing Form N-565 with USCIS, the filing fee runs into the hundreds of dollars, and processing can take many months (USCIS, Form N-565). Five minutes at a copier now can spare you all of that later.

If you (or a family member) are still gathering paperwork through the process and want a simple way to keep it all straight, our free N-400 document checklist tool builds a personalized list of what to collect and organize.

Apply for your U.S. passport

You can apply for a U.S. passport as soon as you have your Certificate of Naturalization — there is no waiting period (USCIS, New U.S. Citizens). If you have any international travel coming up, move this step to the top of your list, because you cannot travel abroad without it.

Because it is your first U.S. passport, you must apply in person using Form DS-11 at an authorized acceptance facility, such as many post offices, public libraries, or clerk-of-court offices (U.S. Department of State). First-time applicants cannot apply online or by mail. What to bring:

• Form DS-11, completed but unsigned — you sign it in front of the acceptance agent.
• Your original Certificate of Naturalization plus a photocopy as proof of citizenship. (The facility returns your original by mail, separately from the passport.)
• A government-issued photo ID and a photocopy of it, such as a driver’s license.
• One 2x2 inch passport photo that meets the State Department’s guidelines.
• Fees (see below), typically paid in two separate parts.

As of 2026, a first-time adult passport book costs $165 total — a $130 application fee paid to the State Department plus a $35 execution fee paid to the acceptance facility (U.S. Department of State, passport fees). Optional add-ons include expedited processing for about $60 extra and faster return shipping for a small additional fee. A passport card (useful for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, but not international flights) is cheaper at $65 total.

Routine processing usually takes several weeks, with expedited service faster for the extra fee. Because official processing times shift with demand, always confirm the current estimate on travel.state.gov before booking travel.

Update your Social Security record

This is the step people most often skip — and it quietly causes problems later. Updating your citizenship status with the Social Security Administration (SSA) keeps your record accurate for employment verification, tax reporting, and future benefits (Social Security Administration). If your record still shows you as a noncitizen, it can trigger mismatches during hiring (for example, with E-Verify) down the road.

Your Social Security number does not change — it stays the same for life. What you are updating is the status attached to it. If your previous card carried the annotation “Valid for Work Only with DHS Authorization,” updating your record lets you receive a new card without that restriction (Social Security Administration).

Because citizenship updates require verifying original documents, you generally need to handle this in person at a local Social Security office. It is worth scheduling an appointment ahead of time to avoid long waits. Bring:

• A completed Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card).
• Original proof of U.S. citizenship — your Certificate of Naturalization or your new U.S. passport. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted for this.
• Proof of identity, such as a current driver’s license, state ID, or passport.

Once SSA verifies your documents, they update your file and mail any new card to your address. In the meantime, you can keep working — your naturalization certificate or passport serves as proof of work authorization.

Register to vote

For many new citizens, this is the step that finally makes it feel real. Voting is one of the most meaningful rights that comes with citizenship — and now that you have taken the Oath, you are fully entitled to register (vote.gov). Registration is not automatic, though; you have to sign up. The good news is it is quick and free.

You can register through any of these routes (vote.gov):

• Online, in the many states that offer it — start at vote.gov, which routes you to your state’s system.
• At the DMV when you update your driver’s license or state ID.
• By mail, using the National Mail Voter Registration Form, accepted in most states (U.S. Election Assistance Commission).
• At your local election office, in person.

Voter registration deadlines vary by state and are tied to each election — some states allow same-day registration, while others cut off registration weeks before Election Day. If an election is coming up, check your state’s deadline early so you do not miss it. Many oath ceremonies also have nonpartisan volunteers handing out registration forms on the spot, which is a convenient time to start.

Other updates to make

Beyond the big three, a handful of smaller updates round out your new-citizen to-do list. None are urgent, but they are worth handling over the following weeks and months.

• Driver’s license or state ID. Visit your state DMV to update your record. If your license or state records carry a “resident alien” or noncitizen designation, this is when you have it corrected. It is also a natural moment to register to vote at the same time.
• Selective Service (if applicable). Nearly all men who live in the U.S. must register with the Selective Service System between ages 18 and 25 (Selective Service System). Most naturalized citizens have already satisfied this during their immigration journey, but if you are a man under 26 and have not registered, take care of it. If this applies to you, it is worth a quick look at the rules for your exact situation.
• Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. As a citizen with a U.S. passport, you are now eligible for trusted-traveler programs that speed you through airport security and customs. Many new citizens sign up once their passport arrives — a nice, tangible perk.
• Jury duty. At some point you may receive a jury summons. Rather than a chore, think of it as a civic milestone: serving on a jury is a right and responsibility reserved for citizens, and it is one of the most direct ways ordinary people shape how justice works.

You may also want to update your status with your employer’s HR records and, if relevant, notify any financial or benefits programs that previously tracked your immigration status.

Can you lose your citizenship after naturalization?

Let us address this directly, because it is a quiet worry for a lot of new citizens: for the overwhelming majority of people, the answer is no. Your naturalized citizenship is permanent and carries the same rights as citizenship by birth.

Citizenship can only be taken away in rare and specific situations — essentially, when it was obtained through fraud or willful misrepresentation of important facts during the application process. It does not disappear because you travel, live abroad, change jobs, or make an ordinary mistake on a form.

If you applied honestly and truthfully — as the vast majority of applicants do — you can set this concern aside completely. You are a citizen, full stop. Enjoy it.

Your first-90-days checklist

Here is the whole thing in one scannable list. Screenshot it, print it, or bookmark it — and check things off as you go.

Frequently asked questions