The citizenship test for applicants 65 and older (65/20 rule)
How the USCIS 65/20 special consideration works, who qualifies, and what changes about language and civics preparation.
If you are 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for 20 years or more, USCIS offers special civics-test consideration. Many families do not realize this option exists, and it can make a big difference for older applicants.
What 65/20 means
To qualify, you must:
- Be at least 65 years old
- Have had lawful permanent resident status for 20 years or more
If you qualify, USCIS says you may:
- Study only the 20 starred civics questions
- Take a test of 10 questions
- Pass with 6 correct answers
- Take the civics test in the language of your choice
What about the English test?
Applicants who qualify for 65/20 are also exempt from the English reading, writing, and speaking requirement for naturalization testing.
Other age-and-residence exceptions
USCIS also has:
- 50/20: age 50 or older and 20 years as a resident
- 55/15: age 55 or older and 15 years as a resident
Those exceptions let you take the civics test in your own language, but they do not use the smaller 20-question list the way 65/20 does.
Why this matters
The reduced study list makes the process much more realistic for many older adults who have lived in the United States for decades but do not feel comfortable taking the full test in English.
Official study page
CiudadanoUSA supports 65/20 study with marked questions, bilingual guidance, and audio practice. Download it here and share it with your family.