50/20
Age 50 or older with at least 20 years as an LPR
Exempt from the English requirement; civics is still required and may be taken in the applicant’s preferred language.
Testing rules · reviewed August 29, 2026
Exceptions, disability waivers and accommodations are different
Naturalization testing rules contain age-and-residence exceptions, a medical disability exception, and reasonable accommodations. They solve different legal and accessibility problems and use different evidence.
Age and time as a permanent resident
55/15
Age 55 or older with at least 15 years as an LPR
Exempt from the English requirement; civics is still required and may be taken in the applicant’s preferred language.
65/20
Age 65 or older with at least 20 years as an LPR
Exempt from English and receives special consideration for civics: study the specially designated 20 questions and take civics in the language of choice.
Applicants using a language other than English for the civics examination generally bring an interpreter who is fluent in English and the chosen language.
Form N-648 · medical disability exception
Form N-648 is for an applicant who cannot meet the English requirement, civics requirement, or both because of a medically determinable physical or developmental disability or mental impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.
The current form states that only a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist may certify it. The medical professional must explain the connection between the diagnosed condition and the applicant's inability to learn or demonstrate the required knowledge.
USCIS Form N-648Disability accommodation · change how the process is accessed
An accommodation does not necessarily excuse an applicant from a legal requirement. It changes the way USCIS provides access—for example, sign-language interpretation, extended examination time, oral testing when writing is inaccessible, or an off-site interview where appropriate.
USCIS provides a separate accommodation-request process for appointments. If the applicant cannot satisfy English or civics even with reasonable accommodation because of a qualifying disability or impairment, Form N-648 is the exception process.
Request an accommodation65/20 under the 2025 civics test
USCIS's official 2025 question bank says a qualifying 65/20 applicant studies only the 20 questions marked with an asterisk. The officer asks 10 of those 20, and the applicant must answer at least 6 correctly. The test may be taken in the applicant's chosen language.
Age or difficulty learning is not automatically an N-648 basis
The medical exception is tied to a qualifying disability or impairment and its functional effect on the English/civics requirements. Advanced age, limited education or illiteracy by themselves are not the medical exception described by Form N-648.