By Ojochenemi Onje
Copyright businessday
The United States government has announced the rollout of a new civics test that will be compulsory for lawful permanent residents, popularly known as green card holders, applying for American citizenship from October 20, 2025.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the 2025 Naturalisation Civics Test will be a critical part of the naturalisation process, designed to ensure that foreign nationals demonstrate not only knowledge of U.S. history and government but also alignment with American values before being granted citizenship.
The updated exam is an oral test of 20 questions, drawn from a pool of 128 civics questions.
Applicants must correctly answer at least 12 questions to pass, as officers administering the test will stop questioning once a candidate reaches either 12 correct or 9 incorrect answers, effectively determining success or failure on the spot.
The civics test is only one part of the effort by USCIS to tighten eligibility requirements for citizenship.
The agency has restored tougher vetting procedures and introduced stricter reviews of disability exemptions from English and civics requirements.
Applicants will now be subject to “neighbourhood investigations”, which require testimonial letters from neighbours, employers, colleagues, or business associates to verify good moral character.
USCIS guidance also emphasises that naturalisation should reflect positive contributions to American society, not merely an absence of misconduct.
Other disqualifying behaviours highlighted include unlawfully voting, registering to vote, or making false claims to U.S. citizenship.
Even after naturalisation, citizenship is no longer guaranteed for life as the Department of Justice (DOJ) has signalled an increased focus on denaturalisation cases, authorising civil proceedings to strip citizenship from individuals who obtained it through fraud, concealment, or misrepresentation.
According to a DOJ memo, violations ranging from false information during the application process to under-reporting income on tax returns could lead to revocation of citizenship.
It stressed that naturalisation is a privilege, not a right, and that the 2025 reforms are aimed at strengthening the integrity of the process.
“The updated civics test and enhanced eligibility reviews are meant to guarantee that only those fully prepared to uphold American values and responsibilities become citizens,” USCIS noted in its Federal Register announcement.
