U.S Eases Citizenship Rules for Older Green Card Holders
The U.S. government has updated naturalization requirements, allowing older green card holders to bypass the English language test. These exemptions apply to applicants based on specific age and residency duration thresholds.
Why it matters
This policy change simplifies the path to citizenship for long-term residents, potentially impacting thousands of immigrants seeking to naturalize.
A photo collage of U.S. President Donald Trump and a U.S. visa, March 20, 2026. Photo White House, Canva --> The United States government has eased the naturalisation requirement for certain older lawful permanent residents, allowing eligible green card holders to seek citizenship without taking the mandatory English language test.
The exception published by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) applies to applicants who meet specific age and residency requirements at the time they file their citizenship application.
Under the new rules, green card holders aged 50 or older who have lived in the U.S as lawful permanent residents for at least 20 years are exempt from the English requirement.
At the same time, those aged 55 or older who have held lawful permanent resident status for at least 15 years are also exempt from the English test.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in