The 65/20 Exemption: 20 Questions, 10 Asked, 6 to Pass
The short answer
Last checked against USCIS on August 18, 2026
Both Numbers Are Measured on the Day You File
Both numbers are measured at filing. You must be 65 or older at the time you file Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization, and you must have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for periods totaling at least 20 years after you were lawfully admitted for permanent residence. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) calls this special consideration for the civics test.
Turning 65 while your case sits in the queue does not move you onto the short list. Neither does reaching your twentieth year as a green card holder after filing. If you are close to either mark, that alone can be a reason to talk with an accredited representative before you file.
Source: USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12 Part E Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing
What You Actually Take: 20 to Study, 10 Asked, 6 to Pass
The bank for applicants given special consideration holds 20 specially designated civics questions. The test itself has 10 questions drawn from that list, and you pass by answering 6 of them correctly or by giving an accepted alternative phrasing of a correct answer. That is the same 60 percent bar every other applicant meets, applied to a much smaller amount of material.
The rule works the same way on both test versions. Applicants who filed before October 20, 2025 draw their 10 questions from the 20 marked questions on the 2008 test. Applicants who filed on or after that date draw 10 from the 20 marked questions on the 2025 test.
Source: USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12 Part E Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing
Three Provisions People Mix Up Constantly
Three provisions get grouped together and they do different things. Two of them are about English. One of them is about the civics list. Read the table row by row and find the one that matches your age and your years as a green card holder.
| Provision | Who qualifies | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| 50/20 | Age 50 or older at the time of filing Form N-400, and an LPR who has lived in the United States for at least 20 years | Exempt from the English requirement. The civics test is still required and may be taken in the language of your choice with an interpreter. |
| 55/15 | Age 55 or older at the time of filing Form N-400, and an LPR who has lived in the United States for at least 15 years | The same English exemption on different numbers. The civics test is still required and may be taken in the language of your choice with an interpreter. |
| 65/20 | Age 65 or older at the time of filing Form N-400, and an LPR for periods totaling at least 20 years | Everything above, plus special consideration on civics: a marked study list of 20 questions, 10 asked, 6 correct to pass. |
Source: USCIS, Exceptions and Accommodations
Source: USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12 Part E Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing
If You Meet 65/20 You Already Meet 50/20
If you meet 65/20 you already meet 50/20, because 65 is older than 50 and 20 years is 20 years. So the shorter civics list arrives on top of an English exemption you qualify for anyway. That is the reason USCIS describes 65/20 applicants as exempt from English and also given specially designated civics test forms.
The reverse is not true. A 52 year old with 21 years as a green card holder is exempt from English and takes the civics test in the language of their choice, but studies the full bank of 128 questions.
Source: USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12 Part E Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing
You Bring the Interpreter
Where one of these exemptions applies, USCIS says you may take the test in the language of your choice and that you bring an interpreter to the interview. The interpreter must be fluent in English and in your language. USCIS does not send someone to the interview for you, so arrange this in advance and do not arrive assuming an interpreter will be waiting.
Pick someone who can sit calmly through a long appointment and translate a question as asked rather than explaining it. An interpreter who coaches you is a problem, not a help.
Source: USCIS, Exceptions and Accommodations
A Separate Route for Disability: Form N-648
Age and years as a green card holder are not the only path. An applicant who cannot meet the English requirement, the civics requirement, or both because of a physical or developmental disability or a mental impairment may ask for a medical disability exception. The request is made on Form N-648, the Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, and it is completed by a licensed medical doctor, a licensed osteopathic doctor, or a licensed clinical psychologist.
This is a different question from the age provisions, decided on different evidence, and it can excuse English, civics, or both. If age does not get you there and a medical condition is the real obstacle, ask an accredited representative about this form rather than guessing.
Source: USCIS, Form N-648 Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions
Source: USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12 Part E Chapter 3, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions
Where to Find the 20 Marked Questions
On the 2008 test, our full list flags every question that belongs to the short list. Open all 100 questions for the 2008 test and look for the questions tagged “65/20 list” next to the number.
For the 2025 test we have not published a separate marked list of the 20. USCIS marks them with a star beside the question inside its official 128 question document, and we could not confirm every one of the 20 from that file with enough confidence to reprint it here. Use the official file for the marked list. We would rather send you to the source than hand you a list that might be missing a question.
Source: USCIS, 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version)
Source: USCIS, Study for the Test
A Few Answers Still Change Between Now and Your Interview
A short list does not protect you from the questions whose answers move. Questions about people currently in office change with elections and appointments, and USCIS updates the published answers on a rolling basis. Check the official updates page in the week before your interview and answer with the official serving on that day.
Source: USCIS, Check for Test Updates
Read Next
Questions people ask
- Who qualifies for the 65/20 exemption?
- You qualify if, on the day you file Form N-400, you are 65 or older and you have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for periods totaling at least 20 years. Both conditions are measured at filing, not at the interview.
- How many civics questions do I study under 65/20?
- You study a specially designated list of 20 questions rather than the full bank. The officer asks 10 of them and you need 6 correct, which is the same 60 percent everyone else needs.
- Is 65/20 the same as the 50/20 exemption?
- No. The 50/20 and 55/15 provisions exempt you from the English requirement and let you take the civics test in the language you choose. The 65/20 provision adds the shorter civics list on top of that.
- Can I take the civics test in my own language?
- Yes, if you qualify under 50/20, 55/15, or 65/20. USCIS says you may take the test in the language of your choice and that you bring an interpreter who is fluent in both English and your language.
- What if a disability, not age, is what stops me from testing?
- That is a separate route. Form N-648, completed by a licensed medical doctor, osteopathic doctor, or clinical psychologist, asks USCIS to excuse the English requirement, the civics requirement, or both because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment.
- Where is the list of the 20 questions for the 2025 test?
- USCIS marks them with a star inside its official 128 question document. We have not republished a separate marked list of the 20 for the 2025 test on this site, so use the official USCIS file for that.
This is not legal advice
We Are Americans Foundation provides civic education. We are not a law firm and nobody here is your attorney. This page explains official information in plain language and points you to the source so you can check it yourself. Immigration rules change, and the facts of your case matter. For advice about your situation, speak with an immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the Department of Justice.
You can find free and low cost help through the Department of Justice recognized organizations roster.