Please Send only original certificates of Naturalization. Photo copies or faxes not acceptable. If you have lost your certificate of naturalization then follow these steps. If you have any questions about your certificate of naturalization not covered here please contact the National Passport Information Center.

If you are not expediting a passport (leaving the country in the next 2 weeks) using American Passport Express then please contact your local INS office in the phone book or the National Passport Information Center.

Lost Naturalization Papers

If you have lost your naturalization papers, follow these steps to satisfy the Passport Agency's "Proof of US Citizenship" requirement:

1. Apply for a new copy of Naturalization papers through the Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS). You can find your local INS Office in the phone book.
 
2. Obtain a receipt from INS showing that you've applied for a new copy of the papers.
   
3. Obtain a "Letter of Verification" of citizenship from INS showing your citizenship.
4. Write and sign a letter explaining why you cannot present your naturalization papers.

Submit to the acceptance agent (AA) as your proof of citizenship the following 3 documents:

1.INS receipt

2.Letter of Verification

3.Letter explaining why your naturalization certificate is missing.

You should be issued a limited one year passport which that 1-year passport which can be extended to its full 10-year term once the new naturalization papers can be presented.