GENERAL INFORMATION · CITIZENSHIP

Administrative and judicial naturalization ceremonies: who administers the oath

Naturalization ceremonies may be administrative or judicial. The difference is the institution that administers the Oath of Allegiance: USCIS at an administrative ceremony, or a court at a judicial ceremony.

Editorial topic illustration. It does not depict a specific applicant, ceremony, courthouse, USCIS office, oath administration, certificate, or agency action.

The oath is the final naturalization step

USCIS describes taking the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony as the final step in the naturalization process. An approved applicant does not become a U.S. citizen through approval alone; USCIS states that citizenship begins after the oath is taken, except where the law provides for a waiver.

Administrative ceremonies

At an administrative naturalization ceremony, USCIS administers the oath. USCIS policy describes the agency as responsible for organizing and conducting these ceremonies and for issuing Certificates of Naturalization to people who complete the process.

Judicial ceremonies

At a judicial naturalization ceremony, a court administers the oath. USCIS policy explains that courts have exclusive authority to administer the oath in some jurisdictions. In other places, judicial ceremonies may operate alongside administrative ceremonies.

The judicial label refers to the court’s role in administering the oath. It does not mean that every person attending such a ceremony has a disputed or litigated naturalization case.

What generally happens at a ceremony

USCIS’s public overview says participants check in, return their Permanent Resident Cards, answer questions on the ceremony notice, take the Oath of Allegiance, and receive Certificates of Naturalization. Exact arrangements can differ by location and ceremony type.

Special and expedited ceremonies

USCIS and courts may hold special ceremonies at notable locations or around civic events. USCIS policy also addresses expedited judicial ceremonies in limited circumstances. These labels describe how a ceremony is organized; they do not independently establish anyone’s eligibility or scheduling priority.

Primary federal sources

• USCIS: Naturalization Ceremonies ↗ — official overview, updated February 12, 2026.
• USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part J: Oath of Allegiance ↗ — agency policy on administrative and judicial ceremonies.
• USCIS: Naturalization—What to Expect ↗ — official process overview.

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