(a) Lost, mutilated, or destroyed naturalization papers. A person whose declaration of intention, certificate of naturalization, citizenship, or repatriation, or whose certified copy of proceedings under the act of June 25, 1936, as amended, or under section 317(b) of the Nationality Act of 1940, or under section 324(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or under the provisions of any private law, has been lost, mutilated, or destroyed, must apply on the form designated by USCIS with the fee specified in 8 CFR part 106 and in accordance with the form instructions.

(b) New certificate in changed name. A naturalized citizen whose name has been changed after naturalization by order of court or by marriage must apply for a new certificate of naturalization, or of citizenship, in the changed name.

(c) Adjudication and disposition—(1) Interview. The applicant shall only be required to appear in person for interview under oath or affirmation in specific cases. Those cases which necessitate an interview enabling an officer to properly adjudicate the application at the office having jurisdiction will be determined by USCIS.

(2) Approval. If an application for a new certificate of naturalization, citizenship, or repatriation or a new declaration of intention is approved, the new certificate or declaration will be issued and delivered by personal service in accordance with 8 CFR 103.8(a)(2). If an application for a new certified copy of the proceedings under the Act of June 25, 1936, as amended, or under section 317(b) of the Nationality Act of 1940, or under section 324(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or under the provisions of any private law is approved, a certified photocopy of the record of the proceedings will be issued. If, subsequent to naturalization or repatriation, the applicant's name was changed by marriage, the certification of the photocopy will show both the name in which the proceedings were conducted and the changed name. The new certified copy will be delivered to the applicant in accordance with 8 CFR 103.8(a)(2).

(3) Denial. If the application is denied, the applicant shall be notified of the reasons for the denial and of the right to appeal in accordance with 8 CFR 103.3.

[23 FR 9125, Nov. 26, 1958, as amended at 32 FR 9635, July 7, 1967; 51 FR 35629, Oct. 7, 1986; 76 FR 53805, Aug. 29, 2011; 85 FR 46929, Aug. 3, 2020]

A certificate of naturalization or citizenship which is contained in a USCIS file, and which was surrendered on a finding that loss of nationality occurred directly or through a parent as a result of the application of any of the following sections of law may, upon request, be returned to the person to whom it was originally issued, notwithstanding the fact that he or she has since been naturalized or repatriated in the United States or abroad:

(a) Section 404 (b) or (c) of the Nationality Act of 1940;

(b) Section 352 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which was invalidated by Schneider v. Rusk, 377 U.S. 163;

(c) Section 401(e) of the Nationality Act of 1940;

(d) Section 349(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which was invalidated by Afroyim v. Rusk, 387 U.S. 253;

(e) Section 301(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act

(f) Section 301(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act relative to persons born after May 24, 1934, which was invalidated by amendment to section 301(b) on October 27, 1972, Public Law 92-584.

If, after having been surrendered to the Department of State or to USCIS, the certificate was lost, mutilated, or destroyed as a result of action by USCIS or that Department, a replacement certificate may be issued in the name shown in the surrendered certificate without fee and without requiring the submission of an application. A surrendered certificate shall not be regarded as mutilated and a replacement shall not be issued solely because of holes made in it to accommodate a fastener, unless the citizen declines to accept the return of the surrendered certificate in that condition and insists upon issuance of a replacement. When it is desired that the replacement certificate be furnished in a name other than the one shown in the surrendered certificate, the regular application procedure with payment of fee must be followed.

[51 FR 35629, Oct. 7, 1986, as amended at 76 FR 53805, Aug. 29, 2011]