Physical Presence
Physical presence is a naturalization requirement that counts the total days you actually spent inside the United States. You need at least 30 months (913 days) in the 5 years before applying, or 18 months (548 days) if you are applying on the 3-year rule for spouses of US citizens.
How it works
Every trip abroad reduces your total, even short ones. USCIS asks you to list trips on Form N-400, so keep records of travel dates.
Physical presence is different from continuous residence. Continuous residence looks at long single absences, while physical presence is simple arithmetic. You must meet both.
The term also appears in other settings, for example some cancellation of removal cases and the Canadian citizenship rule of 1,095 days in 5 years. See our naturalization guide and naturalization date calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do short trips count against physical presence?
Yes. Every day outside the US is subtracted from your total.
How many days do I need for US citizenship?
913 days in the last 5 years, or 548 days in the last 3 years for the spousal route.
Is the day I leave counted?
USCIS generally counts days of departure and return as days in the US.
Official sources
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.