Can the oath be in another language?

No, the Oath of Allegiance must be administered and recited in English; this is part of the broader English-language requirement for U.S. naturalization set out in section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 312 requires that applicants demonstrate the ability to read, write, speak, and understand ordinary English, and the oath itself is the culminating formal use of English in the naturalization process. The text of the oath in 8 CFR section 337.1 is in English, and ceremonies are conducted in English; printed copies of the oath in English are typically distributed for applicants to follow along.

There are limited statutory exceptions to the English-language requirement. The 50/20 rule (applicants at least 50 years old who have been lawful permanent residents for at least 20 years), the 55/15 rule (at least 55 with 15 years of residence), and the 65/20 rule (at least 65 with 20 years of residence) allow applicants to take the civics test and conduct the interview in their native language with an interpreter; even so, the oath itself is administered in English. Applicants with a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment that makes English proficiency impossible may seek a Form N-648 medical disability exception, which can excuse the English requirement and (in some cases) the civics requirement; the oath ceremony for such applicants is still in English but USCIS may use simpler language or visual cues to confirm understanding. Translations of the oath text exist as informational aids, but no other-language version is legally operative.