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Reporting a Birth Abroad

U.S. citizen parent(s) should file a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) as soon as possible to register the child's birth as a U.S. citizen. The Consular Report of Birth Abroad usually serves in lieu of a local birth certificate in the United States.

The Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) is a light blue certificate, which resembles birth certificates issued by local jurisdictions in the United States. Completed CRBA records are permanently on file at the Department of State. Additional copies of a child's CRBA may be obtained for a fee of US$10.00 from: "Correspondence, Passport Services, Department of State, Suite 510, 1111 19th St, Washington, D.C. 20522-1705, USA."

Children born outside of the U.S. or its outlying possessions acquire U.S. citizenship when:

  1. The child's parents are both U.S. citizens and at least one can show evidence that he or she resided in the United States or its outlying possessions prior to the child's birth.
  2. The child was born after 2:07 P.M. EST, 14 November 1986 EST and one parent is a citizen and the other a non-U.S. citizen, if the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. prior to the child's birth, for a period of five years, at least two of which were after the age of 14 years.
  3. The child was born prior to 2:07 P.M., 14 November 1986 EST, and the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. prior to the child's birth for ten years, five years of which were after the age of 14.
  4. The child was born to an unmarried U.S. citizen parent, under certain circumstances.

Children being registered as U.S. citizens must be brought to the Consular Section by their parents along with the following original documents

  1. Completed Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of aCitizen of the United States of America (Form DS-2029).
  2. Child's Local Birth Certificate from Municipality Office.
  3. Evidence of Parent(s)' U.S. Citizenship - This may be in the formof original U.S. birth certificates, U.S. passports, Consular Report ofBirth Abroad (CRBA), Certificates of Citizenship, or Naturalization Certificates. (Military IDs are NOT proof of U.S. citizenship.)
  4. Parents' Marriage Certificate.
  5. Evidence of Dissolution of Previous Marriages - If either parent has been previously married, submit original divorce decrees or death certificates.
  6. Parent(s)' Completed Affidavit of parentage and Physical Presence. The physical presence in the U.S. of the U.S. citizen parent must be documented. Evidence of physical presence in the U.S. may consist of school transcripts, income tax returns, employment and military service records, proof of U.S. Government service abroad, or evidence of time spent abroad as an unmarried dependent son or daughter, living in the same household, of a U.S. Government employee.
  7. Completed U.S. Passport Application (Form DS-11).
  8. Two Photos of the Child (two identical pictures with light background, size 2"x2")
  9. Completed Application for a Social Security Number (Form SS-5).

Children Born to an Unmarried Parent

If a child's mother is a U.S. citizen and had been physically present in the U.S. for at least one year prior to the child's birth, the child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth. Where the unmarried U.S. citizen parent is the father, requirements are more complicated. In these latter cases it is suggested that the father make an appointment to discuss his case in person with a consular officer. Consular Section employees observe strict confidence in these cases.