How Parents Can Request a Consular Report of Birth Aboard for Children

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) certifies American citizenship for a child born outside the US, typically under 18 years old, and is similar to a US passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship.

𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑫𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅
𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝 1: 𝐺𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝐸𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
To acquire a child’s citizenship, gather birth evidence, U.S. citizenship, marriage, and physical presence. If unmarried, the father must sign an affidavit stating he is the child’s biological father and will financially support the child. Additional evidence may include divorce decrees or blood tests.
𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝 2: 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑁𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑈.𝑆. 𝐸𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑦 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒
Parents or legal guardians should report their child’s birth at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝 3: 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
To apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, contact your child’s U.S. embassy or consulate in the country of birth, with specific procedures depending on the embassy.
𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝 4: 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑅𝐵𝐴
The U.S. embassy or consulate can issue the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) after approval by a consular officer, and parents can request multiple copies at any time.
Prompt documentation of a child meeting U.S. citizenship requirements at birth can hinder parent’s and children’s eligibility for U.S. citizenship rights and benefits, as U.S. citizens must use a passport.

𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝑬𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅
Children born in certain US territories during specific periods are not eligible for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad as they are already American citizens or nationals. However, those born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Swains Island, The Panama Canal Zone, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and The Philippines can establish U.S. citizenship or non-citizen nationality.

𝑶𝒃𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒇 𝑼.𝑺. 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 18 𝒐𝒓 𝑶𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓
Foreign-born individuals aged 18 or older with U.S. citizenship can’t apply for a CRBA, but can apply for a Certificate of Citizenship or a U.S. passport.

𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅
The U.S. State Department discontinued the Certificate of Report of Birth in 2010, replacing it with Form FS-240. Only certain individuals can request a replacement, including those listed on the birth record, parents, authorized government agencies, or authorized individuals.
To request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240), you must submit the following items: A notarized Request Letter, Copy of the Requester’s Valid Photo ID, Payment

𝑪𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅
Before the Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Americans born outside the US may have received a Certificate of Birth Abroad, a vital record issued by consular offices to prove identity to U.S. citizen parents.