PASSPORTS AND CITIZENSHIP
How to Apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad
The Consular Section accepts applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad during routine American Citizen Services Hours.
Most, but not all children born abroad to an American citizen parent, are eligible to be documented as U.S. citizens through issuance of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. Click here for information on acquiring citizenship by birth abroad.
Please come to the Consular Section with all of the following items when applying to document your newborn child as an American citizen. At least one parent and the child must appear at the Consular Section in person when the application is filed. The Consular Section cannot accept incomplete applications or applications by mail. Documents that are not in English must be translated into English and certified as a true translation.
- Completed form DS-2029. Do not sign this form until asked to sign by a Consular Section employee.
- If the parents are not married and only the father is an American citizen, a completed Affidavit of Parentage and Physical Presence.
- Proof of both parents' identity and citizenship such as original passports and/or naturalization certificates.
- Child's original birth certificate issued by the local authorities and one copy.
- The parents' original marriage certificate, if married, and one copy.
- One 2 inch by 2 inch photo studio quality photograph of the child, and taken against a white background. The child must be facing forward with his/her ears showing.
- Prenatal and hospital records (e.g., ultrasounds, prescriptions, evidence of pre-natal doctor visits, hospital discharge documents, vaccination card).
- Fee of $65 for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad. The fee must be paid in cash dollars or the equivalent in CFA. Click Here for the U.S. Embassy Exchange Rate.
- Proof of the American citizen parents' residence in the U.S. For children born to one American citizen and one foreign national, the American citizen parent will need to show five years of physical presence in the U.S., two of which must be after the age of 14. For children born to two American citizen parents, one parent must have resided in the U.S. at any time prior to the child's birth. Examples of items that show physical presence are school transcripts, income tax returns with Form W-2, Social Security earnings history, pay receipts, passport entry/exit stamps in current and previous passports.
Once the Consular Report of Birth is approved, the parents can apply for a U.S. Passport.
Payment Information
The Consular Section can only accept cash fees in U.S. Dollars or the equivalent in CFA. We regret that we cannot accept checks or credit cards.
How to Obtain a Replacement Consular Report of Birth Abroad
How to Obtain U.S. Civil Documents
