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

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is an official document issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate that serves as proof of U.S. citizenship for a child born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent. It is similar to a birth certificate and can be used to obtain a U.S. passport, Social Security number, and other citizenship benefits. The State Department may refer to the CRBA as Form DS-240, it's internal form number.

Under current law, you must satisfy multiple conditions to establish a claim to U.S. citizenship for a child born outside of the United States:

• At least one of the parents has to be a U.S. citizen at the time of the child’s birth;
• The child born abroad continues to be under the age of 18;
• The parent has to establish a relationship with the child, either biological or legal (including adoptive parents); and
• U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States.

The physical presence requirements for the U.S. citizen parent vary significantly based the marriage status and immigration status of the parents. If both parents are citizens and married at the time of the child’s birth, simply establishing previous residence in the U.S. or its outlying possessions is sufficient. However, children born out of wedlock or to just one citizen parent may have additional criteria.

Children born in wedlock with only one U.S. citizen parent, have different physical presence requirements.

• If one parent is a citizen and the other is a U.S. national, the citizen parent must have been physically present in the U.S. or its outlying possessions for a continuous period of one (1) year.
• If one parent is a citizen and the other is a foreign national, the citizen parent must have been physically present in the U.S. or its outlying possessions for five (5) years, at least two (2) of which were after age 14.

Again, the guidelines above describe current law. Children born before November 14, 1986, and children born out of wedlock may have different requirements.

Children born in certain U.S. territories are not eligible for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad because they are not considered “born abroad.” These individuals are already U.S. citizens or nationals.

Birth in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Swains Island, the Panama Canal Zone (before Octobr 1, 1979), the Northern Mariana Islands (after January 8, 1978), or the Philippines (before July 4, 1946) generally confers citizenship or nationality under U.S. law. Proof can be established with a local birth certificate and any other required evidence.

For those born in American Samoa or Swains Island, the simplest path to full citizenship is establishing U.S. residence and applying for naturalization (Form N-400).

Individuals born abroad who acquired U.S. citizenship at birth but who are now age 18 or older become ineligible to apply for a CRBA. Instead, they may apply for a Certificate of Citizenship to evidence their U.S. citizenship. Applicants file using Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship to make a request for a certificate. Alternatively, the individual may apply for a U.S. passport.

Mail the request, copy of the photo ID, and payment to:

U.S. Department of State
Passport Vital Records Section
44132 Mercure Cir.
PO Box 1213
Sterling, VA  20166-1213

The U.S. State Department generally takes 4 to 8 weeks time to process your Consular Report of Birth Aboard. If you don't provide all the items listed above, your request for the CRBA will be delayed.