Birth of U.S. Citizens and Non-Citizen Nationals Abroad

Apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) if your child was born in a foreign country and at least 1 parent was a U.S. citizen when your child was born.

A CRBA documents that a child was a U.S. citizen at birth.

• We issue CRBAs to children under age 18 who were born abroad and got U.S. citizenship or nationality at birth through their parent(s).
• The names on the CRBA include the parents who have a genetic or gestational connection to the child.
• The parent(s) passing U.S. citizenship to their child must have their name(s) on the CRBA.
• A parent passing U.S. citizenship may approve the other parent not passing citizenship to have their name on the CRBA.
• A CRBA is not a birth certificate. 
• A CRBA is not proof of the child’s legal parents or custody.

You can apply online at most U.S embassies and consulates:  

• Visit a U.S. embassy or consulate  website to get steps on how to apply.  
• Visit MyTravelGov to start the process of applying online.  

When applying for a CRBA, you may need to complete Form DS-5507 PDF  if any of these situations apply to you:  

• One of the parents is not a U.S. citizen
• The U.S. citizen parent passing citizenship to the child is not present.
  • The parent who is not present should complete this form and record the periods of time spent in the United States.     
• Your child was born out-of-wedlock, and the father is a U.S. citizen or non-citizen national.
  • The child's father must sign the form at a U.S. embassy or consulate, in front of a U.S. notary public, or in front of a local official who registers births or administers oaths.     

Our Vital Records Office  can help you replace or change a CRBA, or request more copies of a CRBA at any time. 

If you were born in one of the U.S. territories listed below, you gained U.S. nationality. You cannot get a CRBA because you were not born abroad. You can apply for a U.S. passport.

The locations and time periods include:

• Puerto Rico after April 10, 1899 
• U.S. Virgin Islands after January 16, 1917 
• American Samoa after February 15, 1900 
• Guam after December 23, 1952 
• Swains Island after March 3, 1925 
• The Panama Canal Zone before October 1, 1979 
• The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands after January 8, 1978 (8PM EST) 
• The Philippines before July 4, 1946