How to Apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad for a Child Born Overseas
Apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad to document that an eligible child born outside the United States acquired U.S. citizenship at birth.
US United States
Family ~ 9 min read
9 FAQ
Updated 2026-09-08
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Apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) if your child was born outside the United States and acquired U.S. citizenship or U.S. nationality at birth through a parent. The application must be filed before the child's 18th birthday, generally with the U.S. embassy or consulate responsible for the place of birth. The Department of State application fee is $100. Most U.S. embassies and consulates allow you to begin an electronic CRBA application through MyTravelGov, but you must follow the specific post's instructions and attend the required consular appointment with the supporting evidence.
What you need
- Form DS-2029, or the electronic CRBA application through MyTravelGov when the responsible U.S. embassy or consulate offers eCRBA.
- The child's foreign birth certificate.
- Evidence of the U.S. citizen parent or parents' citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, passport card, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or qualifying U.S. birth certificate.
- Valid government-issued photo identification for the parent or parents as required by the application instructions.
- Evidence showing the U.S. citizen parent's required physical presence or residence in the United States or qualifying U.S. territories before the child's birth. Examples may include school, employment, tax, bank, medical, military, utility, rental, or other official records.
- Parents' marriage certificate, if applicable.
- Evidence ending any previous marriages, such as a divorce decree, annulment decree, or death certificate, when applicable.
- Form DS-5507 in situations identified by the Department of State, including certain cases involving an absent U.S. citizen parent or a child born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen or U.S. national father.
- Original documents or copies certified by the official custodian of the record when required. Ordinary photocopies or notarized photocopies do not replace the required original or certified evidence for Form DS-2029.
- $100 CRBA application fee.
Eligibility
A CRBA is available for a child who was born outside the United States, is under age 18 when the application is filed, and acquired U.S. citizenship or U.S. nationality at birth. At least one parent generally must have been a U.S. citizen or U.S. national when the child was born, and the applicable citizenship-transmission requirements must be satisfied. Those requirements depend on factors such as the child's date of birth, the citizenship of each parent, the parents' marital status, and the U.S. citizen parent's residence or physical presence before the birth. A CRBA cannot be issued merely because a parent later became a U.S. citizen; the child must have acquired the qualifying status at birth.
How to do it
- Confirm that the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship or U.S. nationality at birth through a parent and that the application will be filed before the child's 18th birthday.
- Identify the U.S. embassy or consulate responsible for the area where the child was born and review that post's CRBA instructions, appointment rules, payment methods, and local document requirements.
- If the post offers electronic CRBA processing, create a MyTravelGov account and start the electronic CRBA application. Otherwise, complete Form DS-2029 according to the Department of State and local post instructions.
- Gather the child's birth certificate, the transmitting parent's proof of U.S. citizenship or nationality and identity, evidence of the parent's qualifying physical presence or residence, marriage records when applicable, and records terminating previous marriages when applicable.
- Complete Form DS-5507 if the Department of State requires it for your circumstances, including certain cases involving an absent transmitting parent or an out-of-wedlock birth.
- Pay the $100 application fee using the payment method accepted by the embassy, consulate, or electronic application system.
- Schedule and attend the required appointment. Follow the post's instructions about which parents, the child, or another authorized applicant must appear. Bring the required original or certified records and identification.
- Answer any requests from the consular officer for additional evidence. If the relationship required to transmit citizenship cannot be established from the submitted evidence, the Department of State may suggest voluntary DNA testing under its controlled procedures; applicants should not independently arrange DNA testing before being instructed to do so.
- If the citizenship claim is approved, the Department of State issues Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad. The document is printed in the United States and delivered or made available for pickup according to the post and mailing arrangements.
- If the child will travel internationally, apply separately for a U.S. passport. A CRBA proves citizenship but does not replace a U.S. passport for travel.
When a child born overseas can receive a CRBA
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad, commonly called a CRBA, documents that a person born outside the United States acquired U.S. citizenship or U.S. nationality at birth. The Department of State issues the document as Form FS-240.
The child must have acquired the qualifying status at birth. A CRBA is not the procedure for a child who became a U.S. citizen later through a parent's naturalization or another post-birth citizenship provision.
The application must be filed before the child's 18th birthday. The Department of State directs families reporting a birth abroad to work with the U.S. embassy or consulate serving the country or consular district where the child was born.
The U.S. citizen parent must be able to transmit citizenship
Having a U.S. citizen parent does not by itself establish that every child born abroad acquired U.S. citizenship at birth. The consular officer applies the citizenship law that covers the child's circumstances.
The applicable requirements can depend on the child's date of birth, whether one or both parents were U.S. citizens or nationals, whether the parents were married, and how much qualifying residence or physical presence the transmitting parent had in the United States or its qualifying territories before the child's birth.
Because those legal rules vary by family situation and historical law, applicants should provide complete information rather than assuming a single physical-presence period applies to every CRBA case.
Evidence to prepare for the CRBA application
Form DS-2029 identifies the principal evidence used to adjudicate a CRBA. Prepare the child's foreign birth record and proof of the transmitting parent's U.S. citizenship or nationality and identity.
You must also document the U.S. citizen parent's qualifying residence or physical presence before the child's birth. The Department of State lists evidence such as school, employment, tax, bank, medical and other official records. Depending on the case, certain qualifying time abroad connected with the U.S. government, U.S. Armed Forces, or qualifying international organizations may also be relevant.
If the parents were married, provide the marriage certificate. If either parent had an earlier marriage, provide the applicable divorce decree, annulment decree, death certificate, or other evidence showing how that marriage ended.
Bring proper original or certified documents
The DS-2029 instructions state that applicants must submit original documents or copies certified by the custodian of the record. Ordinary photocopies and notarized photocopies are not substitutes for the required originals or certified copies. The Department generally returns original evidence after review.
When you may need Form DS-5507
The Department of State states that Form DS-5507, Affidavit of Physical Presence or Residence, Parentage, and Support, may be needed in several situations. These include certain cases where one parent is not a U.S. citizen, the U.S. citizen parent transmitting citizenship is not present, or a child was born out of wedlock and the father is a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
When an absent parent must execute the form, follow the Department of State and embassy instructions for signing before an authorized official.
Start an electronic CRBA through MyTravelGov where available
The Department of State says that applicants can apply online for a CRBA at most U.S. embassies and consulates. MyTravelGov provides the electronic CRBA service in most countries.
Online availability does not eliminate the consular stage of the application. You must review the website of the embassy or consulate responsible for the child's place of birth and follow its instructions for the appointment, originals, appearances, and local procedures.
If electronic CRBA is not offered at your post, follow the embassy or consulate's instructions for Form DS-2029. The paper form instructs applicants not to sign the relevant certification sections until they are before an authorized U.S. consular official, consular agent, or designated military acceptance official.
The CRBA application fee is $100
The federal Schedule of Fees sets the application fee for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad at $100. The fee is charged for the CRBA application itself.
If you also apply for a child's U.S. passport, the passport is a separate service with separate fees. Payment methods can differ by embassy or consulate, so use the instructions for the post handling the application.
What happens after you submit the CRBA application
A consular officer reviews the evidence and determines whether the child acquired U.S. citizenship or nationality at birth. The officer may request additional evidence if the documents do not establish the citizenship claim.
If evidence of a required genetic relationship is insufficient, the Department of State may suggest voluntary DNA testing. The Department states that DNA testing is not automatically required and does not guarantee approval. Applicants should follow the Department's controlled testing instructions rather than arranging testing independently.
If the claim is approved, the CRBA is printed in the United States. Form DS-2029 states that it can then be mailed to a designated address where mailing of citizenship documents is permitted or handled for pickup according to the applicable consular arrangements. Applicants may be responsible for mailing costs.
A CRBA proves citizenship but is not a birth certificate or passport
A CRBA is federal evidence that the person acquired U.S. citizenship or nationality at birth. The Department of State emphasizes that it is not a foreign or U.S. civil birth certificate and is not proof of legal parentage or custody.
It is also not a travel document. A child who will travel internationally generally needs a U.S. passport. See the separate procedure for applying for a U.S. passport for a child under 16.
Common mistakes that can delay a CRBA application
- Waiting until after the child's 18th birthday to request an original CRBA.
- Assuming that having one U.S. citizen parent automatically proves citizenship transmission without documenting the applicable legal requirements.
- Failing to provide enough evidence of the transmitting parent's U.S. residence or physical presence before the child's birth.
- Bringing ordinary photocopies when the application requires originals or custodian-certified copies.
- Signing sections of a paper DS-2029 before the appointment when the form instructs you to sign before an authorized official.
- Not checking the responsible embassy or consulate's local instructions before using MyTravelGov or scheduling the appointment.
- Assuming the CRBA itself can be used instead of a passport for international travel.
- Ordering private DNA testing before the Department of State instructs you to use its required testing process.
If an original CRBA is no longer available
An original CRBA is issued only for an eligible person whose application is filed before age 18. A person born abroad who acquired U.S. citizenship at birth but no longer qualifies for an original CRBA application may need to document citizenship through another Department of State or U.S. citizenship process, depending on the circumstances.
If the child did not acquire citizenship at birth but later derived citizenship through a parent, CRBA is not the correct document. The Department of State treats citizenship acquired after birth separately under the applicable citizenship laws.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Consular Report of Birth Abroad cost?
The Department of State fee for a CRBA application is $100. A U.S. passport is a separate application with separate fees, and mailing or local service costs may also apply.
Can I apply for a CRBA online?
Yes, at most U.S. embassies and consulates. The Department of State's MyTravelGov service supports electronic CRBA applications in most countries, but you must still follow the responsible embassy or consulate's appointment and document instructions.
What is the deadline to apply for a CRBA?
The application for an original CRBA must be filed before the child's 18th birthday.
Does a child automatically qualify for a CRBA if one parent is a U.S. citizen?
No. The child must have acquired U.S. citizenship or U.S. nationality at birth under the law that applies to the family's circumstances. The transmitting parent's citizenship, physical presence or residence, the parents' status, and the child's date of birth can affect eligibility.
What documents prove a U.S. citizen parent's physical presence?
Depending on the case, evidence can include school, employment, tax, bank, medical, utility, rental, military, or other official records showing where and when the parent was physically present or resident before the child's birth.
Do I need Form DS-5507 with a CRBA application?
Not in every case. The Department of State says DS-5507 may be required in certain situations, including when the transmitting U.S. citizen parent is absent or in certain out-of-wedlock cases.
Is a CRBA the same as a birth certificate?
No. Form FS-240 documents acquisition of U.S. citizenship or nationality at birth, but the Department of State states that a CRBA is not a birth certificate and does not establish legal parentage or custody.
Can my child travel internationally with only a CRBA?
No. A CRBA is evidence of U.S. citizenship, not a travel document. A child traveling internationally generally needs an appropriate U.S. passport.
How long does a CRBA application take?
The Department of State does not publish one worldwide processing time for all CRBA applications. Timing depends on the U.S. embassy or consulate, appointment availability, the completeness of the evidence, and whether additional documentation is required.
Official sources
U.S. Department of State - Birth of U.S. Citizens and Non-Citizen Nationals AbroadU.S. Department of State - Form DS-2029 Application for Consular Report of Birth AbroadU.S. Department of State - MyTravelGovU.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual - Consular Report of Birth Abroad FeesU.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual - U.S. Passports and Consular Reports of Birth AbroadU.S. Department of State - Information on U.S. Citizenship and DNA TestingRelated procedures
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