Report of Birth Abroad

Consular Report of Birth Abroad

The birth of a child abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s) should be reported as soon as possible to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for the purpose of establishing an official record of the child’s claim to U.S. citizenship at birth. The official record is in the form of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America. This document, referred to as the CRBA or FS-240, is considered a basic United States citizenship document. An original FS-240 is furnished to the parent(s) at the time the registration is approved.

Reporting the Birth

A Consular Report of Birth can be prepared only at an American Consular Office overseas while the child is under the age of 18. Usually, in order to establish the child’s citizenship under the appropriate provisions of U.S. law, the following documents must be submitted:

1. an official record of the child’s foreign birth; (e.g. hospital Birth Certificate, Commune Birth Certificate)

2. evidence of the parent(s)’ U.S. citizenship (e.g. a certified birth certificate, current U.S. passport, or Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship)

3. evidence of the parents’ marriage, if applicable

4. affidavits of parent(s)’ residence and physical presence in the United States.
   In certain cases, it may be necessary to submit additional documents, including affidavits of paternity and support, divorce decrees from prior marriages, or medical reports of blood compatibility. All evidentiary documents should be certified as true copies of the originals by the registrar of the office wherein each document was issued. A service fee of $65 is prescribed under the provisions of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 22.1, item 9, for a Consular Report of Birth.

Helpful Website:

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/83127.pdf