How to Obtain a Birth Certificate for Children Born Overseas
When a child is born overseas to an American citizen parent or parents, the parents must report the birth to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate as soon as possible. The consular office will issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America, also known as FS-240. This document serves as proof of U.S. citizenship.
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Things You'll Need
- Proof of birth from the foreign country
- Proof of parent(s) U.S. citizenship
- Proof of parents' marriage (if applicable)
- Proof that parent(s) have met U.S. residency requirements
- Form FS-579/SS-5
- Service fee of $65
Instructions
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Obtain an official record of the child's birth from the country where the child was born. The procedure for obtaining a local birth certificate varies depending on the country of birth.
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Provide proof of U.S. citizenship for the parent(s), such as a U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, or certificate of naturalization.
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Present proof of the parents' marriage, if applicable.
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Submit affidavits that the parent(s) have met U.S. residency requirements. If both parents are U.S. citizens, the only requirement is that at least one of the parents has lived in the United States for any length of time prior to the child's birth. If only one parent is a U.S. citizen, that parent must have lived in the United States for at least five years, at least two of which were after the age of 14.
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Complete the Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (Form FS-579/SS-5). The same form may be used to apply for a Social Security number for the child.
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Present the application and all accompanying documentation at the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, along with the $65 service fee.
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Tips & Warnings
Apply for this document as soon after the birth as possible. A Consular Report of Birth is only available from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and only before the child is brought back to the United States and before the child is 18 years old.
If the child returns to the United States or turns 18 without having obtained a Consular Report of Birth, he must apply for a Certificate of Citizenship instead. This application requires the same supporting documentation, but uses Form N-600 (Application for Certificate of Citizenship), which must be filed at an office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
