BIRTHS AND CITIZENSHIP

Reporting a Birth Abroad

Persons born abroad to U.S. parent(s) may have acquired citizenship at birth.  This determination is based upon a variety of facts:  the law in effect at the time of birth, the amount of time the American citizen parent(s) have lived in the U.S. prior to the birth, and, in some cases the marital status of the biological parents.

To apply for a Consular Report of Birth both* parents must apply in person at the U.S. Consulate General and bring:
 

Your child. The completed application forms: Consular Report of Birth Abroad DS-2029, Application for Social Security number  SS-5, and Passport Application Form DS-11. DO NOT SIGN the forms.You will sign in our presence. Child’s Spanish Birth Certificate: Please bring the child's long-form birth certificate, which is issued by the local Civil Registry. This document shows both parents' names. A translation must be provided. Bring original and 1 photocopy Parents’ U.S./Alien passports. Parents’ Marriage Certificate: Original certificate issued by local, state, or national government authorities. If married in the United States, please provide a state certificate issued by the civil authorities. If your marriage certificate is in a language other than English, a translation must be provided. Bring original and 1 photocopy. Proof of termination of any previous marriages (divorce or death certificates). If only one parent is an American Citizen, that parent’s proof of 5 years physical presence in the U.S. (employment records, school transcripts, tax returns, etc.). Two photos (5cm x 5cm on a white background). The appropriate fee. The following requirements apply: One of the parents must be a U.S. citizen at the time of the child’s birth. If both parents are U.S. citizens at the time of the birth, the child is a U.S. citizen. For children born after November 14, 1986 to one U.S. citizen and one alien, the U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States for a total of 5 years before the child’s birth, two of which must have been after attaining 14 years of age. For children born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen father, the father must formally acknowledge parentage and agree to support the child through age 18 as well as fulfill the U.S. physical presence requirement stated above. For children born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen mother, the mother must have been physically present in the United States for a continuous period of one year prior to the child’s birth. For children not covered in the above categories, please contact this office or see section on Acquisition of U.S. Citizenship.

* Both parents should appear in person – if only one parent is present at the time of application, a written statement DS-3063 signed in the presence of a notary must be submitted, in which the absent parent agrees to the issuance of a passport.

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