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Reports of Birth (Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad) and Derivative Citizenship
 

The Department of State is pleased to announce the introduction of a redesigned Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, or Form FS-240).  The redesigned CRBA, which is an official record confirming that a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and serves as proof of citizenship, has been updated with a variety of state-of-the-art security features to help prevent fraud and identity theft. 

Overseas posts will still document the citizenship of children born overseas to U.S.-citizen parents, but the CRBAs will be printed at our passport agencies in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and New Orleans, Louisiana, using the information provided by overseas posts.  By centralizing production and eliminating the distribution of controlled blank stock throughout the world, we will help ensure uniform quality and lessen the possibility of fraud. Additionally, the Department will no longer issue the DS-1350 Certification of Report of Birth Abroad. Instead, the Department will simply provide new FS-240s in response to requests for additional, replacement, or amended CRBAs.

NOTE: Adopted children do not acquire citizenship automatically upon adoption.  However, they may be eligible for citizenship through naturalization pursuant to a lawful admission into the US as a permanent resident.  See our Adoption information  or the Department of State's Child Citizenship Act of 2000 page for more information.

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is an official record of U.S. citizenship issued to a person under age 18 who was born abroad to United States citizen parent(s) and acquired citizenship at birth. Schools, the Social Security Agency, and other institutions throughout the United States accept it and give it the same credence they give to birth certificates issued by state authorities in the United States.

Only the child's biological parent or legal guardian, preferably the U.S. citizen parent, can apply for a CRBA.  Either parent, including a non-U.S. citizen parent, may execute and sign this application.  If it will be signed and executed by a legal guardian, a special power of attorney from the parent(s) or guardianship affidavit must be submitted.  The application must be made before the child's 18th birthday and the child must make a personal appearance at the U.S. Embassy. We encourage parents to document their child(ren)'s citizenship as soon as possible after the birth(s). Delays in reporting of the birth of your child could cause inconvenience and possibly deprive your child of this valuable document because persons age 18 and over are not eligible for a CRBA. Information for persons over the age of 18 who are attempting to acquire citizenship through their U.S. citizen parent(s) as adults can be found on the Derivative U.S. citizenship for Adults page.  

First-Time CRBA Issuances:  

Replacement of a Lost or Damaged CRBA:

 

Note from Embassy Manila:

     The U.S. Embassy Manila's online appointment system for new CRBA applications is open.  Applications will no longer be accepted through either a courier or through the mail service.  Applications that are received through these methods will be returned and applicants will be asked to use the online appointment system.  For applicants who were requested to submit additional documents at the time of their interview, you may still submit these documents through the mail or a courier. 

     In early March 2011, the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy moved into its new building on the Embassy grounds.  Public access to the new building will be at a different entrance, but still off of Roxas Blvd.  The guards can assist you in finding the new entrance.

Application Forms and Useful Links