U.S. CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD (CRBA) 

 

A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if certain statutory requirements are met.

By law, the CRBA application must be made before the child’s 18th birthday. For citizenship applications after the child’s 18th birthday go here.

A CRBA is the only citizenship document that includes the relationship between the child and the parent(s).

A CRBA, like a U.S. Birth Certificate cannot be used for international travel. We recommend that you apply for your child’s U.S. passport at the same time as you apply for the CRBA.  Both applications may be submitted together at your scheduled appointment. 

Once your child has a CRBA (and therefore has U.S. citizenship), even if your child holds another nationality, he or she must enter and exit the United States on a U.S. passport. Your child may not enter/travel to the U.S. using the ESTA program or using any foreign passport.

**Please note, the child must be physically present at the interview in order to approve issuance of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad**

Please refer to this webpage for instructions.