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Replace or Certify Documents > Requesting a Life Event Record as a U.S. Citizen > How to Request a Copy of a Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA)
A Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA) can only be created overseas at a U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate in the country the U.S. citizen died. We issue copies of CRDAs filed in 1975 or after to next of kin and legal representation for estate purposes.
If the CRDA was issued before 1975, contact the National Archives and Records Administration.
To request a copy of a Consular Report of Death Abroad filed in 1975 or after, you must submit a:
1. Notarized, completed Form DS-5542
2. Photocopy of the front and back of your valid photo ID. Examples include:
If you don't have any of these IDs, please see Passport Vital Records IDs.
3. Check or money order. The cost is $50 for each record you request.
4. Mail Form DS-5542, a photocopy of the ID, and payment to:
U.S. Department of State
Passport Vital Records Section
44132 Mercure Cir.
PO Box 1213
Sterling, VA 20166-1213
Avoid delays by signing your Form DS-5542 in front of a notary public.
Processing Times
You should expect to receive your document in 4 to 8 weeks. Some documents may take longer than 8 weeks due to nationwide shipping delays. Because of the unique nature of our records, we cannot provide expedited service. We can only provide official copies of records that are on file with the U.S. Department of State.
Shipping
We will send your vital record to you. You can select First Class Mail or 1-2 Day Delivery:
Apostilles are specialized certificates attached to your consular documents. You must ensure that the country for intended use is a member of the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.
Apostilles can only be attached to CRDAs that were issued in the last five years. If you need a CRDA with an apostille, you will need to request a copy from the Vital Records office for it to be applied. We cannot place an apostille on a CRDA issued overseas without certifying the signature of the authentication officer on the record.
If you need an apostille to satisfy foreign document requirements, you must submit a:
Mail your notarized Form DS-5542, photocopy of your ID, and payment to:
U.S. Department of State
Passport Vital Records
44132 Mercure Circle
PO Box 1213
Sterling, VA 20166-1213
In addition to the CRDA, you can request other consular documents for $50 per copy:
