U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS

Records and Authentications

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How to Replace or Amend a 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 requirements are met. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, or Form FS-240) is a document that certifies a child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth. You should report the birth of a child born abroad at a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas. The U.S. embassy or consulate will issue you a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). Our office only issues replacement or amended CRBAs.

Who can replace or amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad:

The individual listed on the birth record (if age 18 or older)
A parent (for minors under age 18)
An authorized government agency, or
A person with written authorization from the individual listed on the birth record

On January 3, 2011, the U.S. Department of State began issuing a new Consular Report of Birth Abroad form (FS-240). You may request multiple copies of this document at any time. We no longer issue the Certificate of Report of Birth (DS-1350). All previously issued FS-240 and DS-1350 documents are still valid for proof of identity, citizenship, and other legal purposes.

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How to Replace a Consular Report of Birth Abroad

To request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad form (FS-240), you must submit:

1. A notarized typed or written letter that includes all of the following information:

Your full name at birth (include first, last, and middle names)
All other names you’ve used (examples: your adopted name or a court-ordered name change)
Your date of birth (Month Date, Year) and place of birth (City, Country)
Full names of parent(s) (include first, last, and middle names)
Parent(s)’ dates of birth (Month Date, Year) and places of birth (City, Country)
Any available passport information (e.g. passport date of issuance, date of expiration, passport number)
If known, the serial number of your Form FS-240
Your signature. Note: if someone else is requesting your record, we also need their signature.
Legal Guardian(s) Only: A certified court order granting guardianship
The mailing address where you want the record sent
Your phone number. Note: if someone else is requesting your record, we need their phone number.
Your email address. Note: if someone else is requesting your record, we need their email address.

2. A copy of your valid photo ID. Examples:

State-issued driver’s license
Non-driver photo ID
Military ID
Passport
Veterans Affairs ID
Prison ID

If you don't have any of these IDs, please see Passport Vital Records IDs.

3. Payment

Send a $50.00 check or money order. Additional copies are $50 each.
Make payable to "U.S. Department of State"
Checks and money orders must be payable in U.S. dollars through a U.S. bank
Include complete mailing address on the check
The Department is not responsible for cash lost in the mail

4. Mail the request, copy of the photo ID, and payment to:

    U.S. Department of State
    Passport Vital Records Section
    44132 Mercure Cir.
    PO Box 1213
    Sterling, VA 20166-1213

Note: Avoid delays by notarizing your request and including a copy of your valid photo identification.

Processing Times

You should expect to receive your document in 3 to 4 months. Some documents may take longer than 4 months 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. Consular Reports of Birth Abroad created before November 1, 1990 may require an in-depth, manual search at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). A manual search can take months to complete.

Shipping Your Record

We will send your vital record to you. You can select First Class Mail or 1-2 Day Delivery:

USPS First Class Mail: One to two weeks. No additional cost.
1-2 Day Delivery: Add $18.32 to the $50 check or money order.

Do not include a pre-paid express mail envelope with your request. This will cause a delay in delivery.

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How to Amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad

To amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240), you must submit:

1. A notarized letter that includes the following information:

Your full name at birth (include first, last, and middle names)
All other names you’ve used (examples: your adopted name or a court-ordered name change)
Your date of birth (Month Date, Year) and place of birth (City, Country)
Full names of parent(s) or legal guardians (include first, last, and middle names)
Parent(s)’ dates of birth (Month Date, Year) and places of birth (City, Country)
Detailed information about what you want to change or amend on the CRBA. Examples: For a name change, list the new full name. For adoptions, list new parent(s)’ full names and dates of birth
Any available passport information (e.g. passport date of issuance, date of expiration, passport number)
If known, the serial number of the Form FS-240
Your signature. Note: if someone else is requesting your record, we also need their signature.
Legal Guardian(s) Only: A certified court order granting guardianship
The mailing address where you want the record sent
Your phone number. Note: if someone else is requesting your record, we need their phone number.
Your email address. Note: if someone else is requesting your record, we need their email address.

2. Original or certified copies of documents from the authority which issued the document which show the change you are requesting. We can accept:

Foreign birth certificate
Court-ordered adoption or name change
Marriage certificate of the adoptive or legitimating parents or
Birth certificates of the adoptive or legitimating parents

We cannot accept notarized copies or photocopies of these documents.

Beginning in late 2023, you will be able to select X as a gender marker on the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). We have more information about selecting your gender on a U.S. passport on the Selecting Your Gender Marker page.

3. The original FS-240, CRBA, any replacement FS-240s, and any other birth records issued by the U.S. Department of State, such as Certification of Report of Birth (DS-1350) and Certification of Birth Abroad (FS-545), OR

A notarized affidavit stating the location (i.e. lost, stolen or destroyed) of the original FS-240, CRBA, and any replacement FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545 issued by the U.S. Department of State.

Please return all previous FS-240s, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and any other birth records issued to you by the U.S. Department of State. If you cannot submit these documents, please let us know why in your notarized statement. We need this information to issue you an amended Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

4. A copy of your valid photo identification. Examples:

State-issued driver’s license
Non-driver photo ID
Military ID
Passport
Veterans Affairs ID
Prison ID

If you don't have any of these IDs, please see Passport Vital Records IDs.

5. Payment

Send a $50.00 check or money order. Additional copies are $50.00 each.
Make payable to "U.S. Department of State"
Checks and money orders must be payable in U.S. dollars through a U.S. bank
The Department is not responsible for cash lost in the mail.

6. Mail to:

U.S. Department of State
    Passport Vital Records Section
    44132 Mercure Cir.
    PO Box 1213
    Sterling, VA 20166-1213

Note: Avoid delays by notarizing your request and including a copy of your valid photo identification.

Processing Times

You should expect to receive your document in 3 to 4 months. Some documents may take longer than 16 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. Consular Reports of Birth Abroad created before November 1, 1990 may require an in-depth, manual search at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). A manual search can take months to complete.

Shipping

We will send your vital record to you. You can select First Class Mail or 1-2 Day Delivery:

USPS First Class Mail: Takes one to two weeks. No additional charge.
1-2 Day Delivery Service: Add $18.32 to the $50.00 check or money order.

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Can I authorize someone else to request my record?

Yes. He or she must be a family member or friend who has known you for at least five years. We need the following information:

Your signed, written authorization. For example: I, state your name, hereby authorize John Doe to request my replacement Consular Report of Birth Abroad on my behalf.
A photocopy of two of your secondary IDs.
A notarized statement from the person who is requesting your records
A copy of the valid primary photo ID of the person making the request

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How to Request an Apostille on your Consular Document

Apostilles are specialized certificates attached to your consular documents. If you need an apostille to satisfy foreign document requirements, you must submit a notarized request and a copy of a valid state-issued ID (e.g. driver's license) to the address listed below. If you already have a consular document issued within the last five years, you don't need to pay for the apostille. In addition to the Consular Report of Birth Aboard, you can request other consular documents for $50 per copy:

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.

Please send your notarized request and fee (if necessary) to:

U.S. Department of State
    Passport Vital Records Section
    44132 Mercure Circle
    PO Box 1213
    Sterling, VA 20166-1213

Contact Vital Records

Use this form to request a status check or information about your consular record.

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