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Replace or Certify Documents > Requesting a Life Event Record as a U.S. Citizen > 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 U.S. Department of State only issues the Consular Report of Birth Abroad form (FS-240). All previously issued FS-240 and DS-1350 documents are still valid for proof of identity, citizenship, and other legal purposes.
To replace or amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad form (FS-240), you must submit a:
1. Notarized, completed Form DS-5542
Amending the form?
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. CRBAs created before November 1, 1990 may require a manual search at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) which can take 2-3 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:
Do not include a pre-paid express mail envelope with your request. This will cause a delay in delivery.
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:
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.
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
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:
Use this form to request a status check only if you have already submitted your Form DS-5542. Provide as much detail as possible. We will only respond to you within the next two weeks (14 days) if you have a question that is not answered on our website. Do not submit another request while waiting for a response.
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