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.

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.

You can select male (M), female (F), or unspecified or another gender identity (X) as your gender marker if you are applying for a U.S. passport book and selecting routine service. Beginning in late 2023, you will be able to select X as a marker if you are seeking a passport card or selecting expedited service. By late 2023, we anticipate completing additional technological updates so that the X gender marker will be available on the following documents we issue:

1. Passport cards
2. Emergency passports printed at embassies and consulates 
3. Expedited and emergency passports issued at passport agencies and centers, and
4. Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBAs) 

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.