Passports and Citizenship
Consular Report of Birth Abroad
The American Citizen Services Unit accepts applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. by appointment only. To make an appointment, please call the American Citizen Services Unit at 2419-8000, ext. 4249 or 8562 or 4040, or write to acsnd@state.gov. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad is a certificate that states that the child is a U.S. citizen from birth.
Most, but not all children born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, are eligible to be documented as U.S. citizens through issuance of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and U.S. passport. Click here for information on acquiring citizenship by birth abroad.
Please come to the embassy with the following original items when applying to document your newborn child as an American citizen. Both parents and the child must appear at the Embassy in person on the date of the appointment. (Parents typically choose to apply for the child's U.S. passport at the same time they apply for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad. The list below covers both the Consular Report of Birth Abroad, and the U.S. Passport. If the application is complete, the Report of Birth can usually be issued the next day. Once the Report of Birth is issued, it takes approximately 7-10 days for the child's U.S. passport to be issued.)
- Proof the parents' identity and citizenship such as U.S. or other passports.
- Child's original birth certificate issued by the local authorities (including English translation, if applicable). The birth certificate must include the name of the child.
- One photo studio quality photograph of the child, 2" x 2" in size and taken against a light background. The child must be facing forward with his/her ears showing and eyes open.
- Prenatal and hospital records (e.g., ultrasounds, prescriptions, evidence of pre-natal doctor visits, hospital discharge documents, vaccination card, etc.)
- Fee of $65 for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad + $85 for the U.S. passport (total = $150). The fee may be paid in cash dollars, cash rupees (at the current exchange rate) or with a major U.S.-based credit card.
- The parents' marriage certificate, or other proof of their relationship prior to the child’s conception. (This is not required if the mother of the child is a U.S. citizen.).
- Proof of the U.S. citizen parent's physical presence in the U.S. (This is not required if BOTH parents are U.S. citizens.) For children born to one U.S. citizen and one foreign national, the U.S. citizen parent will need to show five years of physical presence in the U.S., two of which must be after the age of 14. Examples of items that show physical presence are school transcripts, income tax returns with Form W-2, Social Security earnings history, pay receipts, passport entry/exit stamps in current and previous passports, etc.
- If also applying for a passport (see below) and only one parent is present in India, the other parent must complete a consent form. This form must be notarized.
Click here to download Parental Consent form DS-3053
The parents may complete all of the required forms at the time of the appointment. However, it is suggested that the forms be completed prior to arriving, in order to save time. However, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN THE FORMS UNTIL DIRECTED TO DO SO BY A CONSULAR OFFICER.
Form DS-2029 Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
Form DS-2029 Continuation Sheet (Use this form as a continuation sheet for Question number 12 on DS-2029--Precise Periods of Physical Presence in the United States. This form must be completed ONLY for the U.S. citizen parent. If BOTH parents are U.S. citizens, you may disregard this form.)
Form DS-2029 Continuation Sheet example. (For informational purposes only. If BOTH parents are U.S. citizens, you may disregard this item.)
Form SS-5-FS Application for a Social Security Card.
Form DS-11 Application for a U.S. Passport.
If you were previously issued a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and wish to request a replacement copy, please click here.