Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA): Form FS-240 Guide

Quick Answer: What Is a Consular Report of Birth Abroad?

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), also known as Form FS-240, is an official document issued by the U.S. Department of State for a child born outside the United States who acquired U.S. citizenship or qualifying U.S. nationality at birth through their parent or parents.

A CRBA does not grant citizenship. Instead, it documents that the child already acquired citizenship or nationality at birth under U.S. law.

Eligibility depends on factors such as the parents’ citizenship or nationality, the child’s date of birth, and whether the applicable U.S. residence or physical-presence requirements were met.

Not every child born abroad to a U.S. citizen automatically qualifies. For an original CRBA, the child generally must be under age 18 when the application is filed. A CRBA is not a birth certificate.

Form FS-240 vs. Form DS-2029: What Is the Difference?

Form DS-2029, Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America, is the application used to request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, is the official document the U.S. Department of State issues after approving the CRBA application.

In simple terms, DS-2029 is the application, while FS-240 is the issued CRBA document.

Searches for “FS-240 form” often refer to the CRBA itself, but applicants generally complete Form DS-2029 when applying for an original CRBA. The application process and required supporting documents are explained later in this guide.

Who Qualifies for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad?

A child may qualify for a CRBA if they were born outside the United States and acquired U.S. citizenship or qualifying U.S. nationality at birth.

The requirements depend on the child’s date of birth, the parents’ citizenship or nationality, marital status, and the U.S. residence or physical presence of the parent transmitting citizenship.

Child Born to Two Married U.S. Citizen Parents

A child born to two married U.S. citizen parents may acquire citizenship at birth if at least one parent resided in the United States or a U.S. territory before the child’s birth.

At least one parent must have a genetic or gestational connection to the child, and both spouses must have a qualifying parental relationship with the child.

Child Born to a U.S. Citizen and U.S. National

The U.S. citizen parent generally must have resided in the United States or its territories for a continuous period of at least one year before the child’s birth. Other parent-child relationship requirements also apply.

Child Born to a U.S. Citizen and Non-U.S. Citizen Parent

For a child born in wedlock on or after November 14, 1986, the U.S. citizen parent generally must have been physically present in the United States or its territories for at least five years before the child’s birth, including two years after age 14.

Different citizenship transmission rules may apply to children born before November 14, 1986.

Child Born Out of Wedlock to a U.S. Citizen Father

For a child born on or after November 14, 1986, the father generally must meet the five-year/two-after-age-14 physical-presence requirement and have been a U.S. citizen when the child was born.

A blood relationship must be established, and the father generally must agree in writing to provide financial support until age 18.

Before age 18, paternity must also be established through legitimation, written acknowledgment under oath, or a court determination.

Child Born Out of Wedlock to a U.S. Citizen Mother

For a child born from December 24, 1952 through June 11, 2017, the U.S. citizen mother generally must have been physically present in the United States or its territories for one continuous year before the birth.

For births on or after June 12, 2017, she generally must meet the five-year physical-presence requirement, including two years after age 14.

Children Born Through Assisted Reproductive Technology or Surrogacy

Citizenship eligibility in ART or surrogacy cases depends on the child’s genetic or gestational connection and the parents’ legal relationship to the child.

In some cases, a U.S. citizen parent without a genetic or gestational connection may qualify when married to the child’s genetic or gestational parent at birth and both spouses have a qualifying parental relationship.

Who Cannot Get a CRBA?

A CRBA is only issued to document U.S. citizenship or qualifying U.S. nationality acquired at birth abroad. It is not used to document citizenship that a person acquired or obtained later.

Not every child born abroad to a U.S. citizen automatically qualifies for a CRBA. The child must have met the citizenship-at-birth requirements that applied when they were born.

A person who became a U.S. citizen only after birth cannot receive a CRBA to document that later citizenship. The U.S. Department of State also does not issue CRBAs to naturalized U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

A child who does not qualify for a CRBA may still have another path to U.S. citizenship, depending on their circumstances.

Can You Apply for a CRBA Online?

Yes. You can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) online through MyTravelGov at most U.S. embassies and consulates. The electronic CRBA process, often called eCRBA, allows eligible applicants to start the application and submit information online.

Before applying, check the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will apply because procedures and availability can vary by location.

Submitting the CRBA application online does not complete every required step. You must still follow the embassy or consulate’s instructions, including any required appointment, original-document review, or other consular requirements.

How to Apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad

If your child may have acquired U.S. citizenship or qualifying U.S. nationality at birth, follow these general steps to apply for a CRBA:

1. Confirm your child’s eligibility. Review the citizenship-at-birth requirements that applied when your child was born.
2. Check the U.S. embassy or consulate instructions. CRBA procedures can vary by location, so review the website of the post where you will apply before starting.
3. Complete the CRBA application. At most locations, you can start an electronic CRBA application through MyTravelGov. If required, complete Form DS-2029, Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America.
4. Gather the required supporting evidence. This generally includes documents showing the child’s birth, the transmitting parent’s U.S. citizenship, and required U.S. residence or physical presence.
5. Complete Form DS-5507 if required. This form may apply in certain cases, including when the transmitting U.S. citizen parent is absent or in some out-of-wedlock cases.
6. Attend the required appointment. Bring the requested original or certified documents and complete any required signatures before the appropriate consular official.
7. Pay the CRBA fee. Follow the payment instructions provided by the embassy or consulate.

Always follow the specific instructions of the U.S. embassy or consulate handling the application.

What Documents Do You Need for a CRBA?

The documents required for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad depend on the child’s circumstances and how U.S. citizenship is being transmitted. In general, applicants should be prepared to provide:

• Child’s foreign birth certificate
• Evidence of the U.S. citizen parent’s citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship
• Valid identification for the parents
• Evidence of U.S. residence or physical presence before the child’s birth, when required. Examples may include school, employment, tax, medical, military, or other official records
• Parents’ marriage certificate, if applicable
• Divorce decrees, annulment records, or death certificates showing how previous marriages ended, if applicable
• Evidence of paternity, parentage, or legal guardianship when required
• Form DS-5507 in cases where the State Department requires it

For key civil records, the State Department generally requires original documents or copies certified by the office that maintains the record. Ordinary photocopies or notarized copies generally do not replace these required records.

Requirements can vary by case and location, so check the document checklist provided by the U.S. embassy or consulate handling the CRBA application.

How Much Does a CRBA Cost?

The current U.S. Department of State fee for an original Consular Report of Birth Abroad application is $100.

How you pay may depend on the U.S. embassy or consulate handling the application, including whether payment is made online or according to local instructions. Check the specific embassy or consulate’s CRBA page before paying.

This is the fee for an original CRBA application; fees for replacement copies or other Vital Records services are separate.

Last verified: September 2026

CRBA vs. Birth Certificate vs. U.S. Passport

A CRBA, foreign birth certificate, and U.S. passport serve different purposes. A certificate of birth abroad or “birth abroad birth certificate” may sometimes be used informally to describe a CRBA, but a CRBA is not the same as a birth certificate.

A CRBA does not replace the foreign birth certificate or independently establish legal parentage or custody. A CRBA is also not required in every case before applying for a U.S. passport.

How to Replace, Get Another Copy, or Amend a CRBA

If a CRBA is lost, damaged, or an additional certified copy is needed, the record can be requested from the U.S. Department of State using Form DS-5542, Request for Overseas U.S. Citizen Vital Records Services.

A CRBA replacement or amendment may generally be requested by the person named on the record if age 18 or older, a parent of a child under 18, an authorized government agency, or another person who has the required written authorization.

How to Get a Replacement or Additional Copy of a CRBA

Complete Form DS-5542, have it notarized as required, and submit the requested identification and payment. The current Vital Records fee is $50 per CRBA copy. Follow the current State Department instructions for mailing and payment requirements.

How to Amend a CRBA

Form DS-5542 is also used to request certain changes to a CRBA, such as a name change, adoption-related change, paternity change, or error correction.

You must provide original or certified supporting documents that establish the requested change. The documents required depend on what information you want amended, so review the current State Department requirements before submitting the request.

FS-240 vs. FS-545 vs. DS-1350

Form FS-240 is the current Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the U.S. Department of State.

Form FS-545 and Form DS-1350 are older State Department documents used to certify the birth abroad of a U.S. citizen. People who received these documents in the past may still encounter them when providing evidence of U.S. citizenship.

Current State Department passport instructions continue to recognize FS-240, DS-1350, and FS-545 as birth-abroad citizenship evidence in applicable cases. Having an older FS-545 or DS-1350 does not automatically mean you must replace it with an FS-240. The document required depends on the purpose for which you are providing citizenship evidence.

How to Get an Apostille for a CRBA

An apostille may be needed when you plan to use a CRBA in a country that participates in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.

To request an apostille from the U.S. Department of State, submit a notarized Form DS-5542 and a photocopy of a valid photo ID.

If your CRBA was issued within the last five years, there is currently no additional fee for the apostille when you submit that document. If you do not have a CRBA, or the CRBA was issued more than five years ago, the State Department generally needs to issue a new copy and charges the current $50 CRBA copy fee.

Follow the State Department Vital Records instructions for the current mailing and payment requirements.

What If Your Child Did Not Acquire U.S. Citizenship at Birth?

A CRBA only documents citizenship or qualifying U.S. nationality acquired at birth. If your child did not acquire U.S. citizenship at birth, a CRBA is not the document used to establish citizenship acquired later.

Depending on the child’s circumstances, another citizenship pathway may apply. For example, some children residing in the United States may automatically acquire citizenship after birth and can use Form N-600 to request a Certificate of Citizenship. Certain children residing outside the United States may qualify to apply for citizenship under INA 322 using Form N-600K.

The requirements for N-600 and N-600K are different from CRBA eligibility.

Consular Report of Birth Abroad FAQs

Applying for a CRBA for Your Child?

ImmigrationDirect provides citizenship information and guided preparation services for eligible USCIS applications. If your child’s situation involves another citizenship process, ImmigrationDirect resources can help you understand the available options.

For a CRBA, follow the current U.S. Department of State instructions and the requirements of the U.S. embassy or consulate handling the application.