Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA)

General information about applying for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad is located on the Embassy’s website: https://ca.usembassy.gov/services/

As a CRBA is not a travel document, it is strongly recommended that you submit an application for the child’s U.S. passport at the same time. Both applications may be submitted together at your scheduled CRBA appointment.

Answer: CRBA or passport services for the child’s sibling(s)

A separate appointment is required for each child that is applying for a service, so please choose a date on which there are sufficient appointments. The appointments can be in the same time slot if available. Please contact the embassy or consulate if you are unable to schedule passport or CRBA services for all of your minor children on the same day: https://ca.usembassy.gov/contact/

Answer: Passport services for the child’s parent(s)

If your own passport service requires an in-person appearance, you will need to book a separate appointment in your own name.

In general, to apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), you must:

  • Fill out the appropriate application form;
  • Provide supporting documents;
  • Pay the appropriate application fee; and
  • Schedule an appointment.

Step-by-step application instructions, including information about applications forms, fee payment, required supporting documents and how to submit your application are provided on the Embassy website: https://ca.usembassy.gov/services/

Appointments are scheduled online at: https://ca.usembassy.gov/services/

You must bring your printed appointment confirmation page, completed forms, and original documents to your interview.

When scheduling the appointment, you should make a written note of the following:

  • The appointment confirmation number generated.
  • The date and time for your appointment. You will not receive email confirmation of the appointment date.
  • The appointment password. You will require the password if you need to cancel the appointment. No record of your password is kept at the Embassy.

Each applicant requiring a service at the Embassy must have a separate appointment. Please contact the embassy or consulate if you are unable to schedule passport or CRBA services for all of your minor children on the same day: https://ca.usembassy.gov/contact/

We recommend that you schedule your appointment as soon as possible to avoid issues with your travel. If a CRBA appointment is available before your travel date, no matter how close to the date, please book it. You will be able to discuss whether an emergency passport is required based on your travel plans at your appointment.
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is official evidence of citizenship for children under the age of 18 born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent(s) who acquired citizenship at birth. All U.S. citizens are required to enter and exit the U.S. using a valid U.S. passport. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you resolve your child’s claim to citizenship before your child’s first journey to the United States.

If you believe that your child has a claim to U.S. citizenship you may apply for a CRBA and first U.S. passport in Canada. After your child’s appointment in Canada, we will forward the CRBA application to the Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over your child’s birthplace. Therefore, processing will take longer than normal. You will be advised further during the appointment.

Additional information on CRBA eligibility is available at: https://ca.usembassy.gov/services/

Visit the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate via https://www.usembassy.gov/ to find out how to apply for a CRBA for them in that country.
It is not possible to apply for a CRBA within the United States. If your child has not yet been documented as a U.S. citizen, go to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html to find out how to apply for a U.S. passport for your child in the United States. Their claim to citizenship will be adjudicated as part of the passport application process.

The Embassy does not keep copies of CRBA certificates on file. However, you may apply for a copy of a CRBA certificate through the Department of State in the United States.

Please visit https://travel.state.gov and go to “How to Replace or Amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad”

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/requesting-a-vital-record-as-a-u-s–citizen/replace-amend-CRBA.html

Children born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent may have a claim to U.S. citizenship. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is a certificate that serves as official evidence of U.S. citizenship issued to a child under the age of 18 who was born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent(s). It documents that the child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth.

Information about transmission requirements and application instructions are provided on the following website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/birth-abroad.html

We do not provide routine status updates for applications within the standard processing timeframe (three weeks for passports / four weeks for CRBAs). If you/your child submitted an application for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and passport more than six weeks ago, you may send an email to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate location where you applied.

Visit the following link for contact information: https://ca.usembassy.gov/contact/

If no appointment is available when you first check, please check the calendar periodically for any newly released appointments.

https://ca.usembassy.gov/contact/

It is not necessary to obtain a CRBA if you have an urgent need to travel or if it is more convenient, you may apply for a passport in lieu of a CRBA.

Step-by-step application instructions, including information about applications forms, fee payment, photograph requirements, required supporting documents and how to submit your application are provided on the Embassy website at: https://ca.usembassy.gov/passports/

In the United States, you may apply at any passport acceptance agency. Consult the State Department website: https://iafdb.travel.state.gov to find the passport acceptance agency closest to you.

Please note that you must apply for a social security number at a U.S. Social Security Administration office which can be found at SSA’s website for Canada: https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/canada.htm .

General information on SSA services for people living outside the United States can be found at https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/index.html .