Your Child, an American Citizen

Applying for a Report of Birth, U.S. Passport, and SSN

Congratulations! You already are, or soon will be, the parent of a child who may be entitled to U.S. citizenship. You should report the birth to the Embassy as soon as possible. 

• Don't Delay - Start the Process within 30 days of Birth
• Is my child entitled to U.S. citizenship?
• Should we apply for a Report of Birth, Passport, and SSN?
• What documents are needed to establish my child's U.S. citizenship (and apply for a Report of Birth, U.S. passport and SSN)?
• Can you provide more details about the required documents?
• How do I apply for a Social Security Number for my child?
• How do I replace or request additional copies of Consular Report of Birth?

Don’t Delay – Start the process within 30 days of birth

It is important to start this process as soon as possible after your child is born. To travel abroad, whether urgent and unexpected or planned, your child will need a passport. 

Is my child entitled to U.S. citizenship?

Your child is entitled to U.S. citizenship if s/he has:

• Two U.S. citizen parents, who were married to each other at the time of birth, if one of the parents lived in the U.S. prior to the birth.
• One U.S. citizen and one alien parent who were married to each other at the time of birth, if the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. for a minimum of five years before the birth, two years after age 14.
• Special rules apply if only the father is a U.S. citizen and the parents married within six months of the birth (see below).

Should we apply for a Report of Birth of Passport?

You are encouraged to apply for your child’s Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240), U.S. passport, and social security number.  Most parents choose to apply for all three at the same time.  Services for American Citizens at the U.S. Embassy are available Monday and Thursday from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, except U.S. and Mongolian holidays.  Starting 1 September, 2011, services will be provided by appointment only.  To make an appointment please visit the U.S. Citizens Services Appointment System. 

Only the child's parents or legal guardian may apply on the child's behalf.  The application(s) must be signed before an U.S. consular officer. Both parents and the child are required to be present at the time of application for a passport. But If you apply only for Report of Birth, only an American Citizen parent needs to be present at the time of application.

Processing times for your child’s Report of Birth and passport vary on a case-by-case basis but typically require ten days to two weeks once you have submitted all of the necessary documents.  You may come to the Embassy to pick up the finished Report of Birth and passport.  

What documents are needed to establish my child’s U.S. citizenship (and apply for a Report of Birth, U.S. passport and SSN)?

The following documents are required: 

• Evidence of your child’s birth – original and two copies.
• Evidence of U.S. citizenship of the parent(s) – original and two copies. 
• Evidence of parents' marriage, if they are married – original and one copy.
• Evidence of legal termination of previous marriages, if applicable - original.
• Form DS-2029 (PDF, 52KB), Application for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
• Form DS-11, (PDF, 88KB) Application for a U.S. Passport
• Form SS-5 (PDF, 233KB) - FS, Application for a Social Security Card
• Photos of your child (2”x2” – white background) Check the requirements for photograph. 
• Fees: $205.00 (only in cash in U.S. dollars or tugrugs. Please check the requirements on U.S. banknotes (PDF, 34KB)). (effective July 13, 2010).  Please pay when you come to submit applications.
• Evidence of the American parent’s physical presence in the U.S. for five years if only one parent is a U.S. citizen.
• Confirmation of paternity if the father is the only U.S. citizen and the parents are not married.
• Additional evidence if requested.

Each of these requirements is explained in more detail below.

Note: All documents in languages other than English should be translated into English and notarized.

Can you provide more details about the required documents?

Evidence of birth:

This can be an original birth certificate. Although the hospital birth certificate is not proof of citizenship, it is still an important document. You should obtain several copies and keep them in a safe place.

Evidence of U.S. citizenship of the parent(s):

This can be one of the following:

• Passport
• Birth Certificate
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Citizenship 

Evidence of citizenship documents must be either an original or a copy certified by the issuing agency. A photocopy or a "true copy" cannot be accepted.

Evidence of parents' marriage, if they are married: 

This must be an original or certified copy of the marriage certificate issued by a city, state, or foreign country. 

Evidence of legal termination of previous marriages:  

You must submit original divorce or annulment decrees or death certificates.  Certified copies are also acceptable. An English translation must be included (the translation can be informal).

Follow this link for information on obtaining vital records, such as birth, death and marriage certificates.

Application Fee:

The fees are $105.00 for the passport and $100.00 for the Consular Report of Birth, for a total of $205.00.  We accept only cash either by Mongolian Tugrugs or by U.S. dollars.  Please check the requirements on U.S. banknotes here (PDF, 34KB). We cannot accept personal checks. The application fee can be paid when you come in for an interview. 

Come to the Embassy – both parents and child:

You must bring your child to the U.S. Embassy in order to complete the passport application. The applications must be signed by both parents before an U.S. consular officer. Only the child's parents or legal guardian may apply on the child's behalf.

But if you apply only for Report of Birth, only an American Citizen parent needs to be present at the time of application.

The State Department requires the consent of both parents for the issuance of passports to U.S. citizens age 16 and younger.  If only one parent can sign the application(s) before a consular officer, please carefully review the information on this web site before you apply for a passport for your baby.  There are several special requirements.

Confirmation of physical presence in the U.S. of the U.S. citizen parent, if the other parent is not a U.S. citizen:

If only one parent is a U.S. citizen and the other is not, the U.S. citizen parent must provide evidence of his or her actual presence in the U.S. for five years (two of them after the age of 14) before the birth.

Evidence can include:

• U.S. school records and/or university transcripts (not diplomas)
• Letter from U.S. employer(s) stating work period dates and location(s) of employment in the U.S. and W-2s or tax returns.
• Passports with U.S. and foreign entry stamps.
• Government or military service records.
• Evidence of having been the unmarried dependent of a U.S. government employee stationed abroad.

You may also submit secondary evidence, such as utility bills; rental or lease agreements for a U.S. residence; business or home ownership documentation; or payroll records.
If the parents are not married and the mother is a U.S. citizen, she must present evidence of one year's continual physical presence in the U.S.

Confirmation of paternity if the father is the only U.S. citizen and the parents are not married:

If the child's American father is not married to the alien mother, or if he married the mother after the child's birth, or if he married the mother within the months prior to the child’s birth, both parents must submit sworn statements acknowledging that they are the natural parents of the child.  These statements must be signed in person by the parents before a consular officer or a designated military official.

If the child's American father is not married to the alien mother, or if he married the mother after the child's birth, or if he married the mother within six months prior to the child’s birth, the U.S. citizen father also must supply the following:

• U.S. passport showing entry and exit stamps, employment records, or other evidence of his presence in the same country as the mother at the time of conception.
  Additionally, if the biological parents had been married for less than six months at the time of the child’s birth: the U.S. citizen father must sign a sworn affidavit of paternity (the form is available at the Embassy. The affidavit must be signed in person by the father before a consular officer.
• If the child was born out of wedlock:  a sworn affidavit from the U.S. citizen father agreeing to provide financial support until the child reaches the age of 18. (The form is available at the Embassy.  The father must sign the affidavit before a consular officer or a designated military official.  This is not required if the parents married each other after the child’s birth or if the child has been legitimated under the laws of the father's place of legal residence in the U.S.

Children Age 16 and Younger: A person applying for a U.S. passport for a child age 16 and younger must demonstrate that both parents consent to the issuance of a passport to the child or that the applying parent has sole authority to obtain the passport.  Please review the information on the web site before you apply for a passport for a child age 16 and younger. 

A parent or legal guardian must complete the SS-5-FS Application for a Social Security Card. His/her Social Security number is assigned by the regional Social Security office in Manila.  The Social Security card will be mailed directly to you, though processing takes several months.  If you have not received your child's Social Security number and need to file U.S. federal income taxes, please contact the IRS directly for advice on how best to proceed.

How do I replace or request additional copies of Consular Report of Birth?

The Embassy cannot provide replacement or extra copies of the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240).  Additional copies are available only by mail by writing to:

U.S. Department of State
Passport Services Correspondence Branch
CA/PPT/PS/PC, Suite 510
1111 19th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20522-1705 

Detailed information: Replace or Amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).

Your request must include complete identifying information:

Full name of the child, date and place of birth, names of the parents, the consular office abroad that recorded the birth, and the serial number of the Consular Report of Birth, if known.
If the Consular Report of Birth has been lost, stolen or mutilated, the request must include an affidavit setting forth the circumstances on how this occurred.

The charge is $50.00 per copy.