Birth Abroad

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad is an official record of U.S. citizenship issued to a person under age 18 who was born abroad to United States citizen parent(s) and who acquired citizenship at birth. This report is given the same credence in the United States as birth certificates issued by state authorities in the U.S.

Note: Individuals over 18 who believe they may have a claim to U.S. citizenship should review the information on derivative claims to U.S. citizenship and ascertain that they meet the requirements before applying for a U.S. passport for the first time.

To register the birth of a child born in Iraq to a U.S. citizen parent or parents, both parents of the child are required to appear in person at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy with the child. In addition, the following documents are required:

• The child's original Iraqi birth certificate, plus a copy, and an English translation;
  
  
• The parent's original marriage certificate, plus a copy, and an English translation, if the original document is not in English;
  
  
• Original or certified copies of divorce decrees or annulment decrees, plus copies, for any prior marriages of either parent;
  
  
• Both parents' passports, and copies of the biographic information page;
  
  
• Affidavit of Parentage and Physical Presence. This form can be obtained at the Embassy. The U.S. citizen parent should sign this affidavit in the presence of the U.S. Consular Officer.
  
  
• An application for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Form FS-579 (PDF). The U.S. citizen parent should sign this affidavit in the presence of the U.S. Consular Officer.
  
  
• If only one parent is an American citizen, then that parent must bring proof of at least five (5) years of cumulative physical presence in the United States or its outlying possessions, of which two (2) years were after the age of 14. Documents such as school or college transcripts, tax records, W-2 forms, military service record form number DD-214, old passports or old billing statements showing residence in the United States may be presented for consideration. Every document submitted must be an original or a certified copy.
  
  
• If both parents are American citizens, one citizen parent must bring proof of at least one (1) year of physical presence in the United States or its outlying territories prior to the child's birth.
  
  
• For a child born out of wedlock to one U.S. citizen parent and the U.S. citizen parent is the father, documentary evidence demonstrating both parents' physical presence in the same location at the probable time of the child's conception.

In order to apply for a U.S. passport for the child at the same time, parents will also need to bring two recent identical photographs of the child, taken within the last six months. The photos must measure 5cm by 5cm (or 2in by 2in), and must show full frontal view of the head and shoulders against a white background. The photos should be in color.

Fees

The fee for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad is $65. The fee for issuance of a five-year validity passport for a child under the age of 16 is $40. The fee for execution of a passport application for a child under the age of 16 is $30. All fees are payable in cash only.