Obtain Copies of Passport RecordsThere are two options for obtaining copies of your passport records:
1. Passport Records for Issuances 1925 - Present
a) Requesting Your Own Record
Passport Services maintains United States passport records for passports issued from 1925 to the present. These records normally consist of applications for United States passports and supporting evidence of United States citizenship, and are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 USC 552(a)). Passport records do not include evidence of travel such as entrance/exit stamps, visas, residence permits, etc., since this information is entered into the passport book after it is issued.
The Privacy Act allows you to obtain copies of records in your own name and the records of your minor children. To request these records, please submit a typed or clearly printed NOTARIZED request that provides:
1. Your full name at birth and any subsequent name changes and/or the full name of your minor child or children, if you are requesting their records;
2. Your date and place of birth and/or those of your minor child or children;
3. Your current mailing address;
4. Your current daytime telephone number;
5. Your current e-mail address, if available;
6. Your reason for the request;
7. The dates or estimated dates your passports were issued; and
8. Your passport numbers or any other information that will help us locate your records.
A search for your passport record is free with your notarized request. However, there is a $45.00 search fee for each individual, other than yourself and your minor children, for whom a record search is requested. A check or money order made payable to “Department of State" must be included with your request. The search fee is waived for passport records to be submitted in connection with a request for Federal, State, or municipal benefits or when a court of competent jurisdiction orders production of the record. A copy of the court order signed by a judge should be submitted with your request.
b) Authenticated Passport Records
Authenticated copies of passport records may be requested. If you would like an authenticated copy of a passport record, the authentication fee is $30.00 for the first authenticated copy of an individual's record and $20.00 for each additional authenticated copy of that record. Checks or money orders should be made payable to “Department of State". There is no charge for authenticated copies of records to be submitted in connection with a request for Federal, State, or municipal benefits or when a court of competent jurisdiction orders production of the record.
c) Third Party Requests
Third party requests must include one of the following: (1) authorization of consent from the owner of the passport records, (2) proof of guardianship, (3) death certificate, or (4) court order signed by a judge of competent jurisdiction requesting the Department of State to release passport records. The only exception to this requirement is when the owner of the passport records was born 100 years or more ago. Your third party request does not have to be notarized but should include the information described in the section above that covers requesting your own record and a $45.00 search fee for each individual for whom a record search is requested. Checks or money orders should be made payable to “Department of State".
d) Mailing Address
All requests for passport records issued from 1925 to present should be mailed to:
Department of State
Passport Services
Research and Liaison Section
Room 500
1111 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20524-1705
2. Passport Records for Issuances Prior to 1925
The National Archives and Records Administration maintain records for passport issuances prior to 1925. You may write to them at the following address:
National Archives and Records Administration
Archives 1
Reference Branch
8th & Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20408
CONSULAR REPORTS OF BIRTH, DEATH, AND MARRIAGE
ON FILE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Definitions
Consular Report of Birth Abroad
A document issued by an American embassy or consulate reflecting the facts of a birth abroad of a child acquiring U.S. citizenship at birth through one or both parents. This record, also known as an FS-240, along with the Certification of Birth, DS-1350, are acceptable as proof of birth and U.S. citizenship for all legal purposes.
Report of the Death of an American Citizen
A document issued by an American embassy or consulate reflecting the facts of a death abroad of an American citizen. The document is based upon the local death certificate.
Certificate of Witness to Marriage
A document issued by an American embassy or consulate reflecting the facts of a marriage abroad in which at least one party is an American Citizen. A consular officer must have attended the ceremony. This accommodation was discontinued in 1987.
How to Apply for a Certified Copy of One of These Reports
Submit a signed and notarized written request including all pertinent facts of the occasion along with a copy of the requester's valid photo identification. Only the subject, parent, or legal guardian may request a birth record. The following information must be included in the request:
General Information
· Date of request
· Purpose of request
· Document being requested (Certificate of Birth, Report of Death, Certificate of Witness of Marriage, or Certification of No Record)
· Number of documents being requested
· Current mailing address and daytime telephone number
Facts of Birth, Death, or Marriage
· Name (at birth/death/marriage)
· Name after adoption (if applicable)
· Date of birth/death/marriage
· Country of birth/death/marriage
· Father’s name
· Father’s date and place (state/country) of birth
· Mother’s name
· Mother’s date and place (state/country) of birth
Passport Information
Passport used to first enter the U.S.
· Name of bearer
· Date of issuance
· Passport number
· Date of inclusion (if passport was not issued to the subject
Current passport
· Name of bearer
· Date of issuance
· Passport number
Fees
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240) - $30.00 - ONE REPLACEMENT ONLY
(Request for a FS-240 must include the original FS-240 or a notarized affidavit attesting to its disposition.
For the following documents, the fee is $30.00 for the first copy and $20.00 for each additional copy:
Certificate of Birth (DS-1350)
Report of Death
Certificate of Witness to Marriage
Certification of No Record
· Check or money order must be signed, dated, and made payable to “Department of State."
· Remittance must be payable in U.S. dollars through a U.S. bank.
· Do not send cash.
Additional Requirements
· Notarized signature
· A copy of a valid identification of the requester, such as a driver’s license, military ID, or passport.
· If you possess a Report of Birth/Death or Certificate of Witness to Marriage, please enclose a copy to aid in our file search.
· If you are requesting an amendment or correction to a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, please include certified copies of all documents appropriate for effecting the change (i.e., foreign birth certificate, marriage certificate, court ordered adoption or name change, birth certificates of adopting or legitimating parents, etc.). The original or replacement FS-240, or a notarized affidavit concerning its whereabouts also must be included.
SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST TO:
U.S. Department of State
Passport Services
Vital Records Section
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20522-1705
Turnaround Time
Most consular vital records must be retrieved from off-site repositories, including the National Archives. Thus, the time it takes varies greatly based on the type of record and date of occurrence, making it difficult to give a definite timeframe. However, in most cases, turnaround is four to eight weeks.
Expedited Service
Overnight delivery can save about ten days processing time, but there is no way to reduce the retrieval time. Overnight return via Federal Express is available for an additional $10.00 or the requester may provide a pre-paid airbill for the carrier of choice.
Additional Information
The Vital Records Section can be reached at (202) 955-0307.
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