Birth registration

Children born abroad to U.S. citizen parents often have a claim to U.S. citizenship. If the parent(s) meets the transmission requirement, a child's birth may be reported at this Embassy and a U.S. passport and social security number may be obtained for him or her.

We strongly recommend that the birth of your child be reported to this Embassy as soon as possible after the birth. Even if your child holds nationality of a country other than the U.S., if your child has a claim to citizenship, he or she must be in possession of a valid U.S. passport to enter and exit the United States.  It is imperative that registrations take place before children reach eighteen years of age, and preferably much sooner. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad cannot be prepared if the child is 18 years old or more at the time the birth is reported.
The following information will assist you in determining whether or not your child has a claim to U.S. citizenship and will provide assistance in the steps you are required to take to register the birth and obtain his or her passport.

Registration of U.S. Citizen Children Born Abroad

Only the child's U.S. parent(s) or legal guardian(s) may apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad on a child's behalf and the child must be present at the time of registration. All forms and instructions may be downloaded directly online. Upon registration, the child will be issued a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (Form FS-240). This document is a basic citizenship document.

Required Documents

Please submit the documents listed below.  Please note that the documentary evidence that must accompany the Consular Report of Birth Abroad application is listed on the reverse of the worksheet. All documents submitted must be originals or certified copies from the issuing authority.  If the documents are in a language other than English, they must be translated.

1. Completed Consular Report of Birth Abroad Application Worksheet (DS 2029). please click here to download the form.  Please complete it fully and accurately prior to coming to the Embassy.
2. The child's birth certificate issued by the local authorities at the place of birth.
3. Evidence of the American citizenship of a parent.  (valid passport or naturalization certificate.)
4. If applicable, parents’ marriage certificate issued by the appropriate civil authorities.
5. If either of the child's parents has been married before, evidence of termination of that marriage such as an original certified copy of the decree of dissolution or divorce or a death certificate.
6. The fee of Sixty-five dollars ($65.00) or Tunisian Dinar equivalent in cash. Personal checks are not accepted.
   

Requirements of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act for Transmission of U.S. Citizenship to Children Born Abroad

A. Children Born in Wedlock

1)    Born to two U.S. citizen parents
If either parent has resided in the United States prior to the birth of the child, the child acquires U.S. citizenship under the provisions of Section 301 (c) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act. There is no requisite period of residence for the parents in the U.S., but it must have been at some time prior to the birth of the child.

2) Born to one U.S. citizen and one alien parent
a. Born before or on November 13, 1986
The U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States for a cumulative period (or periods totaling) ten years before the birth of the child, at least five years of which were after the U.S. citizen parent reached the age of fourteen. If this requirement is met, the child acquires U.S. citizenship under the provisions of Section 301(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

b. Born on or after November 14, 1986
The U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States for a period (or periods totaling) five years prior to the birth of the child, at least two years of which were after the U.S. citizen parent reached the age of fourteen years. If this requirement is met, the child acquires U.S. citizenship under the provisions of Section 301(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (as amended by Public Law 99-653 of November 14, l986).

B. Children Born out of Wedlock

1) Born to a U.S. citizen mother
The U.S. citizen mother must have been physically present in the United States for a continuous period of at least one year before the child's birth. This period of presence may have been at any time before the child's birth. If this requirement is met, the child acquires U.S. citizenship under the provisions of Section 309(c) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act.

The U.S. citizen mother must have been physically present in the United States for a continuous period of at least one year before the child's birth. This period of presence may have been at any time before the child's birth. If this requirement is met, the child acquires U.S. citizenship under the provisions of Section 309(c) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act.

2) Born to a U.S. citizen father and an alien mother
In November 1986, the United States Immigration and Nationality Act was amended to permit a child born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen father and an alien mother to acquire U.S. citizenship at birth based upon clear and convincing evidence of paternity. The father must have fulfilled the appropriate physical presence requirements under Section 301(g) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act (ten or five years of physical presence as explained).

In addition, the United States citizen father must:

• sign a written agreement to provide financial support until the child reaches the age of eighteen years; and
• Make a statement under oath acknowledging parentage, or legitimate the child under the law of the child's residence or domicile; or, have the paternity of the child adjudicated and established by a competent court.

C. What Does Physical Presence Mean?

If you are an American citizen but do not have enough physical presence to transmit your U.S. nationality to your child, please refer to both of the following website pages concerning acquiring U.S. citizenship: Child Citizenship Act and Petitioning for an Immigrant Visa for an Immediate Family Member.
You may also call our offices to receive further information at 216-71-107-000 weekdays between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
If you are an American citizen but are unable to demonstrate sufficient physical presence to transmit U.S. nationality to your child, please refer to the following website page concerning the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 please click here. You may also call our offices to receive further information at 216-71-107-000 weekdays between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows certain foreign-born, biological and adopted children of American citizens to acquire American citizenship automatically. These children did not acquire American citizenship at birth, but they are granted citizenship when they enter the United States as legal permanent residents (LPRs).