american citizen services

Consular Reports of Birth

The Department of State recommends that a child born abroad be registered at the nearest U.S. Embassy as soon as possible, to record a claim to the child’s U.S. citizenship.  Upon approval of required documentation, the Consular Report of Birth (CRBA) is authorized and is equivalent to a birth certificate issued in the U.S.

The CRBA can only be requested while the child is under the age of 18.  Please note that the child’s U.S. passport must be used each time he/she enters or departs the United States, even if he/she has dual citizenship. 

Additionally, the child’s Social Security Number is requested at the time the CRBA is issued. Please see the Department of State’s website Documentation of U.S. Citizens Born Abroad  for further information.  

Application Instructions:

The following documents are required to apply for a Consular Report of Birth.

• Form DS-2029 Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America
• Official record of the child’s foreign birth.
• Proof of parent(s) U.S. citizenship.  Examples include your passport, certified birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
• Form SS-5-FS Application for a Social Security Card
• Affidavit of Parentage and Physical Residence in the U.S., if applicable.  This form is required if only one parent is an American Citizen. 
• Complete all sections on the application, using block letters and black ink.  All fields are mandatory.
• "Precise periods of physical presence in the United States of the U.S. citizen parent": Accurate and complete information is required.
• Official record of parents’ marriage, if applicable.  If the parents are not married, please discuss this with a staff member when you make the appointment, as additional documents may be required.
• USD $65 fee. The fee can be paid in U.S. dollars, Czech korun or by credit card.

The Embassy recommends that you obtain your child’s first U.S. passport at the time you apply for the CRBA, as both parents and the child are required to appear and provide many of the same documents for each of these services. Please note that an approved CRBA is required to issue a passport. Please see this link for general information about applying for a passport at the Embassy, and see this link for specifics on the documentation you will need for your child’s passport.

Method of Application:

Both parents must be present with the child at the time of the application.  Appointments are required when applying for a CRBA at the U.S. Embassy Prague.  To make an appointment, please contact the ACS office at ACSPrg@state.gov or at +420.257.022.452. Please include the following information: Your name, local mailing address, local phone number, and a tentative appointment date. The ACS staff will contact you to confirm an appointment date. All application forms will be mailed in advance; please bring the completed forms with you at the time of the appointment.

Processing Time:

The Consular Report of Birth is completed during the appointment, which usually lasts approximately two hours.  Completing the application forms prior to the appointment will facilitate faster processing time. 

The Social Security number is processed by the Social Security Administration and will be sent to the address provided in the application.  Processing time varies, but can often take a few months.  If you do not apply for a passport for the child at the same time, and the child does not have an official photo proof of identity, no Social Security number can be issued.

Passports are transferred to the U.S. for issuance.  When the passport is returned to the Embassy, generally within five business days, you can return to the Embassy to pick it up.  If you prefer, you can receive the passport by courier. For more information on the courier service, click here. With this option, you will also need to fill out a self-addressed envelope for the courier service.