These Documents Will Provide Your Proof Of U.S. Citizenship

 

When applying for a new passport or passport renewal, applicants are required to provide one or more documents to prove they are a U.S. citizen. There are two kinds of documents that can be submitted for proof of citizenship: primary documents and secondary documents.

If you choose to submit a primary document, you are only required to submit one document. If you are unable to submit a primary document and choose to submit secondary documents, you must submit more than one document. The passport office only accepts original or certified copies; photocopies or notarized copies are not acceptable.

If you have been issued a U.S. passport or Consular Report of Birth in the past but are unable to submit the document with your application, you may request a File Search ($150 fee) instead of submitting proof of citizenship.

Primary Documents

If you were born in the United States, you can submit one of the following documents:

  • Fully valid, undamaged U.S. passport (can be expired)
  • U.S. birth certificate that meets the following requirements:

– Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
– Lists applicant’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth
– Lists parent(s)’ full names
– Has the signature of the city, county, or state registrar
– Has the date filed with registrar’s office (must be within one year of birth)
– Has the seal of issuing authority

If you were born outside the United States, you can submit one of the following documents:

  • Fully valid, undamaged U.S. passport (can be expired)
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
  • Certificate of Naturalization
  • Certificate of Citizenship

Secondary Documents

If you were born in the United States, you must submit more than one of the following documents (foreign language documents should provide professional English translations and a notary statement from the translator):

  • Delayed birth certificate. This is a certificate filed more than one year after your birth, and it must include the following:

– List the documentation used to create it (preferably early public records—see below)
– Signature of the birth attendant or an affidavit signed by the parent(s)
– If your delayed U.S. birth certificate does not include these items, it should be submitted with early public records (see below).

  • Letter of No Record. If a U.S. birth certificate is not on file for you in the state you were born, you will receive a Letter of No Record from the registrar instead of a birth certificate. It must meet the following requirements:

– Issued by the state
– Have applicant’s name and date of birth
– List the years for which a birth record was searched
– Include a statement that no birth certificate was found on file
– When submitting a Letter of No Record, you must also submit at least two early public documents or one early public document and one early private document with Form DS-10 (see below).

  • Early public or private documents. Early public or private documents are documents that were created and/or issued early in the applicant’s life, preferably in the first five years. Public records should include the applicant’s name, date of birth, and place of birth. Examples include:

– Baptism certificate
– Hospital birth certificate (often shows baby’s footprints)
– U.S. Census record
– Early school records
– Family Bible record
– Doctor’s records of post-natal care

  • Form DS-10, Birth Affidavit. Should be completed by an older blood relative or attending physician.

If you were born outside the United States and acquired U.S. citizenship through your U.S. citizen parent(s), you must submit all of the following documents:

  • Your foreign birth certificate listing your parent(s)
  • Your parent(s)’ evidence of U.S. citizenship
  • Your parents’ marriage certificate, if applicable
  • A statement from your U.S. citizen parent(s) detailing all periods and places of their residence or physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birth.

If you were born outside the United States and acquired U.S. citizenship through naturalization of your parent(s), you must submit all of the following documents:

  • Your foreign birth certificate listing your parent(s)
  • Your parent(s)’ naturalization certificate
  • Evidence of your permanent residence status. Examples include:

– Permanent Resident Card/Green Card
– Foreign passport with the original I-551 visa entry stamp

  • Your parents’ marriage certificate (if your parents were married when you legally entered the U.S. and before your 18th birthday)
  • Documentation of legal custody (if your parents were not married when you legally entered the U.S.)
  • Evidence of your legitimation (if your parents were not married at the time of your birth). Examples include:

– Your parents’ marriage certificate dated after your birth
– Certified court order of legitimation

If you were born outside the United States and acquired U.S. citizenship through adoption by a U.S. citizen parent while under age 16, you must submit all of the following documents:

  • Citizenship evidence of your U.S. citizen parent
  • Your full and final adoption decree
  • Evidence of lawful entry for permanent residence (Examples: Child’s foreign passport containing an ADIT stamp or Form I-94 with the ADIT stamp and picture)