Everything you need to know about Form DS-2029

What is Form DS-2029?

Form DS-2029 is the U.S. Department of State Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America. It's filed by U.S. citizen parents to apply for the official document — the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, also called Form FS-240) — that records the birth of their child outside the United States and documents the child's claim to U.S. citizenship. The CRBA is one of the standard U.S. citizenship documents accepted for all federal and state purposes, equivalent to a U.S. birth certificate.

Who must file Form DS-2029?

U.S. citizen parents (or one citizen parent in single-parent cases) of a child born abroad apply by filing Form DS-2029 in person at the U.S. embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over the child's place of birth. The application must generally be made before the child reaches age 18 — earlier is much easier. The U.S. citizen parent must establish that they met the physical presence requirements in U.S. immigration law to transmit citizenship to the child (the requirements depend on whether one or both parents were U.S. citizens and whether the child was born in or out of wedlock).

What you'll need?

The child's foreign birth certificate (original and translation if not in English); the parents' U.S. passports and other citizenship evidence (such as the U.S. citizen parent's birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or prior CRBA); marriage certificate if parents are married; proof of the U.S. citizen parent's physical presence in the United States before the child's birth (tax returns, school records, employment records, prior passport entry/exit stamps); both parents' photo identification; passport-style photos of the child; and the appropriate fee. Many embassies require the application to be scheduled in advance and the family to appear in person.

When and how to file?

File Form DS-2029 as soon as possible after the child's birth — typically at the same appointment when applying for the child's first U.S. passport (Form DS-11). Submit in person at the U.S. embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over the place of birth. Some embassies offer the eCRBA online application portal that lets parents start the application electronically before the appointment. The CRBA (Form FS-240) is mailed to the parents after approval — generally within several weeks. A CRBA is a lifetime document; replacement copies can be requested from the Department of State if lost.