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**Foreign or high-seas births and deaths and    certificates of citizenship**

**Where to Write for Vital Records**

**Birth records of persons born in    foreign countries who are U.S. citizens at birth**The birth of a child abroad to U.S.    citizen parent(s) should be reported to the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy as soon    after the birth as possible. To do this, the child's parent or legal guardian should file    an Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of    America (Form FS-579/SS-5). This form may also be used to apply for a Social Security    Number for the child. A $40.00 fee is charged for reporting the birth. 

The application must be supported by    evidence to establish the child's U.S. citizenship. Usually, the following documents are    needed: 
**1.** the child's birth certificate;**2.** evidence of the U.S. citizenship of the        parent(s) such as a certified copy of a birth certificate, U.S. passport, or Certificate        of Naturalization or Citizenship;**3.** evidence of the parents' marriage, if        applicable; and**4.** affidavit(s) of the physical presence of        the parent(s) in the United States. 
Each document should be certified as a    true copy of the original by the registrar of the office that issued the document. Other    documents may be needed in some cases. Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for    details on what evidence is needed. 

When the application is approved, a    Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (Form FS-240)    is given to the applicant. This document, known as the Consular Report of Birth, has the    same value as proof of citizenship as the Certificate of Citizenship issued by the    Immigration and Naturalization Service. 

A Consular Report of Birth can be    prepared only at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas, and only if the person who is the    subject of the report is under 18 years of age when the application is made. A person    residing abroad who is now 18 years of age or over, and whose claim to U.S. citizenship    has never been documented, should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for    assistance in registering as a U.S. citizen. 

As of November 1, 1990, the U.S.    Department of State no longer issues multiple copies of the Consular Report of Birth.    However, a replacement Consular Report of Birth may be issued if the original document is    lost or mutilated. The U.S. Department of State also issues certified copies of the    Certification of Report of Birth (DS-1365), which contains the same information as on the    Consular Report of Birth. The DS-1365 serves most needs and can be issued in multiple    copies. Documents are issued only to the subject of the Consular Report of Birth, the    subject's parents or legal guardian, or a person who submits written authorization from    the subject. 

To request copies of the DS-1365 or a    replacement FS-240, write to Passport Services, Correspondence Branch, U.S. Department of    State, 1111 19th Street NW, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20522-1705. Please include the    following items: 
**1.** the full name of the child at birth (and        any adoptive name);**2.** the date and place of birth;**3.** the names of the parents;**4.** the serial number of the FS-240 (if the        FS-240 was issued after November 1, 1990);**5.** any available passport information;**6.** the signature of the requestor and the        requestor's relationship to the subject;**7.** a check or money order for $40.00 for the        FS-240, $20.00 for the first DS-1350 and $10.00 for each additional issued at the same        time per document requested, made payable to the U.S. Department of State; and**8.** if applying for a replacement FS-240, a        notarized affidavit by the subject, parent, or legal representative that states the name,        date and place of birth of the subject, and the whereabouts of the original FS-240. 
To obtain a Consular Report of Birth in a    new name, send a written request and fees as noted above, the original (or replacement)    Consular Report of Birth, or if not available, a notarized affidavit about its    whereabouts. Also, send a certified copy of the court order or final adoption decree which    identifies the child and shows the change of name with the request. If the name has been    changed informally, submit public records and affidavits that show the change of name. 

**Birth records of alien children    adopted by U.S. citizens**Birth certifications for alien children    adopted by U.S. citizens and lawfully admitted to the United States may be obtained from    the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) if the birth information is on file.    (Address can be found in a telephone directory.) To obtain the birth data, it is necessary    to provide the Immigration Office with proof of adoption or legitimation. 

**Certificate of citizenship**Persons who were born abroad and later    naturalized as U.S. citizens or who were born in a foreign country to a U.S. citizen    (parent or parents) may apply for a certificate of citizenship pursuant to the provisions    of Section 341 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Application can be made for this    document in the United States at the nearest office of the Immigration and Naturalization    Service (INS). The INS will issue a certification of citizenship for the person if proof    of citizenship is submitted and the person is within the United States. The decision    whether to apply for a certificate of citizenship is optional; its possession is not    mandatory because a valid U.S. passport or a Form FS-240 has the same evidentiary status. 

**Death records of U.S. citizens    who die in foreign countries**The death of a U.S. citizen in a foreign    country may be reported to the nearest U.S. consular office. If reported, and a copy of    the local death certificate and evidence of U.S. citizenship are presented, the consul    prepares the official Report of the Death of an American Citizen Abroad' (Form OF-180). A    copy of the Report of Death is then filed permanently in the U.S. Department of State (see    exceptions below). 

To obtain a copy of a report filed in    1963 or after, write to Passport Services, Correspondence Branch, U.S. Department of    State, Washington, DC 20522-1705. The fee for a copy is $20.00 for the first copy, $10.00    for each additional copy. Fee may be subject to change. 

Reports of Death filed before 1963 are    maintained by the National Archives and Records Service, Diplomatic Records Branch,    Washington, DC 20408. Requests for such records should be sent directly to that office. 

Reports of deaths of persons serving in    the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard) or    civilian employees of the Department of Defense are not maintained by the U.S. Department    of State. In these cases, requests for copies of records should be sent to the National    Personnel Records Center (Military Personnel Records), 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis, Missouri    63132-5100. 

**Records of birth and death    occurring on vessels or aircraft on the high seas**When a birth or death occurs on the high    seas, whether in an aircraft or on a vessel, the record is usually filed at the next port    of call. 
**1.** If the vessel or aircraft docked or landed        at a foreign port, requests for copies of the record may be made to the U.S. Department of        State, Washington, DC 20522-1705.**2.** If the first port of entry was in the        United States, write to the registration authority in the city where the vessel or        aircraft docked or landed in the United States.**3.** If the vessel was of U.S. registry,        contact the local authorities at the port of entry and/or search the vessel logs at the        U.S. Coast Guard Facility at the vessel's final port of call for that voyage. 
**Records maintained by foreign    countries**Most, but not all, foreign countries    record births and deaths. It is not possible to list in this publication all foreign vital    records offices, the charges they make for copies of records, or the information they may    require to locate a record. However, most foreign countries will provide certifications of    births and deaths occurring within their boundaries. 

Persons who need a copy of a foreign    birth or death record should contact the Embassy or the nearest Consulate in the U.S. of    the country in which the death occurred. Addresses and telephone numbers for these offices    are listed in the U.S. Department of State Publication 7846, Foreign Consular Offices in    the United States, which is available in many local libraries. Copies of this publication    may also be purchased from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. 

If the Embassy or Consulate is unable to    provide assistance, U.S. citizens may obtain assistance by writing to the Office of    Overseas Citizens Services, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-4818. Aliens    residing in the United States may be able to obtain assistance through the Embassy or    Consulate of their country of nationality.

**Records of birth, death, and    marriage in the Panama Canal Zone for U.S. citizens and foreign nationals**From 1904 until 1979, the Canal Zone    Government registered all civil acts of birth, death, and marriage in the Canal Zone for    U.S. citizens and foreign nationals. Since 1979, the Panama Canal Commission has issued    certified copies of these documents in response to requests from the public. On December    31, 1999, the Panama Canal Commission will no longer exist. On December 1, 1999, those    records were transferred to Passport Services in the U.S. Department of State, which will    provide the certification service just as it does for similar records issued by U.S.    Embassies and Consulates abroad.

To request copies, write to    Correspondence Branch, Passport Services, U.S. Department of State, 1111 19th Street NW,    Suite 510, Washington, DC 20522-1705. Please include the following items for birth ,    death, or marriage:
**1.** the full name of subject at the time of        event;**2.** month, day and year of event;**3.** place of event (city and country);**4.** parents' names, date and place of birth,        and nationality for birth record;**5.** any available U.S. passport information;**6.** signature of the requestor, parent or        guardian, or legal representative;**7.** requestor address and telephone number;**8.** a check or money order for $20.00 and        $10.00 for each additional copy issued at the same time, made payable to U.S. Department        of State. Do not send cash.
 

 

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This page last reviewed August 25, 2000

**U.S.    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES****Centers    for Disease Control and Prevention**    National Center for Health Statistics    Division of Data Services     Hyattsville, MD    20782-2003    (301) 458-4636
 

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