Certification of Birth Abroad

The Certification of Birth Abroad (Form FS-545) is used to establish U.S. citizenship for children born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents. In order to complete the form, the following information is required: the child's full name, date and place of birth, parent's full name(s), current address and occupation(s), and a notarized signature of one parent. In addition, the form must be accompanied by the following supporting documents: the child's foreign birth certificate, a copy of the parent's photo ID, and proof of U.S. citizenship for the parent (e.g., passport, birth certificate, etc.). Once the form and supporting documents are assembled, they can be submitted to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for processing. Please note that there is a fee for this service, and it can take several weeks to receive the certified copy of the birth certificate.