What is a CRBA?
The Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, or Form FS‑240) is a document issued by the U.S. Department of State that shows a person acquired U.S. citizenship at birth outside the United States.
Generally, it must be requested before the child turns 18.
To obtain it, you must show that the legal requirements for passing citizenship through one or both parents are met.
The CRBA is not a naturalization certificate or the USCIS Form N‑600 process: it is requested at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Who may qualify?
In every case, one or both parents must have been U.S. citizens when the child was born. The other requirements depend on:
- Whether both parents were U.S. citizens.
- Whether only one parent was a U.S. citizen.
- Whether the parents were married when the child was born.
- The child's date of birth.
- How long the U.S. citizen parent lived or was physically present in the United States.
- Additional requirements for parentage, acknowledgment of paternity, or financial support, when they apply.
Not every child automatically qualifies. We review your situation with the information you give us before preparing the documents.
Not every case requires five years of physical presence in the United States. The requirements depend on the family's circumstances and on the law that applies on the date of birth.
Documents you may need
The child's documents
- Foreign birth certificate.
- Passport or ID, if any.
The parents' documents
- U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship, or other accepted proof of U.S. citizenship.
- ID for both parents.
- Marriage certificate, if applicable.
- Divorce or name change documents, when they apply.
Proof of physical presence or residence in the United States
Depending on the case, these may be used:
- School or college records.
- Employment records.
- W‑2 forms.
- Tax returns.
- Lease agreements.
- Medical records.
- Other documents that show specific periods of physical presence.
Additional documents
- Form DS‑5507, when it applies.
- Proof of parentage or support, if needed.
- Other documents the embassy or consulate requires.
The specific documents depend on the parents' situation, the child's date of birth, and the requirements of the consular post. Please do not send documents through the form on this page: after you request the service, we will email you the questionnaire and the list of documents.
How does our service work?
- Request the service.Fill out our contact form.
- Receive the questionnaire.We will email you a questionnaire in Spanish and the list of documents you need.
- Send your information.Complete the questionnaire and send it back together with the requested documents.
- Preparing the application.We will review the information administratively and prepare the documents for the consular application.
- Next steps.We will tell you how to continue the process with the right U.S. embassy or consulate.
We do not guarantee approval, appointment availability, or issuance times: those decisions belong to the Department of State and the embassy or consulate.
Costs
CRBA preparation
Government fees not included.
Department of State fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) | $100 |
| Child's U.S. passport | Additional fee only if you also apply for it; depends on age and passport type |
The CRBA fee comes from the official schedule of consular fees (22 CFR 22.1), verified on November 4, 2026; the government may change it. The payment to the government is separate from our fees and is not charged together with them. The passport cost depends on age, passport type, and the procedure.
See the official schedule of consular fees (22 CFR 22.1) (opens in a new tab)
Combined reference cost, without a passport: $550 (our fees + CRBA fee).
Government fees are paid separately and are not included in our fees.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CRBA?
It is Form FS‑240, issued by the Department of State, which shows that a person born outside the United States acquired U.S. citizenship at birth.
Can my child be a U.S. citizen if born outside the United States?
Yes, if one or both parents were U.S. citizens at the time of birth and the citizenship transmission requirements for your case are met. Not every child qualifies.
Do both parents need to be citizens?
No. One citizen parent may be enough, but the requirements change: when only one parent is a citizen, that parent generally must show a period of physical presence in the United States before the birth.
How many years must the citizen parent have lived in the United States?
It depends on the case. For example, if the parents were married and only one is a citizen, five years of physical presence before the birth are generally required, two of them after that parent turned 14. If both are citizens and married, it is enough that one of them resided in the United States at some point before the birth. Other situations have their own rules.
What if the parents were not married?
There are special rules. If the citizen is the father, in addition to physical presence he generally must acknowledge paternity and agree in writing to support the child until age 18, before the child turns 18. If the citizen is the mother, the physical presence required depends on the child's date of birth.
Can I apply for a CRBA if my child is already 18?
No. According to the official Form DS‑2029 instructions, the CRBA application must be filed before the child turns 18. If your child is already 18, there may be other ways to document citizenship; we will review your case.
Does the CRBA include a U.S. passport?
No. The child's passport is a separate application with its own fee, paid only if you also apply for it. Our CRBA fee does not include the passport.
How much does our service cost?
Our fee for the administrative preparation of the CRBA is $450 USD, a flat fee. Department of State fees are paid separately.
Are government fees included?
No. Department of State fees are paid directly to the government and are not part of our fees. See the fee table on this page.
Do I have to go to the consulate in person?
Generally yes. According to the official DS‑2029 instructions, the application is signed in front of a consular officer, so you need an appointment at the embassy or consulate. If the U.S. citizen parent cannot attend, in some cases that parent may complete Form DS‑5507 and submit it separately. Each consular post explains who must attend.
Official sources
Ge Chanfon Services LLC provides document preparation and administrative assistance services. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. Approval of any application is decided by the appropriate government agency.