Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport (2024)

• Submit your evidence of U.S. citizenship and a photocopy of the front (and back, if there is printed information).
• Photocopies must be: clear and easy to read, on white 8.5”x11” standard paper, black and white, and single sided.

• If you don’t have the original copy of a document, get a replacement from the office which issued the document. The document must have the official seal or stamp of the office which issued it.

• Provide a second copy (sometimes called a "certified copy") of your citizenship evidence if you do not want to submit a photocopy of it. We will keep the second copy.
• It may take longer to get your passport if you don't submit your document and a photocopy of it.
• You cannot submit an electronic or mobile birth certificate.

• Provide aU.S. birth certificatethat meets these 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 or stampof the city, county, or state which issued it
• Full validity, undamaged U.S. passport.
  • Full validity means the document is or was valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16.

• Full validity, undamaged U.S. passport.
  • Full validity means the document is/was valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16.
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Citizenship

You must submit:

• A delayed birth certificate or a Letter of No Record, and
• Early public records or documents

Delayed birth certificate (filed more than 1 year after birth)

• Must include:
  • List of the records or documents used to create it (example: early public records)
  • 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, submit it with early public records or documents.

Letter of No Record

• If there is no U.S. birth certificate on file in the state you were born, you will receive a "Letter of No Record" from the registrar. The letter must:
  • Be issued by the state
  • Have the applicant’s name and date of birth
  • List the birth years searched
  • Include a statement that no birth certificate is on file
• When submitting this letter, provide:
  • An early public record or document, or
  • One early public record/document and one early private record/document withForm DS-10: Birth Affadavit.

Early public or private records/documents

• These documents are from the first five years of an applicant's life.
• Records should include the applicant’s full 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 Affadavit

Documents in a Foreign Language

• Foreign language documents should include a professional English translation.
• The translator must provide a notarized letter about the accuracy of thetranslation and their ability to translate the document.
• We will return your document(s) by mail in a separate package from your passport.