All US passport services require passport applicants to submit proof of citizenship along with other documents. But is providing your original birth certificate to get your US passport absolutely necessary? Not really.
You can prove your US citizenship either through primary or secondary citizenship evidence.
Below we will go over the two types of proof of US citizenship for those who were born in and outside the United States.
If you were born in the United States
The acceptable proof of citizenship somewhat differs depending whether you were born in or outside the US.First we will go over both primary and secondary US citizenship proof for US-born citizens submitting a passport application.
Primary citizenship evidence
The following documents are examples of primary citizenship evidence you can use when applying for a passport if your place of birth is the United States. You only need to submit one of the two:
- 1. an original or certified copy of your long-form birth certificate* showing birth in the United States that fulfills all of the following criteria:
- issued by the city, county, or state where you were born
- includes your full name as well as your date and place of birth
- includes your parent(s)’ full names
- includes the signature of the city, county, or state registrar
- has the date filed with the registrar’s office within one year of birth
- has the seal of the issuing authority
*a hospital-issued birth certificate is not considered an original one and won’t be accepted as a primary document. Some states also issue birth abstracts (summaries of original birth records), however not all of them meet the above requirements, and some supplemental documentation may be necessary.
- 2. a legitimate, undamaged US passport (it can be expired)
Secondary citizenship evidence
If you were born in the United States and don’t have an original copy (or a certified one) of your birth certificate or a US passport, you can submit secondary evidence with your passport application to prove your citizenship. Keep in mind that you must provide either a delayed certificate of birth or a Letter of No Record with early public records.
- 1. a delayed birth certificate (filed more than 1 year after your birth) with the following:
- – the birth attendant’s signature or an affidavit signed by the parent(s)
- – documentation that was used to create it (preferably early public records, more information below)
If your delayed birth certificate doesn’t have the above, you’ll have to submit it together with early public records.
- 2. Letter of No Record – if there is no certified birth certificate on file in your state of birth, you will be issued a Letter of No Record by the registrar. This document must:
- – be issued by the state
- – have your full name and date of birth
- – include the years for which a birth record was sought
- – include a note stating that there is no birth certificate on file
- – along with the Letter of No Record you must include at least 2 (two) early public records, or 1 (one) early public record and one early private record with Form DS-10: Birth Affidavit
Early public or private documents
Early public or private records are those records that were issued early in your life (ideally in the first five years). They should include your full name, as well as date and place of birth. Some examples of early documents are:
- a birth certificate issued by the hospital
- US Census record
- Baptism certificate
- early school records
- a family Bible record
- medical records of post-natal care
- Form DS-10 – Birth Affidavit (if your birth in the US was recorded more than a year late or if you have a Letter of No Record)
If you were born outside of the United States
If you’re a foreign-born US citizen, you also have primary and secondary citizenship evidence that you can use when you apply for a passport.
Keep in mind that all foreign documents must include an English translation by a professional, along with a notarized certification stating the accuracy of the translation as well as a self-certification provided by the translator to state their ability to translate such documents.
Be prepared to provide any additional documentation required by the passport agency.
We’ll cover the types of documents you can use to prove your US citizenship, both primary and secondary.
Going abroad and need a passport? Check out our other articles for more guidance:
- What Do You Need For a Passport?
- 7 Examples of Rejected Passport Photos [+Commentary]
- Passport Status Guide for 2023 [Online Renewal Info Included]
- First Time Passport Application
- How To Apply For a Passport for an Adopted Child?
- How to Get a Child’s Passport with One Parent Absent
- Can You Get a Passport With a Bench Warrant?
Primary citizenship evidence
For US citizens who were born abroad, one of the following 4 (four) primary documents can be used as proof of citizenship:
- – a legitimate, undamaged US passport (it can be expired)
- – Consular Report of Birth Abroad/Certification of Birth
- – Certificate of Naturalization
- – Certificate of Citizenship
Secondary citizenship evidence
If you were born abroad, secondary documents that can be used to prove your citizenship depend on how you obtained US citizenship. We’ll cover each one of them in detail below.
If you obtained citizenship through citizen parent(s)
The following documents should be submitted with your passport application if you were born outside of the United States and gained US citizenship through one or both citizen parents:
- – your foreign birth certificate including the name(s) of your parent(s)
- if applicable, submit your parents’ marriage certificate
- – a statement by your US citizen parent or parents, which details all periods and locations where they resided or were physically present in the – US and abroad prior to your birth
- – your parent’s or parents’ proof of US citizenship
If you obtained citizenship through the Naturalization of your parent
The following documents should be submitted with your passport application if you were born outside of the United States and gained US citizenship through the Naturalization of one or both of your citizen parents:
- – your foreign birth certificate including the name(s) of your parent(s)
- – your parent’s or parents’ Naturalization Certificate
- – proof of your permanent residence status (this could either be a Permanent Resident Card/Green Card or your foreign passport that includes the original I-551 visa entry stamp)
- – if your parents got married before your 18th birthday and if they were married when you legally entered the United States, you’ll need to provide their marriage certificate
- – if your parents weren’t married when you legally entered the United States, you’ll need to provide documentation of legal custody
- if your parents weren’t married when you were born, you’ll need to provide evidence of your legitimation, such as your parents’ marriage certificate dated after you were born or a certified court order of legitimation
If you obtained citizenship through adoption
If you were born outside the US and became a US citizen through a citizen parent or parents before your 16th birthday, you should submit the following paperwork when applying for a passport:
- – evidence of your parent(s)’ US citizenship
- – your full adoption decree
- – evidence of your lawful entry for permanent residence, such as your – passport from when you entered the US as a child with the ADIT stamp or Form I-94 with picture and the ADIT stamp)
Get your passport photos quickly and hassle-free
If you are in the process of applying for a United States passport, apart from submitting all the necessary paperwork, you’ll also need to submit two passport-style photos.
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Wrap-up
To sum up, as you’ve learned from our post, original birth certificates are not the only way to prove your US citizenship. There are plenty of other documents you can use, including a certified copy of your birth certificate as well as other primary or secondary documents.
Review our lists to learn about the acceptable forms of US citizenship evidence that you can use if you don’t have your long form birth certificate at hand.
FAQ
Do I need to submit my original birth certificate to prove my citizenship when applying for a US passport?
No – there are other alternatives to proving that you are a US citizen than with the original copy of your birth certificate. However, if you are submitting your original US birth certificate, remember that only long form birth certificates are considered primary documents and don’t require any other supplemental documentation.
What if there’s no birth certificate on file in the state I was born?
Those applicants who don’t have birth certificates on file will be issued a Letter of No Record. Remember that it should be filed together with either (two) early public records, or 1 (one) early public record and one early private record with Form DS-10 – Birth Affidavit.
Can I submit my hospital-issued US birth certificate when applying for a new passport?
A hospital-issued certificate of birth is considered a secondary document, therefore you would have to submit it with supporting documents.
I’m a US citizen, but wasn’t born in the United States. Do I have to submit my parents’ marriage certificate when applying for a passport?
If you weren’t born in the US you will have to provide the marriage certificate of your parents only if you gained citizenship through your citizen parent (either US-born or naturalized), however not if you became a US citizen through adoption.
I was born outside of the US – will my Consular Report of Birth Abroad suffice in proving my citizenship?
Yes. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad is considered a primary document of citizenship evidence.
Sources
Magda is an art & travel expert who is passionate about all things late-Victorian, history, languages, casa museos, Spain, and food illustration. She is a specialist in the field of biometric photography. Magda also loves reading, creative writing, and hanging out with her three cats.
