Applying For a Report of Birth and Passport for Your Child
The Embassy urges all parents, who are applying for reports of birth and passports for their children to read the following information carefully.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply, your child must have been born in Lebanon and you must travel to Beirut for the in-person interview.
To be eligible to apply for a CRBA online, you MUST answer all the following criteria with YES.
- Was the child born in Lebanon?
- Is the child under the age of 18?
- Was at least one parent a U.S. citizen or U.S. non-citizen national when the child was born?
- Can you use an internationally accepted credit/debit card or a direct payment method from a U.S. dollar denominated bank account (also known as “ACH”) to pay online for your Consular Report of Birth Abroad application?
- Are you a biological parent of a child born abroad who is applying for that child?
How to Apply:
You must apply for a CRBA electronically. This online feature allows U.S. citizen parents to complete a CRBA application online, upload all required documents, and submit payment prior to the in-person interview. We do not accept paper CRBA applications.
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1- To apply for a CRBA online, you need to create a MyTravelGov account. MyTravelGov is a secure, encrypted portal. Watch this video: (How to Create a MyTravelGov Account (youtube.com)) to learn more about creating your account.
2- Once you have created a MyTravelGov account you can access eCRBA and submit your application online. This easy-to-use online process provides applicants with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application. Make sure to upload the following documents on the eCRBA portal:
- The child’s official birth certificate issued by Lebanese authorities (civil registration department). Make sure the name on the birth certificate is exactly how you would like it to appear on the Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
- Parents’ official marriage certificate.
- Official divorce decree if either parent was previously married.
- If one parent is deceased, please provide an official death certificate.
- Proof of identity for both parents (i.e. passport, Lebanese ID, U.S. driver’s license)
- Proof of citizenship for U.S. citizen parent(s). (U.S. passport, Naturalization certificate, Certificate of Citizenship, Consular Report of Birth Abroad).
- Parents who have previously documented children born abroad should bring the other Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.
- One matte finish (not glossy) photograph 2 inches square (5×5 cm), showing a full frontal view of the child’s face with a light background. Please make sure that ears and eyebrows are visible – See Photo Requirements .
- Passport application Form DS-11
3- Once you complete the online application and submit payment, you will then be directed to schedule your appointment at the U.S. embassy in Beirut. Please schedule your appointment at least 72 hours after payment submission. This provides time for your payment to be processed prior to your CRBA interview. Please Note: Do NOT make another (or duplicate) payment for a CRBA ($100) at the Embassy.
4- Attend your scheduled in-person interview with your original documents and their photocopies (single-sided) from the list above. Original documents will be returned to you after reviewing your application. You must provide English translations for all foreign language documents. The child must be present at the time of application. Generally, both parents also attend the interview.
Interviews are conducted by appointment only .
Please Note: Appointment times are fixed. Applicants who arrive after their scheduled appointment time will not be admitted and will be asked to reschedule their appointment via email. Please do not come to the Embassy unless all applications and documents are in order. You will not see a Consular Officer unless all required documents are complete. If the documents are not complete, you will be asked to schedule another appointment during our regular business hours. If you do not think you will be prepared in time or if you must cancel your appointment for any other reason, please cancel your appointment by clicking here .
Application Information
If you meet any of the qualifications shown below, you are likely eligible to apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad for your child:
Both parents were U.S. citizens to the child’s birth.
- At least one parent of the child was a U.S. citizen to the child’s birth.
- If only one parent is an U.S. citizen, that parent must have lived in the United States for 5 years (2 of which were after the age of 14) the child was born.
In all cases, both parents should appear in person with the child to facilitate processing of the application. If one parent is outside Lebanon and unable to appear, a signed written consent () notarized by a U.S. Notary Public or U.S. Consular Officer must be provided by that parent in addition to a copy of his/her proof of identity in order to make an application for the child’s passport (using black ink only).
All documents submitted must be original documents with the English translation by a certified translator.
If only one parent of the child is an American citizen
In addition to the documents listed above, the American citizen parent must provide documentary evidence of at least five year’s physical presence in the U.S. prior to the child’s birth, two of which are after the age of 14. Please see the “Examples of Documentation” list at the bottom of this page for possible documentary evidence.
This documentation must also be provided if only ONE parent was a citizen at the time the child was born, even if both parents are U.S. citizens at the time of application.
What constitutes U.S. physical presence: U.S. citizens may count any time they have been physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions prior to the child’s birth. Naturalized U.S. Citizens may count time spent in the U.S. prior to their naturalization, regardless of their status.
The following are examples of documents, which may be considered by the Consular Officer as primary evidence of physical presence in the United States:
- Official school transcripts.
- Medical records
- W-2 forms and tax returns
- Social Security Earnings Record (SSA 7005)
- Passports showing previous U.S. travel
Note: All documents must be originals or certified copies. The adjudicating officer may request that additional documentation be provided before approving the case. All original documents will be returned upon resolution of the case.
Please note the following important information
Tax returns: Tax returns without W2s may not be accepted as proof of physical presence.
Please make sure that the Physical Presence portion on the online application is completed fully. Do not simply list years in the United States (such as 1982-1990) without identifying periods of time outside the United States (i.e. summers in Lebanon). This is particularly important if the U.S. Citizen parent traveled back and forth between the U.S. and other foreign countries during the time claimed as physically present in the United States.
The American Citizen parent must provide extensive documentation to convince the Consular Officer reviewing the case that the American Citizen parent was physically present in the U.S for a minimum of five years prior to the birth of the child. Please do not confuse physical presence with having a residence. In order for a U.S. citizen parent to fulfill transmission requirements for citizenship, the parent must have been physically present in the U.S. for the required period of time. Merely owning property or businesses in the United States, paying taxes, or holding a U.S. passport is not sufficient. Ultimately, the burden of proof rests on the parent. The information above will assist in confirming physical presence but the final determination rests with the Consular Officer.
If the American Citizen parent is unable to provide documentation to proof five years physical presence, two of which are after the age of 14, in the United States, he/she may apply for an Immigrant Visa for the child instead. For more information, visit the web page for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at www.uscis.gov .
Fees
Payment is accepted by credit card, issued by a U.S. institution, or cash (US Dollars). If paying in cash, exact change is required. Payment is not accepted by checks;
Current fees for service are:
- Registration of birth of American citizen abroad: $100
- U.S. passport fee: $135
Need Help?
We are here to help!
- You can access eCRBA 2.0 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Here
Customer Outreach eCRBA FAQs
- You can view an application how-to-guide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVgRyLQd3jA&t=4s
- For questions or concerns please contact
BeirutACS@state.gov
Other Important Information
Passport applications and Social Security Card applications must be completed and submitted separately.
Please note that an application for a Social Security Number can only be submitted after receiving the original Consular Report of Birth Abroad and Passport. To obtain a Social Security Number for your child, see further details https://lb.usembassy.gov/services/#federal.
