UNCLASSIFIED (U)
8 FAM 403.4
Place of Birth
(CT:CITZ-85; 11-09-2022)
(Office of Origin: CA/PPT/S/A)
8 FAM 403.4-1 Introduction
(CT:CITZ-41; 10-29-2020)
a. The Department’s policy on Place of Birth(POB) designations for U.S. passports, forms FS-240, “Consular Report ofBirth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America,” and formsDS-2026, “Consular Report of the Death of an American CitizenAbroad,” is consistent with its recognition policy. TheDepartment’s policy on POB is also generally consistent with currentsovereignty policy. This means that U.S. passports, forms FS-240, and formsDS-2026 will list the POB as it was designated at the time of issuance:
(1) U.S. passports, forms FS-240, and forms DS-2026remain valid even if the POB designation has changed. A subsequent change inthe POB designation does not warrant rewriting a U.S. passport or amending aform FS-240 or form DS-2026. Applicantswho want a U.S. passport, form DS-240, or form DS-2026 with the new POB designation must apply for anew passport or official copy of the form FS-240 orDS-2026, and pay all applicable fees; and
(2) Except as provided in 8 FAM 403.4-4(A), U.S. passports, forms FS-240, and formsFS-2026 must not be issued in a previous POB designation. Applicants whoobject to the current POB designation may choose the city of birth designation(see 8 FAM 403.4-5), ifavailable.
b. This subchapter provides guidance on designating thePOB. Passport specialists and consular officers (hereinafter referred to as“you” unless otherwise specified) must determine the proper POB inaccordance with this subchapter. You may not deviate from this subchapterwithout specific written authorization from the Department.
c. Unless this subchapter specifies otherwise, anapplicant born outside the United States who objects to the Department’scountry listing of the POB may be offered the city of birth only option.
d. Consular officers must advise the Bureau of ConsularAffairs when place name changes occur. New guidance on POBs based on a changeof the legal status or name of the location must be authorized by the Bureau ofConsular Affairs (CA) with coordination from the Office of the Geographer andGlobal Issues, Geographic Information Unit, in the Bureau of Intelligence andResearch (INR/GGI), the Office of the Legal Adviser (L/CA, L/DL and theregional L office), and the regional bureau.
8 FAM 403.4-2 BIRTH IN THE UNITEDSTATES
(CT:CITZ-73; 06-09-2022
a. You must use the POB as provided in 8 FAM 403.4-7(A) for persons born in the United States, which isdefined in INA 101(a)(38) as the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii,Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.You must use the POB as provided in 8 FAM 403.4-7(B) for persons born in the United States' outlyingterritories and possessions.
b. The passport application instructs the applicant toprovide both the city and the state of birth. However, it is not necessary toannotate the city of birth if the applicant only provided the state.
c. You must ensure the correct place of birth islisted in TDIS or ACS+.
8 FAM 403.4-3 birth Outside theUnited StateS
(CT:CITZ-73; 06-09-2022)
a. You must use the POB as provided in 8 FAM 403.4-7(C) for persons born outside the United States.
b. You must ensure the correct place of birth is listedin TDIS or ACS+.
c. For forms FS-240, both the city and country ofbirth must be listed.
8 FAM 403.4-4 UnusualCirc*mstances Regarding POB
8 FAM 403.4-4(A) Israel, theGaza Strip, the Golan Heights, Jerusalem, and the West Bank
(CT:CITZ-73; 06-09-2022)
a. Golan Heights: Per Presidential Proclamation onMarch 25, 2019, U.S. policy recognizes the Golan Heights as part of Israel.The POB for applicants born in the Golan Heights is ISRAEL.
b. U.S. policy recognizes that Jerusalem, the WestBank, and the Gaza Strip are territories whose final status must be determinedby negotiations. As stated in the President's December 6, 2017 JerusalemProclamation, the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israeland its seat of government but continues to take no position on the boundariesof Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem. The final boundaries of sovereignty inJerusalem remain subject to final status negotiation between the two Parties.
c. West Bank (including the No Man’s Landsbetween the West Bank and Israel):
(1) The POB for persons born in the West Bank is WESTBANK; or
(2) Persons born before May 14, 1948 in the West Bankmay have PALESTINE listed as the POB (if requested).
NOTE: Jordan asserted it had annexed the West Bank on April 24, 1950 and surrendered its claim to sovereignty on July 31, 1988. Individuals born in the West Bank during that time might submit a Jordanian birth certificate listing JORDAN as the place of birth. You should refer to the city of birth to determine whether the applicant was born in JORDAN or the WEST BANK. Major cities in the West Bank include Hebron, Nablus, Janin, Tulkarm, Yatta, Modi'in Illit, Qalqilyah, Al Bireh, Beitar Illit, Ma'ale Adummim, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jericho, and Ari'el.
d. Gaza Strip:
(1) The POB for persons born in the Gaza Strip is GAZASTRIP.
(2) Persons born before May 14, 1948 in the Gaza Stripmay have PALESTINE listed as the POB (if requested).
e. Jerusalem:
(1) Unless born before May 14, 1948 in locationsoutside Jerusalem's municipal limits at that time (see below), the POB for U.S.passports for persons born in Jerusalem should be:
(a) If the applicant lists solely“Jerusalem” as the place of birth (POB) the POB must be JERUSALEMon the U.S. passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), or ConsularReport of Death Abroad (CRDA);
(b) If the applicant lists “Israel,” the POBmust be ISRAEL on the U.S. passport or “JERUSALEM, ISRAEL” on theCRBA/CRDA; or
(c) If the applicant lists “Jerusalem,Israel” you must contact the applicant to ascertain whether the applicantprefers either solely JERUSALEM or ISRAEL (on the U.S. passport) and/or whetherthe applicant prefers solely JERUSALEM or JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (on the CRBA/CRDA).
(2) Persons born before May 14, 1948 within themunicipal borders of Jerusalem at that time may elect either JERUSALEM orISRAEL as described above in paragraph e(1);
(3) The POB for persons born before May 14, 1948 inlocations outside Jerusalem’s municipal limits at that time,that are now inside Jerusalem’s declared municipal limits, is listed asPALESTINE or the name of the location (area/city) as it was known prior toexpansion of Jerusalem’s municipal limits at any time following May 14,1948. Persons born in such locations after May 14, 1948, may choose the name ofthe location (area/city) as it was known prior to the expansion ofJerusalem’s municipal limits; and
(4) Do not list Jordan or the West Bank for personsborn within the current municipal borders of Jerusalem.
f. Israel: List ISRAEL as the place of birth in thepassport if and only if the applicant was born in Israel, or ifrequested consistent with the Jerusalem-specific guidance above. Do not listIsrael for persons born in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, or the No Man’sLand between the West Bank and Israel.
g. POB in area formerly known as Palestine: Personsborn in the area formerly known as Palestine (which includes the Gaza Strip,Jerusalem, or the West Bank) may object to listing their POB as something otherthan Palestine. In such cases, you should explain CA’s policy of listingthe birthplace as the country having present sovereignty and that U.S. policyrecognizes that the final status of the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, and the WestBank must be determined by negotiations. Applicants may be offered alternateentry place of birth consistent with more specific guidance in this section andin 8 FAM 403.4-5.
| Area Name | POB | Alternate Entry |
| Gaza Strip | GAZA STRIP | PALESTINE (if born before May 14, 1948); or City or town of birth |
| Golan Heights | ISRAEL | City or town of birth |
| Israel | ISRAEL | PALESTINE (if born before May 14, 1948); or City or town of birth |
| Jerusalem | ISRAEL (U.S. passports) Or JERUSALEM (U.S. passports, CRBAs, CRDAs) Or JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (CRBAs, CRDAs). | PALESTINE (ONLY if born before May 14, 1948 in an area which was outside Jerusalem’s municipal limits at that time);or Name of the location (area/city) as it was known prior to expansion of Jerusalem’s municipal limits at any time following May 14, 1948 (if born in an area which was outside Jerusalem’s municipal limits on May 14, 1948). |
| West Bank | WEST BANK | PALESTINE (if born before May 14, 1948); or City or town of birth (see above regarding the city or town of birth for individuals born between April 24, 1950 and July 31, 1988). |
| Sinai | EGYPT |
8 FAM 403.4-4(B) Birth at Seaor In the Air
(CT:CITZ-1; 06-27-2018)
a. Birth at sea or in the air is applicable when nocountry has current sovereignty over the area.
b. Birth at sea: If birth or citizenship documents,such as the ship's log or a statement from the captain, show the POB at sea,annotate that the applicant was born at sea on the application and as the POBin the passport with the appropriate POB code:
c. Birth in the air: If birth or citizenshipdocuments, such as the flight log or a statement from the pilot, show POB inthe air, annotate that the applicant was born in the air on the application andas the POB in the passport with the appropriate POB code:
NOTE: See 8 FAM 301.1 for adjudication guidance regarding birth in the air, territorial seas, or international waters.
8 FAM 403.4-4(C) DisputedTerritory
(CT:CITZ-85; 11-09-2022)
a. Disputed territory is territory that is claimed byone or more countries and for which the United States does not take a positionon sovereignty.
b. The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) is a disputedterritory claimed by both the United Kingdom as a British Overseas Territoryand by Argentina. TDIS and ACS provide birthplace codes for the FalklandIslands (Islas Malvinas) (see 8FAM 403.4-7(C)).
8 FAM 403.4-4(D) Taiwan
(CT:CITZ-73; 06-09-2022)
a. The United States recognizes the government of thePeople’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China andacknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and that Taiwanis part of China. Taiwan can be used as POB in the passport pursuant to theguidance below.
b. If an applicant born in Taiwan writes“China” as their POB on a passport application, you must listCHINA.
c. If an applicant born in Taiwan writes “Taiwan”as their POB on a passport application, you must list TAIWAN. If there is anyinconsistency regarding the POB, e.g., the applicant's permanent resident cardlists China as the POB, you must request the applicant's birth certificate toverify that the applicant’s city of birth is on one of the followingislands: the island of Taiwan (formerly called Formosa), Penghu Dao (formerlycalled Pescadores), Kinmen Islands (Quemoy), or Nangan Dao (Matsu).
d. If an applicant born in Taiwan writes “Taiwan,China” as their POB on a passport application, you must contact theapplicant to ascertain whether they prefer either TAIWAN or CHINA as their POB(Information Request Letter 707-06).
e. A passport applicant whose previous U.S. passport(s)listed TAIWAN as the POB may request that their new passport be issued listingCHINA as the POB. However, a passport applicant whose previous U.S.passport(s) listed CHINA as the POB may not request that their new passport beissued listing TAIWAN as the POB without evidence that the previous POB wasassigned erroneously.
f. Passports may not be issued showing the POB as“Taiwan, China,” “Taiwan, Republic of China,” or“Taiwan, ROC.”
8 FAM 403.4-4(E) SpecialAdministrative Region
(CT:CITZ-73; 06-09-2022)
a. A Special Administrative Region (SAR) is a regionthat enjoys a high degree of autonomy.
b. The People’s Republic of China exercisessovereignty over Hong Kong and Macau, but Hong Kong and Macau are able toexercise a high degree of autonomy and enjoy executive, legislative andindependent judicial power, including that of final adjudication. CHINA and thecity of birth option are not available. If an applicant born in Hong Kong orMacau presents a passport listing either CHINA or the city of birth, you must:
(1) Request appropriate evidence of the POB (e.g., theapplicant's birth certificate); or
(2) Verify the information in consular records (e.g.,previous passport applications, visa records, etc.--see 7 FAM 1348); and
(3) List HONG KONG SAR or MACAU SAR, respectively, inthe passport.
c. Effective July 1, 1997, Hong Kong became a SAR ofthe People’s Republic of China. The place of birth for Hong Kong,regardless of the date the birth occurred, must be HONG KONG SAR.
d. Effective December 20, 1999, Macau became a SAR ofthe People's Republic of China. The place of birth for Macau, regardless ofthe date the birth occurred, must be MACAU SAR.
8 FAM 403.4-5 City of BirthListing
(CT:CITZ-73; 06-09-2022)
a. U.S. citizens born abroad may choose to list thecity or town of birth if they object to the Department’s designation ofthe POB, and an individual who is notified of the policy may also elect thecity of birth option unless this subchapter specifies otherwise.There is no requirement that the applicant document the reason for theobjection, if any.
NOTE: If the applicant was born in an unincorporated area, the applicant may choose to list the name of the area.
b. The city of birth only option is not available forpersons born in the United States or its territories or outlying possessions.
c. The applicant must be advised of the possibledifficulties in traveling to or obtaining visas for entry to foreign countrieswith only a city of birth shown on the passport (Information Notice IN-941-21).
d. Many foreign city names, particularly those that usenon-Latin alphabets, may have multiple possible spellings or transliterations.For example, Kyiv, Ukraine, may be spelled Kiev or Kyyiv (among others). Youmust determine the appropriate spelling of the city or area of birth using theUnited States Board on Geographic Names' Geographic Names Server (GNS)developed and maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Ifyou cannot establish an appropriate name or spelling, contactAskPPTAdjudication@state.gov.
NOTE: This is not a public-facing e-mail address and public inquiries will not be replied to.
(1) You may use the “custom searchcriteria” to filter the results so only “approved” or“conventional” names are returned;
(2) You may select the “country name” tofilter the results so only cities in the correct country are returned. This alsoreduces the likelihood that the database will time out;
(3) Under the “feature designations”option, you may select “populated place”, or the various options for administrativedivision seats or capitals filter results so only cities are returned. If theapplicant was born in an unincorporated area, you may select“administrative regions” so only area names are returned;
(4) GeoNames search results:
(a) The first (leftmost) column, “Name,”provides the spelling with “(Approved)”or “(Conventional)”if it is an acceptable spelling for the place name;
(b) The second column, “Geopolitical Entity Name,” provides the country or geographicentity in which the city of birth is located. You can use this column toverify that you have selected the correct city, e.g., Neapoli, Greece orNeopolis, Brazil;
(c) The sixth column, “Feature Designation,”provides geographic information about the place. You can use this column toverify that you have filtered the results appropriately; and
(d) You must determine, in consultation with yoursupervisor and/or the applicant, if necessary, which place name is mostappropriate (generally the city).
e. Write out the city or town name as retrieved fromthe GNS in the POB field, as there are no standard codes for city birthplaces.Also, write “XXX” as the place of birth code:
f. If an applicant later requests a new passportshowing the country of birth, the applicant must pay the fees for the newpassport.
8 FAM 403.4-6 requests for noplace of birth or a different place of birth
8 FAM 403.4-6(A) Requests forNo Place of Birth
(CT:CITZ-28; 11-06-2019)
An applicant requesting that no POB be listed on apassport must be advised either at the public counter or via appropriateinformation notice that the United Stateswill not issue a U.S. passport with no POB listing. The POB designation is anintegral part of establishing an individual’s identity. It distinguishesthat individual from other persons with similar names and/or dates of birth,and helps identify claimants attempting to use another person’sidentity. The information also facilitates retrieval of passport records toassist the Department in determining citizenship or notifying next of kin orother person designated by the individual to be notified in case of anemergency. Inquirers may further be advised that:
(1) A passport, as defined by section 101(a)(30) ofthe Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, is “any travel documentissued by competent authority showing the bearer's origin, identity, and nationalityif any, which is valid for the entry of the bearer into a foreigncountry”;
(2) For U.S. passport purposes, the Department ofState has defined the term “bearer's origin” to be the bearer'sPOB. That entry is included to assist in identifying the individual, not theindividual’s nationality. The passport very clearly states that thebearer is a non-citizen U.S. national or a U.S. citizen;
(3) Inclusion of the place of birth entry in thepassport is consistent with the 1980 report of the International Civil AviationOrganization (ICAO), which recommended a standardized passport including theplace of birth entry as an essential element;
(4) Deletion of the place of birth entry from the U.S.passport has been discussed extensively among U.S. Government agencies and withCongress:
(a) In 1986, Congress directed the Comptroller Generalto complete a study on the issue;
(b) The August 1987 General Accounting Office (GAO)report (GAO 87-201) on this issue discusses two separate studies conducted bythe Department of State, one in 1977 and another in 1986, to determine how theremoval of the POB would affect travel by U.S. citizens;
(c) Those studies concluded that elimination of the POBfrom the U.S. passport would cause considerable inconvenience to the entiretraveling population, since a number of countries would still require POBinformation. Travelers would have to provide POB documentation, either whenapplying for a visa or when entering the country, or run the risk of beingdenied entry to those countries;
(d) The report also confirmed that U.S. law enforcementagencies could not agree to its removal from the U.S. passport because it is avital data element used in anti-terrorist, anti-drug, and anti-fraud programs;and
(e) The GAO report reinforced previous conclusions thatremoval of the POB would lead to serious problems for the U.S. Government andfor the majority of traveling U.S. citizens.
NOTE: Place of birth was first added to the U.S. passport in 1917. An October 4, 1963 staff study by the Passport Office on “Place of Birth” information in the U.S. passport reflects “the passport used during World War I was the first in which including the place of birth of the passport holder was mandatory as part of the identification of the bearer, probably as a wartime travel control measure. The item was included in all subsequent revisions of the passport format, down to and including the present issuances.”
8 FAM 403.4-6(B) Requests for aDifferent Place of Birth for U.S. Citizens Born Abroad
(CT:CITZ-73; 06-09-2022)
a. A U.S. citizen born abroad may request a differentPOB than the POB listed on their birth evidence or other documents. You mustdetermine whether the applicant has established the POB by a preponderance ofthe evidence; i.e., whether it is more likely than not that the applicant wasborn in the claimed location.
b. If the applicant cannot obtain acceptable birthevidence from the jurisdiction where the birth purportedly occurred, theapplicant must submit additional acceptable supporting evidence created nearthe time of birth that shows the requested POB (e.g., pre- and post-natalrecords, a hospital birth certificate, a baptismal certificate, etc.):
(1) A Certificate of Naturalization cannot be used tochange the POB. The Certificate of Naturalization does not list theapplicant’s POB as such: it lists the applicant’s country of formernationality at the time of naturalization, which is usually, but not always,the same as the POB. If the applicant requests a POB that is inconsistent withthe country of former nationality, you must request a foreign birth certificateshowing the applicant's POB unless you are able to verify the POB in a consularsystem (see 8 FAM 801.1). Forexample, if the applicant submits a Certificate of Naturalization showing“BOLIVIA” as the country of former nationality, but requests“THAILAND” as the POB, you must request a foreign birth certificateif you are unable to verify the POB in a consular system.
(2) The applicant's POB generally (see paragraph dbelow) must be consistent with documents issued by USCIS, such as a PermanentResident Card or Certificate of Citizenship. If the applicant claims that thePOB listed on the USCIS-issued document is incorrect, the passport cannot beissued in the requested POB unless the applicant submits a corrected USCISissued document or an order from a Federal court changing the applicant's POB.
c. If the applicant cannot, or does not wish to,provide acceptable supporting evidence of the requested POB, you must issue thepassport with the POB listed on the USCIS-issued document if there is one(unless the POB is inconsistent with U.S. sovereign recognition policy asarticulated in this FAM section – see paragraph d below) or, if not, withthe POB that is supported by the preponderance of what evidence has alreadybeen presented.
d. Nothing in this section should be interpreted tosuggest that the Department of State may list a POB on a Department-issuedcitizenship document that is inconsistent with the Department’s positionand corresponding FAM guidance on the current sovereignty of a geographicarea. POB designations on Department-issued citizenship documents shouldalways reflect the sovereign recognition policy of the United States asarticulated by Department of State and reflected in FAM guidance, even if theapplicant presents a Certificate of Citizenship or other non-Department ofState citizenship document listing a different POB. For example, if anapplicant’s birth documentation shows birth in Jerusalem after May 14,1948, but submits a USCIS Certificate of Citizenship stating“Israel” as the country of birth, the Department must issue acitizenship document listing only “Jerusalem” as POB, or asotherwise specified in 8 FAM403.4-4(A), consistent with this FAM section. Should questions arise onthe designation of a POB not addressed in this section, please contactAskPPTAdjudication@state.gov.
8 FAM 403.4-7 POB TableS
(CT:CITZ-28; 11-06-2019)
a. The CCD converts the information from the ACS systemcode for POB to the TDIS system code for POB. While the POB codes for the twosystems may differ from one another, passports issued by both systems reflectthe same place of birth name.
b. In accordance with 8 FAM 403.4-1, the tables inthe following sub-sections are consistent with the Department's recognitionpolicy and generally consistent with current sovereignty. These tablesgenerally reflect the Bureau of Intelligence and Research's Independent Statesof the World and Dependencies and Areas ofSpecial Sovereignty tables.
c. Places outside the United States and its outlyingterritories or possessions where few, if any, U.S. citizens/non-citizen U.S.nationals are known to have been born may not be included in the followingtables. If a U.S. citizen/non-citizen U.S. national is born in a location notlisted in the tables below, you must contact AskPPTAdjudication@state.gov for further guidance.
8 FAM 403.4-7(A) POB Table:United States
(CT:CITZ-84; 10-14-2022)
| Place of Birth | TDIS Code | ACS Code | Notes |
| ALABAMA, U.S.A. | AL | AL | |
| ALASKA, U.S.A. | AK | AK | |
| ARIZONA, U.S.A. | AZ | AZ | |
| ARKANSAS, U.S.A. | AR | AR | |
| CALIFORNIA, U.S.A. | CA | CA | Applicants occasionally write “CA” meaning “Central America.” Do not confuse applicant's notation with TDIS/ACS codes. Use the corresponding country code for the countries in Central America. |
| COLORADO, U.S.A. | CO | CO | Do not confuse with the abbreviation "co" for "county." |
| CONNECTICUT, U.S.A. | CT | CT | |
| DELAWARE, U.S.A. | DE | DE | |
| FLORIDA, U.S.A. | FL | FL | |
| GEORGIA, U.S.A. | GA | GA | Do not confuse with the country named GEORGIA. |
| GUAM, U.S.A. | GUM | GUAM | |
| HAWAII, U.S.A. | HI | HI | |
| IDAHO, U.S.A. | ID | ID | |
| ILLINOIS, U.S.A. | IL | IL | |
| INDIANA | IN | IN | |
| IOWA, U.S.A. | IA | IA | |
| KANSAS, U.S.A. | KS | KS | |
| KENTUCKY, U.S.A. | KY | KY | For births on Fort Campbell, you must determine whether the applicant was born in Kentucky or Tennessee. The Blanchfield Army Community Hospital moved. Children born at the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital before November 22nd, 1982, were born in Kentucky. Children born in the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital after November 22nd, 1982, were born in Tennessee. Please note that the mailing address for Fort Campbell is in Kentucky, even though Fort Campbell crosses state lines. The mailing address does not indicate the place of birth, even though applicants will often list their place of birth as “Fort Campbell, Kentucky.” |
| LOUISIANA, U.S.A. | LA | LA | Do not confuse with the abbreviation "L.A." for "Los Angeles, California." |
| MAINE, U.S.A. | ME | ME | |
| MARYLAND, U.S.A. | MD | MD | |
| MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A. | MA | MA | |
| MICHIGAN, U.S.A. | MI | MI | |
| MINNESOTA, U.S.A. | MN | MN | |
| MISSISSIPPI, U.S.A. | MS | MS | |
| MISSOURI, U.S.A. | MO | MO | |
| MONTANA, U.S.A. | MT | MT | |
| NEBRASKA, U.S.A. | NE | NE | |
| NEVADA, U.S.A. | NV | NV | |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A. | NH | NH | |
| NEW JERSEY, U.S.A. | NJ | NJ | |
| NEW MEXICO, U.S.A. | NM | NM | |
| NEW YORK, U.S.A. | NY | NY | |
| NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, U.S.A. | MNP | MNP | Includes Saipan Island, Rota, and Tinian Island. See 8 FAM 302.2. |
| NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A. | NC | NC | |
| NORTH DAKOTA, U.S.A. | ND | ND | |
| OHIO, U.S.A. | OH | OH | |
| OKLAHOMA, U.S.A. | OK | OK | |
| OREGON, U.S.A. | OR | OR | |
| PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A. | PA | PA | |
| PUERTO RICO, U.S.A. | PRI | PR | |
| RHODE ISLAND, U.S.A. | RI | RI | |
| SOUTH CAROLINA, U.S.A. | SC | SC | |
| SOUTH DAKOTA, U.S.A. | SD | SD | |
| TENNESSEE, U.S.A. | TN | TN | See KENTUCKY, U.S.A. regarding births on Fort Campbell. |
| TEXAS, U.S.A. | TX | TX | |
| U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS | VIR | VI | This POB name follows common usage. Do not confuse with British Virgin Islands. |
| UTAH, U.S.A. | UT | UT | |
| VERMONT, U.S.A. | VT | VT | |
| VIRGINIA, U.S.A. | VA | VA | |
| WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A. | DC | DC | Do not confuse with WASHINGTON, U.S.A. Do not confuse the city of Washington, District of Columbia with COLOMBIA. |
| WASHINGTON, U.S.A. | WA | WA | Do not confuse with WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A. |
| WEST VIRGINIA, U.S.A. | WV | WV | |
| WISCONSIN, U.S.A. | WI | WI | Applicants occasionally write “WI” meaning “West Indies.” Do not confuse applicant's notation with TDIS/ACS codes. Use the corresponding country code for the islands in the West Indies. |
| WYOMING, U.S.A. | WY | WY |
8 FAM 403.4-7(B) POB Table:Outlying Territories and Possessions of the United States
(CT:CITZ-28; 11-06-2019)
| Place of Birth | TDIS Code | ACS Code | Notes |
| AMERICAN SAMOA | ASM | AS | Do not confuse with the Independent State of SAMOA. AMERICAN SAMOA includes Swains Island (48 U.S.C. 1662). |
| BAKER ISLAND | XBK | XBK | |
| HOWLAND ISLAND | XHI | XHI | |
| JARVIS ISLAND | |||
| JOHNSTON ATOLL | XJA | XJA | |
| KINGMAN REEF | |||
| MIDWAY ISLANDS | XMI | MDWI | |
| NAVASSA ISLAND | |||
| PALMYRA ATOLL | XPA | PLMR | |
| WAKE ISLAND | XWK | WKI |
8 FAM 403.4-7(C) Outside theUnited States
(CT:CITZ-85; 11-09-2022)
The CCD converts the information from the ACS system codefor POB to the TDIS system code for POB. While the POB codes for the twosystems may differ from one another, passports issued by both systems reflectthe same place of birth name.
| Place of Birth | TDIS Code | ACS Code | Notes |
| AFGHANISTAN | AFG | AFGH | |
| ALBANIA | ALB | ALB | |
| ALGERIA | DZA | ALGR | |
| ANDORRA | AND | ANDO | |
| ANGOLA | AGO | ANGL | |
| ANGUILLA | AIA | ANGU | British Overseas Territory |
| ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA | ATG | ANTI | |
| ARGENTINA | ARG | ARG | |
| ARMENIA | ARM | ARM | If a passport application shows Armenia as the POB, you must determine whether the actual place of birth is in the independent Republic of Armenia, or is part of the region known as Armenia, which includes parts of Turkey and Iran, and write Armenia only if the actual POB is in the Republic of Armenia. |
| ARUBA | ABW | ARB | Aruba seceded from the former Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. |
| AT SEA | XAS | XAS | |
| AUS | ASTL | ||
| AUSTRIA | AUT | AUST | |
| AZERBAIJAN | AZE | AZR | |
| BAHAMAS, THE | BHS | BAMA | |
| BAHRAIN | BHR | BAHR | |
| BANGLADESH | BGD | BANG | Formerly East Pakistan or East Bengal. East Pakistan declared its independence on March 26, 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. See also INDIA and PAKISTAN. |
| BARBADOS | BRB | BRDO | |
| BELARUS | BLR | BYS | Formerly Byelorussia. |
| BELGIUM | BEL | BELG | |
| BELIZE | BLZ | BLZ | Formerly British Honduras. Achieved independence in 1981. Do not confuse with Honduras. |
| BENIN | BEN | BENN | Formerly Dahomey (until 1975). |
| BERMUDA | BMU | BERM | British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. |
| BHUTAN | BTN | BHU | |
| BOLIVIA | BOL | BOL | |
| BONAIRE | BON | BON | Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles. |
| BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA | BIH | BIH | |
| BOTSWANA | BWA | BOT | Formerly Bechuanaland. Achieved independence and adopted new name of Botswana in 1966. |
| BRAZIL | BRA | BRZL | |
| BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY | British Overseas Territory. Includes the Chagos Archipelago and Diego Garcia. | ||
| BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS | VGB | BRVI | British Overseas Territory. Do not confuse with the U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. |
| BRUNEI | BRN | BRNI | |
| BULGARIA | BGR | BULG | |
| BURKINA FASO | BFA | BURK | Achieved independence from France in 1960. Renamed Burkina Faso in 1984; Formerly Upper Volta, Haute-Volta, or Voltaic Republic. |
| BURMA | MMR | BURM | Sometimes referred to as Myanmar. Burma is the only approved name for this country. |
| BURUNDI | BDI | BRND | Formerly part of Ruanda-Urundi. |
| CABO VERDE | CPV | CAVI | Formerly Cape Verde. |
| CAMBODIA | KHM | CBDA | Formerly Kampuchea. |
| CAMEROON | CMR | CMRN | Formerly French Cameroons and the South Division of the Cameroons. |
| CAN | CAN | ||
| CAYMAN ISLANDS | CYM | CAYI | British Overseas Territory. When the Federation of the West Indies dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands remained a British dependency. |
| CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC | CAF | CAFR | Achieved independence in 1960. 1976-1979 known as Central African Empire. Central African Republic includes part of former French Equatorial Africa, French colony of Ubangi-Shari. |
| CHAD | TCD | CHAD | |
| CHILE | CHL | CHIL | |
| CHINA | CHN | CHIN | |
| COLOMBIA | COL | COL | |
| COMOROS | COM | COMO | |
| CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE | COG | CONB | Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. Do not confuse with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire. If you are interviewing the applicant, a good question to ask may be “What is the capital of the country where you were born – Kinshasa or Brazzaville?” |
| CONGO-KINSHASA | COD | COD | Formerly Zaire. Gained independence in 1960. Formerly Belgian Congo. The country is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Both this country and the Republic of the Congo, a neighboring state, are known by the short form name of Congo. To avoid confusion, these places of birth codes are written as noted. Do not place spaces before or after the hyphen. In order to have Congo-Kinshasa written as place of birth in a passport, the applicant must submit documentation such as a previous passport, naturalization certificate or secondary documentation that lists the place of birth as the Democratic Republic of the Congo or as Zaire. If the application and its accompanying documentation show just “Congo” as the place of birth, the applicant’s city of birth must be determined. Then determine the State where the city is located. If you are interviewing the applicant, a good question to ask may be “What is the capital of the country where you were born – Kinshasa or Brazzaville?” Zaire may no longer be listed in a U.S. passport as a place of birth. |
| COOK ISLANDS | co*k | CKIS | Administrative control was transferred to New Zealand in 1965. Residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. New Zealand considers the Cook Islands to be part of New Zealand. |
| COSTA RICA | CRI | CSTR | |
| COTE D’IVOIRE | CIV | IVCO | Sometimes referred to as Ivory Coast. Achieved independence in 1960. |
| CROATIA | HRV | HRV | |
| CUBA | CUB | CUBA | |
| CURACAO | CUR | CUR | The Netherlands Antilles dissolved on October 10, 2010. Curaçao became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. |
| CYPRUS | CYP | CYPR | |
| CZECH REPUBLIC | CSK | CZEC | Formerly part of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic is also known by its conventional name Czechia. |
| DENMARK | DNK | DEN | |
| DJIBOUTI | DJI | DJI | Formerly French Territory of Afars and Issas. Includes former French Somaliland. Became Djibouti in 1977. |
| DOMINICA | DMA | DOMN | Do not confuse with the Dominican Republic. |
| DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | DOM | DOMR | Do not confuse with Dominica. |
| ECUADOR | ECU | ECUA | Includes the Galapagos Islands. |
| EGYPT | EGY | EGYP | Formerly United Arab Republic. |
| EL SALVADOR | SLV | ELSL | |
| EQUATORIAL GUINEA | GNQ | EGN | Do not confuse with Guinea or Guinea-Bissau. Achieved independence in 1968. |
| ERITREA | ERI | ERI | Formerly a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea became an independent country on May 24, 1993. Either Eritrea or Ethiopia may be listed as the place of birth on a previous passport, naturalization certificate or other documentation. Cities: Capital--Asmara. Other cities--Keren; Assab; Massawa; Af’abet; Teseney; Mendefera; Dekemhare; Adi Keyh; Barentu; Ghinda’e . |
| ESTONIA | EST | EST | |
| ESWATINI | SWZ | SZLD | Formerly Swaziland. The change of name from Swaziland to Eswatini was legally codified on May 11, 2018. |
| ETHIOPIA | ETH | ETH | Formerly Abyssinia. See also Eritrea. |
| FALKLAND ISLANDS (ISLAS MALVINAS) | FLK | FKLI | Disputed Territory (see 8 FAM 403.4-4(C)). Claimed by both the United Kingdom as a British Overseas Territory and by Argentina. |
| FAROE ISLANDS | FRO | FAER | Autonomous constituent country within Denmark. |
| FIJI | FJI | FIJI | |
| FINLAND | FIN | FIN | |
| FRANCE | FRA | FRAN | |
| FRENCH GUIANA | GUF | FRGN | An overseas Department and Region of France in South America and not a dependency or area of special sovereignty. Do not confuse with French Guinea in Africa, now called Guinea. |
| FRENCH POLYNESIA | PYF | FPOL | Includes Tahiti, Moorea, Austral Islands, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands, and Society Islands (Bora Bora is one of the Society Islands). |
| GABON | GAB | GABN | |
| GAMBIA, THE | GMB | GAM | Achieved independence in 1965. Formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal from 1982-1989. |
| GAZA STRIP | XGZ | XGZ | See 8 FAM 403.4-4(A). |
| GEORGIA | GEO | GRZ | Do not confuse with GEORGIA, U.S.A. |
| GERMANY | DEU | GER | |
| GHANA | GHA | GHAN | On March 6, 1957, the British Commonwealth Possessions formerly known as British Togoland, Ashanti, the Northern Territories and the Gold Coast were united under one rule as the new country of Ghana. Do not confuse with French Togoland which is now Togo. |
| GIBRALTAR | GIB | GIB | British Overseas Territory. |
| GREECE | GRC | GRC | |
| GREENLAND | GRL | GRLD | Autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark. |
| GRENADA | GRD | GREN | Achieved independence in 1974. |
| GUADELOUPE | GLP | GUAD | An overseas Department and Region of France and not a dependency or area of special sovereignty. Includes Les Saintes, La Désirade (Desirade Island), and Marie-Galante. Does not include Saint Barthelemy or Saint Martin. |
| GUATEMALA | GTM | GUAT | |
| GUERNSEY | GGY | GGY | Alderney, Sark, and Herm are part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey Self-governing British Crown Dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy. Guernsey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the United Kingdom. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. |
| GUINEA | GIN | GNEA | Do not confuse with GUINEA-BISSAU or EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Formerly French Guinea. |
| GUINEA-BISSAU | GNB | GUIB | Do not confuse with EQUATORIAL GUINEA or GUINEA. Formerly Portuguese Guinea. |
| GUYANA | GUY | GUY | Formerly British Guiana. Achieved independence in 1966. |
| HAITI | HTI | HAT | |
| HONDURAS | HND | HOND | Do not confuse with former British Honduras, now BELIZE which achieved independence in 1981. |
| HONG KONG SAR | HKG | HNK | Under a Sino-British declaration of September 1984, Hong Kong reverted to Chinese control on July 1, 1997. See 8 FAM 403.4-4(E) |
| HUNGARY | HUN | HUNG | |
| ICELAND | ISL | ICLD | |
| IN THE AIR | XIR | XIR | |
| INDIA | IND | IND | India and Pakistan were partitioned at midnight on August 14-15, 1947. See BANGLADESH and PAKISTAN. |
| INDONESIA | IDN | IDSA | Declared independence in 1945. See also TIMOR-LESTE. |
| IRAN | IRN | IRAN | |
| IRAQ | IRQ | IRAQ | |
| IRL | IRE | Do not confuse with Northern Ireland. | |
| ISLE OF MAN | IMN | IMN | Self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland. The Isle of Man represents the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy. The Isle of Man is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. |
| ISRAEL | ISR | ISRL | See 8 FAM 403.4-4(A). |
| ITALY | ITA | ITLY | |
| JAMAICA | JAM | JAM | |
| JPN | JPN | Includes Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, and Bonin Islands. | |
| JERSEY | JEY | JEY | Self-governing British Crown Dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. The Bailiwick of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy. Jersey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the United Kingdom. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. Do not confuse with NEW JERSEY, U.S.A. |
| JERUSALEM | XJE | JRSM | See 8 FAM 403.4-4(A). |
| JORDAN | JOR | JORD | |
| KAZAKHSTAN | KAZ | KAZ | On August 4, 1997, the U.S. Board of Geographic Names changed the official conventional spelling of Kazakstan to KAZAKHSTAN. The birthplace code remained the same. |
| KENYA | KEN | KENY | |
| KIRIBATI | KIR | KIRI | Includes Banaba (Ocean Island), the Gilbert Islands, the Phoenix Islands, and the following Line Islands: Teraina, Tabuaeran, Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Malden, Starbuck, Vostok, Caroline and Flint. |
| KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF | For applicants listing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as a place of birth, contact AskPPTAdjudication@state.gov. | ||
| KOREA, REPUBLIC OF | KOR | KOR | Use for place of birth in the REPUBLIC OF KOREA. |
| KOSOVO | KSV | KSV | On February 17, 2008, the Republic of Kosovo declared independence. The United States recognized the independence of Kosovo on February 18, 2008. The place of birth for Kosovo, regardless of the date of birth, should be KOSOVO. |
| KUWAIT | KWT | KUWT | |
| KYRGYZSTAN | KGZ | KGZ | |
| LAOS | LAO | LAOS | |
| LATVIA | LVA | LATV | |
| LEBANON | LBN | LEBN | |
| LESOTHO | LSO | LES | Formerly Basutoland; name changed when granted full independence from the United Kingdom October 4, 1966. |
| LIBERIA | LBR | LIBR | |
| LIBYA | LBY | LBYA | |
| LIECHTENSTEIN | LIE | LCHT | |
| LITHUANIA | LTU | LITH | |
| LUXEMBOURG | LUX | LXM | |
| MACAU SAR | MAC | MAC | Under the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau signed in 1987, Macau reverted to Chinese control on December 20, 1999. See 8 FAM 403.4-4(E) |
| MADAGASCAR | MDG | MADG | |
| MALAWI | MWI | MALW | |
| MYS | MLAS | Formerly Federation of Malaya, which included British North Borneo and Sarwak. Includes Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Melaka (Malacca), Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Perlis, Putrajaya, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu. | |
| MALDIVES | MDV | MLDV | Formerly Maldive Islands |
| MALI | MLI | MALI | Formerly known as Soudanese Republic, French Sudan; The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. |
| MALTA | MLT | MLTA | |
| MARSHALL ISLANDS | MHL | RMI | |
| MARTINIQUE | MTQ | MART | An Overseas Department and Region of France and not a dependency or area of special sovereignty. |
| MAURITANIA | MRT | MAUR | Formerly part of French West Africa. Do not confuse with Mauritius. |
| MAURITIUS | MUS | MRTS | Do not confuse with Mauritania. |
| MAYOTTE | XYO | XYO | An Overseas Department and Region of France and not a dependency or area of special sovereignty. Geographically part of the Comoro Islands, but it was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forgo independence. Also known as Mahore. |
| MEXICO | MEX | MEX | |
| MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF | FSM | FSM | Includes the island states of Yap, Chuuk (Truk), Pohnpei (Ponape), and Kosrae. |
| MOLDOVA | MDA | MLD | |
| MONACO | MCO | MON | |
| MONGOLIA | MNG | MONG | Do not confuse with Inner Mongolia, China. |
| MONTENEGRO | MTG | MTG | Formerly part of Yugoslavia. The United States and Montenegro established diplomatic relations on August 15, 2006. |
| MONTSERRAT | MSR | MONT | British Overseas Territory. |
| MOROCCO | MAR | MORO | The United States ceased using designations “French Morocco” or “Spanish Morocco” in U.S. passports on October 22, 1956. Includes Ifni, the former French Morocco, the former International Zone of Tangier and former Spanish Morocco. For the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, write SPAIN. |
| MOZAMBIQUE | MOZ | MOZ | Formerly part of Portuguese (African) Overseas Provinces. Became independent June 25, 1975. |
| NAMIBIA | NAM | NAMB | Formerly known as South-West Africa. Achieved independence in 1990. (Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands remained under South African control until 1994) |
| NAURU | NRU | NAU | Achieved independence in 1968. |
| NEPAL | NPL | NEP | |
| NETHERLANDS | NLD | NETH | |
| NEW CALEDONIA | NCL | NCAL | On November 4, 2018, voters in the French Pacific Territory of New Caledonia rejected a bid for independence. |
| NEW ZEALAND | NZL | NZLD | |
| NICARAGUA | NIC | NIC | |
| NIGER | NER | NIR | Formerly part of French West Africa. Achieved independence in 1960. |
| NIGERIA | NGA | NRA | |
| NIUE | NIU | NIUE | Self-governing island in the South Pacific, in free association with New Zealand. New Zealand considers Niue to be part of New Zealand. |
| NORFOLK ISLAND | NFK | NFK | External Territory of Australia, together with Philip Island and Nepean Island. |
| NORTH MACEDONIA | MKD | MKD | Formerly Macedonia. If applicant lists the place of birth on a passport application as the Republic of Macedonia or Macedonia, you must determine whether the city or town of birth is part of the Republic of North Macedonia, Greece, Albania, or Bulgaria. If the city is within the Republic of North Macedonia, write NORTH MACEDONIA. Otherwise, list GREECE, ALBANIA, or BULGARIA, as appropriate. |
| NORWAY | NOR | NORW | |
| OMAN | OMN | OMAN | Formerly Muscat and Oman |
| PAKISTAN | PAK | PKST | India and Pakistan were partitioned at midnight on August 14-15, 1947. See also BANGLADESH and INDIA. |
| PALAU | PLW | PALA | Includes Koror and other islands. |
| PALESTINE | XPL | PAL | See 8 FAM 403.4-4(A). |
| PANAMA | PAN | PAN | |
| PAPUA NEW GUINEA | PNG | PNG | |
| PARAGUAY | PRY | PARA | |
| PERU | PER | PERU | |
| PHL | PHIL | ||
| PITCAIRN ISLANDS | PCN | PITC | British Overseas Territory. Includes Ducie and Pitcairn, Henderson, and Oeno Islands. |
| POLAND | POL | POL | |
| PORTUGAL | PRT | PORT | Includes Azores and Madeira Islands |
| QATAR | QAT | QTAR | |
| REUNION | REU | REUN | An Overseas Department and Region of France located in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, 200 kilometers southwest of Mauritius and not a dependency or area of special sovereignty. |
| ROMANIA | ROM | ROM | |
| RUSSIA | RUS | RUS | |
| RWANDA | RWA | RWND | |
| SABA | SAB | SAB | Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles. Now a special municipality within the Netherlands. Do not confuse with Sabah, which is part of Malaysia. |
| SAINT BARTHELEMY | STBR | February 2007 adoption of a new status, and the new Overseas Collectivity of Saint-Barthélemy. | |
| SAINT HELENA | SHN | SHEL | British Overseas Territory consisting of Saint Helena, the Ascension Islands and the Island Group of Tristan da Cunha. |
| SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS | KNA | STCN | Achieved independence in 1983. Also known as Saint Christopher and Nevis. The Island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. |
| SAINT LUCIA | LCA | SLCA | Achieved independence in 1979. |
| SAINT MARTIN | XSM | MAF | February 2007 adoption of a new status, and the new Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin; Formerly: Part of Guadeloupe; French West Indies; French Antilles. Do not confuse with Sint Maarten. |
| SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON | SPM | SPMI | Island in the North Atlantic Ocean south of Newfoundland, Canada. French Overseas Territory. |
| SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES | VCT | STVN | Between 1960-1962 was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and achieved independence in 1979. |
| SAMOA | WSM | WSAM | On July 4, 1997, the Legislative Assembly of Western Samoa passed a constitutional amendment that changed the name of Western Samoa to the Independent State of Samoa. On August 4, 1997, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the name change. The Independent State of Samoa is made up principally of the islands of Upolu and Savai’i. Do not confuse the Independent State of Samoa with the U.S. outlying possession of American Samoa. When a passport application shows “Samoa” as place of birth, the applicant’s city of birth should be determined and the appropriate place of birth to be written in the passport. |
| SAN MARINO | SMR | SMAR | |
| SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE | STP | STPR | Formerly part of Portuguese (African) Overseas Provinces. Achieved independence in 1975. |
| SAUDI ARABIA | SAU | SARB | |
| SENEGAL | SEN | SENG | Formerly part of French West Africa. Achieved independence in 1960. Joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. Union dissolved in 1989. |
| SERBIA | SRM | SBA | |
| SEYCHELLES | SYC | SEYC | |
| SIERRA LEONE | SLE | SLEO | |
| SINGAPORE | SGP | SING | |
| SINT EUSTATIUS | STE | STE | Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles. Now a special municipality within the Netherlands. |
| SINT MAARTEN | STM | STNR | Autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles. Do not confuse with Saint Martin, part of the same island but a French Overseas Collectivity. |
| SLOVAKIA | SVK | SVK | |
| SLOVENIA | SVN | SVN | |
| SOLOMON ISLANDS | SLB | SLMN | Independence achieved in 1978. Formerly known as British Solomon Islands. Includes southern Solomon Islands, primarily Guadalcanal, Malaita, San Cristobal, Santa Isabel and Choiseul. Do not confuse with the portion of the Solomon Islands (primarily Bougainville and Buka) which is now part of Papua New Guinea. |
| SOMALIA | SOM | SOMA | Formerly Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland. Achieved independence in 1960. |
| ZAF | SAFR | ||
| SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS | British Overseas territory. | ||
| SOUTH SUDAN | SSD | SSD | South Sudan achieved independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011. The United States has recognized the Republic of South Sudan. |
| SPAIN | ESP | SPN | Includes the Balearic and Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla. |
| SRI LANKA | LKA | SRL | Formerly Ceylon. Ceylon became independent in 1948. Renamed Sri Lanka in 1972. |
| SUDAN | SDN | SUDA | Achieved independence from United Kingdom in 1956. Formerly Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Do not confuse with Soudan or Soudanese Republic, which is now part of Mali. See also SOUTH SUDAN. |
| SURINAME | SUR | SURM | Formerly Dutch Guiana. Achieved independence from The Netherlands in 1975. |
| SWEDEN | SWE | SWDN | |
| CHE | SWTZ | ||
| SYRIA | SYR | SYR | |
| TAIWAN | TWN or CHN | TWAN or CHIN | See 8 FAM 403.4-4(D). |
| TAJIKISTAN | TJK | TJK | |
| TANZANIA | TZA | TAZN | Formerly Tanganyika. Became independent from United Kingdom in 1961. Merged with Zanzibar to form Tanzania in 1964. |
| THAILAND | THA | THAI | |
| TIMOR-LESTE | TLS | TMOR | On May 20, 2002, East Timor became an independent nation. East Timor was previously under the authority of the United Nations. On July 10, 2007, the Foreign Names Committee of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved “Timor-Leste” as the short form name of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. |
| TOGO | TGO | TOGO | Formerly French Togoland. Achieved independence in 1960. Do not confuse with former British Togoland now part of Ghana. |
| TOKELAU | TKL | XTK | Includes Atafu, Fakaofo, and Nukunonu Atolls. A British Protectorate in 1889, transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925. A non-self-governing colonial territory of New Zealand. Also known as the Union Islands until 1976 when the name officially became TOKELAU. New Zealand considers Tokelau to be part of New Zealand. |
| TONGA | TON | TONG | Includes Friendly Islands. |
| TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO | TTO | TRIN | Achieved independence in 1962. |
| TUNISIA | TUN | TNSA | |
| TURKEY | TUR | TRKY | |
| TURKMENISTAN | TKM | TKM | |
| TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS | TCA | TCIS | British Overseas territory. |
| TUVALU | TUV | TUV | Formerly Ellice Islands. Achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1978. |
| UGANDA | UGA | UGAN | |
| UKRAINE | UKR | UKR | |
| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | ARE | UAE | Merged as United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971. Formerly known as Trucial States. Includes Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, ‘Ajman, Umm al Qaywayn, Ra's al Khaymah, and Al Fujayrah. |
| UNITED KINGDOM | GBR | GRBR | Effective November 30, 1955, the United States began to use the term “United Kingdom” rather than “British Isles,” “Great Britain,” “England,” “Scotland,” “Northern Ireland,” “Wales.” |
| URUGUAY | URY | URU | |
| UZBEKISTAN | UZB | UZB | |
| VANUATU | VUT | VANU | Formerly New Hebrides. Anglo-French Condominium. Achieved independence in 1980. |
| VENEZUELA | VEN | VENZ | |
| VIETNAM | VNM | VTNM | |
| WALLIS AND FUTUNA | WLF | WAFT | French Overseas Territory. |
| WEST BANK | XWB | XWB | See 8 FAM 403.4-4(A). |
| YEMEN | YEM | YEM | The Republic of Yemen was established May 22, 1990 following unification of the former Yemen Arab Republic (North) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South). The capital is Sanaa. |
| ZAMBIA | ZMB | ZAMB | Formerly known as Northern Rhodesia. Achieved independence in 1964. |
| ZIMBABWE | ZWE | ZIMB | Formerly known as Southern Rhodesia. Achieved independence in 1980. |
8 FAM 403.4-7(D) POB Table:Other Names of Locations
(CT:CITZ-85; 11-09-2022)
a. Other names of locations are provided below forreference purposes only to assist you in finding the correct name whenpresented with a birth record reflecting the previous place name or a locationwith potential for confusion.
b. When there are multiple, possible current names fora country, you must determine the exact location of the applicant’s POB,and thus which country is recognized/has current sovereignty.
c. The chart below is not exhaustive.
| Former/Unrecognized Name | Current Name(s) | Notes |
| Abkhazia | GEORGIA | The self-styled “Republic of Abkhazia” declared its independence from Georgia on July 23, 1992, but the United States considers Abkhazia to be an integral part of Georgia, not an independent state. |
| Admiralty Islands | PAPUA NEW GUINEA | Following Papuan independence on September 16, 1975, sovereignty was transferred from Australia to Papua New Guinea. |
| Akrotiri | UNITED KINGDOM | United Kingdom sovereign base area on the island of Cyprus. |
| Ascension Island | SAINT HELENA | British Overseas Territory Ascension Island has been a dependency of Saint Helena since September 12, 1922. |
| Austral Islands | FRENCH POLYNESIA | |
| Azores | PORTUGAL | |
| Baja California | MEXICO | Do not confuse with CALIFORNIA, U.S.A. |
| Balearic Islands | SPAIN | |
| Bali | INDONESIA | |
| Bechuanaland | BOTSWANA | Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. |
| Bessarabia | MOLDOVA, UKRAINE | Not all of Bessarabia is in present-day Moldova. A large portion of it is in Ukraine. If presented with birth evidence reflecting Bessarabia, contact AskPPTAdjudication@state.gov. |
| Bonin Islands | JAPAN | Includes Nanpo Shoto, Bonin Islands, Volcano Islands, Nishino Shima (Rosario), Minamitori Shima (Marcus Island), and Okinotori Shima (Parece Vela). The administration of the Bonin Islands was returned to Japan June 26, 1968. |
| Borneo | BRUNEI, MALAYSIA, INDONESIA | |
| British Cameroons | NIGERIA, CAMEROON | Do not confuse with the former French Cameroons. See Cameroon(s) Northern Division and Cameroons, Southern Division. |
| British Somaliland | SOMALIA | Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 in order to allow its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of Somalia. |
| Byelorussia | BELARUS | |
| Cameroons, Northern Division | NIGERIA | Do not confuse with Cameroons, Southern Division (formerly French) now CAMEROON. |
| Cameroons, Southern Division | CAMEROON | |
| Canary Islands | SPAIN | |
| Caroline Island | KIRIBATI | Do not confuse with Eastern or Western Caroline Islands (now FSM and Palau). |
| Caroline Islands, Eastern | MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF or the MARSHALL ISLANDS | The Federated States of Micronesia includes Chuuk (Truk), Pohnpei (Ponape), and Kosrae. The Marshall Islands includes Majuro, Kwajalein, Ebeye. Do not confuse with Caroline Island (KIR) or Caroline Islands, Western Caroline Islands (Yap and Palau). |
| Caroline Islands, Western | PALAU or MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF | |
| Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) | AUSTRALIA | The Territory of Christmas Island is a small, non-self-governing territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean. Do not confuse with Christmas Island, part of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean. Christmas Island is considered part of Australia for legal and administrative purposes. Residents of the islands (including former British subjects) were provided with the opportunity to become Australian citizens. Similar to mainland Australia, people born on Christmas Island are full Australian citizens where they meet conditions specified under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. |
| Christmas Island (Pacific Ocean, Kiritimati) | KIRIBATI | Located in the Pacific Ocean. Do not confuse with Christmas Island in Indian Ocean. |
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Indian Ocean) | AUSTRALIA | Territory of Australia since November 23, 1955. Do not confuse with Isla del Coco (Cocos Island) in Costa Rica. Cocos Islands are considered part of Australia for legal and administrative purposes. Residents of the islands (including former British subjects) were provided with the opportunity to become Australian citizens. Similar to mainland Australia, people born on Cocos Islands are Australian citizens where they meet conditions specified under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. |
| Coral Sea Islands | AUSTRALIA | External territory of Australia since September 30, 1969. |
| Crimean Autonomous Republic | UKRAINE | On February 23, 2014, the Russian Federation occupied and attempted to annex the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol City. The United States does not recognize Russia's purported annexation and considers Crimea to be an integral part of Ukraine and not a part of the Russian Federation. |
| Czechoslovakia | CZECH REPUBLIC, SLOVAKIA | On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia dissolved into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. If the applicant was born in one of the former provinces of Bohemia, Moravia, or the Sudetenland, see CZECH REPUBLIC. If the applicant was born in the former province of Slovakia, see SLOVAKIA. |
| Dhekelia | UNITED KINGDOM | United Kingdom sovereign base area on the island of Cyprus. |
| Donetsk People's Republic (DPR, DNR) | UKRAINE | The self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" declared independence from Ukraine in 2014, which was recognized by the Russian Federation in 2022 just before its further invasion of Ukraine. The United States does not recognize the DNR, considers Donetsk to be an integral part of Ukraine, and does not consider the DNR an independent state or a part of the Russian Federation. |
| East Pakistan (East Bengal) | BANGLADESH | Formerly East Pakistan or East Bengal. East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan on March 26, 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. |
| East Prussia | POLAND, RUSSIA | After World War II the area was divided between Poland and the U.S.S.R. (currently the Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) and the present location of actual place of birth should be determined before writing either Russia or Poland. |
| East Timor | TIMOR-LESTE | |
| French Cameroons | CAMEROON | Do not confuse with former British Cameroons, now in NIGERIA and CAMEROON. |
| French Congo | CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE | |
| French Equatorial Africa | CHAD, GABON, CONGO, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC | |
| French Guinea | GUINEA | Do not confuse with French Guiana in South America or Equatorial Guinea or Guinea-Bissau in Africa. |
| French Somaliland | DJIBOUTI | Formerly French Territory of Afars and Issas. Became independent in 1977. |
| French Togoland | TOGO | Do not confuse with British Togoland, now part of GHANA. |
| French Territory Of Afars And Issas | DJIBOUTI | Includes former French Somaliland. The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became DJIBOUTI in 1977. |
| French West Indies | GUADELOUPE, MARTINIQUE | |
| Friendly Islands | TONGA | |
| German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) | GERMANY | The GDR was formally incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany on August 31, 1990. On September 21, 1949, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France established the Federal Republic of Germany out of their occupation zones. The Soviet Union created the German Democratic Republic on October 7, 1949. The United States maintained that the GDR was “without any legal validity.” Full diplomatic relations with the FRG were established on May 6, 1955. The United States did not formally recognize the GDR until September 4, 1974. You may receive documents indicating birth in the GDR. |
| Golan Heights | ISRAEL | See 8 FAM 403.4-4(A). |
| Irish Free State | IRELAND | Irish Free State existed from 1922-1937. |
| Isle of Wight | UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Italian Somaliland | SOMALIA | On July 1, 1960, Italian Somaliland was granted its independence. It immediately united with neighboring British Somaliland (which had become independent on June 26) to form the Republic of SOMALIA. |
| Kiritimati | KIRIBATI | It was previously called Christmas Island when it made up part of the former British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. |
| Kuril Islands | List the current city of birth. If the applicant objects to the listing of the current Russian town name, contact AskPPTAdjudication@state.gov | The Kuril Islands are administered by Russia, but the southernmost four islands – Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan and the Habomai Islets are claimed by Japan. |
| Kwajalein | MARSHALL ISLANDS | |
| Luhansk People's Republic (LPR, LNR) | UKRAINE | The self-proclaimed "Luhansk People's Republic," declared independence from Ukraine in 2014, which was recognized by the Russian Federation in 2022 just before its further invasion of Ukraine. The United States does not recognize the LNR, considers Luhansk to be an integral part of Ukraine, and does not consider the LNR an independent state or a part of the Russian Federation. |
| Marquesas Islands | FRENCH POLYNESIA | |
| Myanmar | BURMA | |
| Nagorno-Karabakh | AZERBAIJAN | The self-styled Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared its independence from Azerbaijan on September 2, 1990, but the United States does not recognize it as an independent state. |
| Netherlands Antilles | ARUBA, BONAIRE, CURACAO, SABA, SINT EUSTATIUS, SINT MAARTEN | The Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist as a political entity on October 10, 2010. |
| New Guinea | PAPUA NEW GUINEA, INDONESIA | |
| New Hebrides | VANUATU | |
| Northern Cyprus | CYPRUS | The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared its independence from Cyprus on November 15, 1983. |
| Northern Ireland | UNITED KINGDOM | Includes Antrim, Armàgh, Down, Fermànagh, County Londonderry, Tyròne, and the Belfast City. Do not confuse with IRELAND. |
| Northern Rhodesia | ZAMBIA | |
| Okinawa | JAPAN | The administration of Okinawa was returned to Japan May 15, 1972. |
| Panama Canal Zone | PANAMA | For persons born in the former Panama Canal Zone on or after October 1, 1979, the POB in the passport must be listed as PANAMA.
|
| Polish Corridor | POLAND | Also known as the Danzig Corridor or the Gdansk Corridor. |
| Portuguese Guinea | GUINEA-BISSAU | |
| Rhodesia | ZIMBABWE | |
| Rhodesia, Northern | ZAMBIA | |
| Rhodesia, Southern | ZIMBABWE | |
| Rota (Not Air Force Base) | NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, U.S.A | Do not confuse with Rota Air Force Base, Spain. |
| Ruanda-Urundi | BURUNDI, RWANDA | |
| Ryukyu Islands | JAPAN | The administration of the Ryukyu Islands, which includes the island of Okinawa, was returned to Japan on May 15, 1972. |
| Sabah | MALAYSIA | Formerly British Borneo. Do not confuse with SABA. |
| Sakhalin Island | RUSSIA | |
| Serbia and Montenegro | SERBIA, MONTENEGRO | On May 21, 2006, the Republic of Montenegro held a successful referendum on independence and declared independence on June 3, 2006. Thereafter, the parliament of Serbia stated that the Republic of Serbia was the continuity of the state union, changing the name of the country from Serbia and Montenegro to the Republic of Serbia. The United States and Montenegro established diplomatic relations on August 15, 2006. |
| Sinai Peninsula | EGYPT | |
| Somaliland | SOMALIA | The Republic of Somaliland declared independence from Somalia on May 18, 1991, but the United States does not recognize it as an independent state. The United States considers Somaliland to be an integral part of Somalia, not an independent state. |
| Sudanese Republic | MALI | The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. |
| South Ossetia | GEORGIA | The self-styled “Republic of South Ossetia” declared its independence from GEORGIA on November 28, 1991, but the United States considers South Ossetia to be an integral part of Georgia, not an independent state.” |
| South West Africa | NAMIBIA | Do not confuse with SOUTH AFRICA. |
| Spanish Equatorial Guinea | EQUATORIAL GUINEA | Gained independence from Spain in 1968. Do not confuse with Guinea or Guinea-Bissau. |
| Spanish Sahara | MOROCCO | |
| St. Christopher (St. Kitts) | SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS | |
| St. Croix | U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS | |
| St. John | U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS | |
| St. Thomas | U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS | |
| Svalbard | NORWAY | Svalbard is a territory of Norway administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Sovereignty was awarded to Norway by treaty on February 9, 1920. The laws of Norway, where applicable, apply. Also known as Spitsbergen. |
| Swaziland | ESWATINI | The change of name from Swaziland to Eswatini was legally codified on May 11, 2018. |
| Tibet | CHINA | The United States recognizes the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan autonomous counties and prefectures in other provinces to be a part of CHINA. |
| Togoland | TOGO, GHANA | On December 27, 1916 Togoland was divided into French Togoland and British Togoland. Most of the territory formerly belonging to Togoland is part of TOGO, with a small part transferred to GHANA. |
| Tortola | BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS | |
| Transnistria | MOLDOVA | May also be listed as the self-styled “Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and Trans-Dniester,” which declared its independence from Moldova on September 2, 1990.The United States considers Transnistria to be an integral part of Moldova, and does not recognize it as an independent state. |
| Tuamotu-Gambier Islands | FRENCH POLYNESIA | |
| United Arab Republic | EGYPT, SYRIA | A union of Egypt and Syria formed in 1958 and dissolved in 1961. |
| Upper Volta | BURKINA FASO | Achieved independence from France in 1960. Renamed Burkina Faso in 1984; Formerly Upper Volta, Haute-Volta, or Voltaic Republic. |
| Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R. or Soviet Union) | ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, BELARUS, GEORGIA, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, MOLDOVA, RUSSIA, TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN, UKRAINE, UZBEKISTAN | The U.S.S.R. was formally dissolved on December 26, 1991. The United States did not recognize LATVIA, LITHUANIA, and ESTONIA as part of the U.S.S.R. However, you may receive documents indicating birth in these countries issued by the U.S.S.R. |
| Wales | UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Western Sahara | MOROCCO | |
| Western Samoa | SAMOA | The Independent State of SAMOA. |
| Yugoslavia | BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA, KOSOVO, MACEDONIA, MONTENEGRO, SERBIA, SLOVENIA | |
| Zaire | CONGO-KINSHASA | |
| Zanzibar | TANZANIA | Merged with Tanganyika in 1964 to form Tanzania. |
8 FAM 403.4-8 Information Noticeto Bearer Requesting City of Birth Listing
(CT:CITZ-28; 11-06-2019)
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
NOTICE TO UNITED STATES CITIZENS BORNABROAD REGARDING
PLACES OF BIRTH TO BE WRITTEN IN PASSPORTS
United States citizens born abroad may list the city ortown, rather than the country, of their birth in United States passports whenthere is an objection to the country listing as established by the Departmentof State. The city or town name to be designated will be the name at the dateof the passport applicant’s birth, or the current name. The appropriatetransliteration of the city or town name will be established by the Office ofthe Geographer of the U.S. Department of State.
Passport applicants who opt for the city or town of birthdesignation should be aware that they may encounter difficulties in travelingto, or in obtaining visas for entry into, certain foreign countries. A foreigncountry’s embassy or consulate may refuse to issue a visa that isrequired to enter that country and the applicant will effectively be barredfrom traveling to that country. An applicant who, having been denied a visa,requests a replacement passport with the country listed as the place of birthdesignation will be charged the normal issuance fee for the replacementpassport.
Passport applicants should also be aware that although avisa may not be required to enter a particular country, the traveler must oftenshow a passport at the port of entry. Entry may be denied by border officialsbased on the city or town listed as the place of birth in the passport. TheU.S. Department of State will not be in a position to facilitate entry in suchcases. The only service U.S. embassies or consulates can provide will beissuance of a replacement passport with the country listed as the place ofbirth. The traveler will be charged the normal issuance fee for thereplacement passport.
UNCLASSIFIED (U)
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