Citizenship Evidence (2024)

• Submit your original evidence of U.S. citizenship.
• Submit a photocopy of the front (and back, if there is printed information) of your original evidence of U.S. citizenship.

• Photocopies must be: legible, on white 8.5”x11” standard paper, black and white, and single sided.

• In some cases, you may be able to submit a certified copy of your citizenship evidence.Acertified copyis any document that has the seal or stamp of the official issuing authority.

• If you don't want to submit a photocopy of your citizenship evidence, you may submit a second certified copy of your citizenship evidence, which we will keep. If you don’t submit a photocopy or a second certified copy of your citizenship evidence, your passport processing could be delayed.
• You cannot submit digital evidence of U.S. citizenship (e.g. electronic or mobile birth certificate) when applying for a U.S. passport. You must continue to submit your physical evidence of U.S. citizenship and a photocopy of it.

• Full validity, undamaged U.S. passport (expired passports are accepted). Full validity means the document is/was valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16.
• U.S. birth certificatethat meets the following 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

Please note: Some states issuebirth abstractswhich are a summary of your original birth record. Most birth abstracts meet all the requirements listed above, while some birth abstracts do not meet these requirements. If you submit a birth abstract, it must meet all of the requirements above. If your birth abstract does not meet all the requirements above, we may also need you to submit a long-form birth certificate showing a copy of your original birth record.

• Full validity, undamaged U.S. passport (expired passports are accepted). 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.

• Delayed birth certificate (filed more than 1 year after birth)
  • It must include the following:
    • List the documentation used to create it (preferably early public records - see below)
    • 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, it should be submitted with early public records (see below).

• Letter of No Record
  • If a U.S. birth certificate is not on file for you in the state you were born, you will receive a Letter of No Record from the registrar instead of a birth certificate. It must meet the following requirements:
    • Issued by the state
    • Have applicant’s name and date of birth
    • List the years for which a birth record was searched
    • Include a statement that no birth certificate was found on file
  • When submitting a Letter of No Record, you must also submit at least two early public documents or one early public document and one early private document withForm DS-10: Birth Affadavit.

Early public or private documents

• Early public or private documents are documents that were created and/or issued early in the applicant’s life, preferably in the first five years.

• Public 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
  • FormDS-10, Birth Affidavit (this form is for applicants whose birth in the United States was recorded more than one year late or who have a Letter of No Record.)

Reminders for Submitting Documents in a Foreign Language

• Foreign language documents should include a professional English translation. The translator must provide a notarized statement of the accuracy of thetranslationand self-certification of their ability to translate.
• You may be asked for additional documentation by the passport agency, if needed.
• Your document(s) will be returned by mail separately from your new passport.