There are certain documents that you’ll need in order to obtain a passport. One document that you may be asked to provide is your birth certificate. However, if you don’t have a birth certificate, there’s no need to panic. You can still get a passport for your upcoming international trip, and we’re here to walk you through the process. With that said, here’s how you can apply for a passport without a birth certificate.
Can I Get a Passport Without a Birth Certificate?
Believe it or not, you can get a passport without a birth certificate. Trying to obtain a passport without a birth certificate may be a little more time-consuming than it would be using a birth certificate, but it is possible. You may have to provide additional documentation, which could be somewhat confusing. However, when you choose to get your passport with Swift, we will walk you through the entire process, and provide you with a list of all the documents you’ll need in order to get your passport.
How Can I Get a Passport Without a Birth Certificate?
In order to apply for a passport, one of the first things that you’ll need to provide is proof of US citizenship. There is a very short list of documents (including your birth certificate) that prove you are a United States citizen, so if you don’t have a birth certificate, you’ll need to have a form of primary evidence of US citizenship. Documents that qualify as a form of primary evidence of US citizenship include:
- An undamaged US passport (not a copy of an old passport)
- An original or certified (not notarized, but certified) long-form United States birth certificate that meets the following requirements:
- Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
- Lists your full name, date of birth, and place of birth
- Lists your parent(s)’ full names
- Has the date filed with the registrar’s office (must be within one year of birth)
- Has the registrar’s signature
- Has the seal of the issuing authority
- Consular Birth Abroad Certificate
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
How Can I Prove My Citizenship Without a Birth Certificate?
If you cannot prove your citizenship with a birth certificate, you will need to prove your citizenship using secondary evidence of U.S. citizenship. The more of these items you can provide, the better chance you have of the passport being issued. Submitting just 1 of these items will likely not suffice. Try to submit at least 3-5 items for the best chance of having your passport application approved.
Some items that could count as secondary forms of evidence of U.S. citizenship include:
- Baptismal certificate
- Hospital birth certificate
- Census record
- Early school record
- Family bible record
- Doctor’s record of postnatal care
To learn more about secondary evidence of US citizenship, you can visit the Department of State website or USCIS.
Conclusion
Obtaining a passport without a birth certificate is absolutely possible, and we’re here to help you every step of the way. If you have any questions about applying for a passport without a birth certificate, please don’t hesitate to contact us. A member of our knowledgeable team would be happy to help answer any questions you may have. No matter where you’re going, we’ll get you there!
