Proof of Citizenship For U.S. Passport
One of the first requirements you need to obtain a U.S. passport is proof of U.S. citizenship. There is a very short list of documents (including your birth certificate) that prove you are a United States citizen. These documents are called primary evidence of US citizenship and 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
Information on how to obtain a new birth certificate.
Information on how to replace your Consular Birth Abroad Certificate.
Information on how to replace your Naturalization Certificate or Citizen Document
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.
How Can I Get a Passport Without a Birth Certificate?
You will need to provide other documentation that proves you are a citizen of the United States. If you cannot provide primary evidence of U.S. citizenship, you must provide multiple secondary evidence of U.S. citizenship documents.
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. 3-5 items is ideal!
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.
If you have any questions about obtaining 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 plan on traveling in the world, we’ll get you there!
