Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is a formal document certifying the acquisition of United States citizenship at birth for a person born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).  In order to transmit U.S. citizenship to a child, the U.S. citizen parent(s) must have been a U.S. citizen at the time of the child’s birth and must have accrued sufficient physical presence in the United States to transmit citizenship.

CRBA applications must be made before the child’s 18th birthday. We recommend that parents apply for the CRBA as soon as possible after the child’s birth.  We strongly encourage you to report your child’s birth to Indian officials as soon as possible and apply for an Indian visa or exit permit. There may be a hefty fine for not applying for an Indian visa or an exit permit within the first weeks after birth.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for a CRBA in India, your child must be under 18 years of age and must appear in person at the Embassy or one of the four Consulates.  Generally, both parents must attend the interview. To see if your child may qualify for U.S. citizenship at birth see Acquisition of U.S. citizenship at Birth by a Child Born Abroad.

How to Apply (online application and payment)

You can now apply for a CRBA electronically at the Embassy or one of our four Consulates!  This new 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.

•  To apply for a CRBA online, you need to create a MyTravelGov account.  MyTravelGov is a secured, encrypted portal. Watch this video to learn more about creating your account.
• Once you create a MyTravelGov account, access eCRBA and submit your application online. The online process provides applicants with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application.
• Review the required documents for the CRBA application using this checklist.
• Complete the online application and submit payment.  You will be directed to schedule your appointment. Schedule your appointment at least 72 hours after payment to provide time for your payment to process prior to your appointment.
• Attend your in-person interview with your original documents and their single-sided photocopies. Original documents will be returned to you. The child must be present at the interview appointment. Generally, both parents also attend the interview.

If you are not eligible to complete your CRBA application and payment online, please contact the nearest embassy or consulate to discuss options.

Need Help?

• You can access eCRBA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Here
• You can view an application how-to-guide
• For questions or concerns please contact the appropriate Embassy or Consulate.