Embassy of the United States Freetown, Sierra Leone

New Procedures for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad

The Department of State is pleased to announce the introduction of a redesigned Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, or Form FS-240).  The redesigned CRBA, which is an official record confirming that a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and serves as proof of citizenship, has been updated with a variety of state-of-the-art security features to help prevent fraud and identity theft.

Overseas posts will still document the citizenship of children born overseas to U.S.-citizen parents, but effective February 7, 2011, the CRBAs will be printed at our passport agencies in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and New Orleans, Louisiana, using the information provided by overseas posts.  By centralizing production and eliminating the distribution of controlled blank stock throughout the world, we will help ensure uniform quality and lessen the possibility of fraud. Additionally, the Department will no longer issue the DS-1350 Certification of Report of Birth Abroad.  Instead, the Department will simply provide new FS-240s in response to requests for additional, replacement, or amended CRBAs.

Parents of American children born abroad should obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), which is evidence of the child's U.S. citizenship, as soon as possible after the birth of the child.  Parents will have to submit proof of their citizenship and identity, the child’s local birth certificate, and other supporting documents.  Please view our hours and contact information to find out when you can apply for a CRBA.

Report of Birth Abroad (PDF 50K)

How to Apply for a CRBA at the U.S. Embassy in Freetown

An American citizen child born outside the United States will be issued a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). This document establishes the child's status as an American citizen and is recognized as the equivalent of a birth certificate issued in the United States. We recommend that parents apply as soon as possible after your child’s birth, as the CRBA must be issued before the child may apply for a United States passport.  A CRBA may not be issued to a child over 18 years old.
Both parents and child must personally appear at the U.S. Embassy.
The following documents are required to issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad to a child born in Sierra Leone: 

• Birth certificate issued by the authorities of  Sierra Leone

• Marriage certificate (with a certified translation if not in English).  If the parents are not married, please ask a consular officer about special requirements.

• If either parent was previously married, evidence of the termination of previous marriages (with a certified translation if not in English).  Normally, such evidence consists of a divorce order, annulment decree, or death certificate.

• Evidence of the American citizenship of both parents, such as a United States passport, naturalization certificate or a birth certificate from the United States.

If only one parent is an American citizen, that parent must show evidence of his or her physical presence in the United States. Such evidence often consists of previous passports, educational records (school or university transcripts), rent receipts, etc. The American citizen parent must show:

• For children born after November 14,1986: at least five years of physical presence in the United States, including two years after the age of fourteen.
  
• For children born before November 14,1986: at least ten years of physical presence in the United States, including five years after the age of fourteen.
  

NOTE: All documents must be submitted in original or certified copy.
Fees are collected in cash only, in United States dollars or the equivalent in Leones. "The application fee for a CRBA is $65.00."

Completing the Form DS-2029

The form should be downloaded and printed on white A4 or letter-size paper.

Please complete sections 1 to 15 on the application form in block letters and black ink. This information is mandatory. 

• Item 6 - Full Name: Please complete this item with your names as they appear on the passports. For women who have adopted their spouse's surname, please complete thus: "Jane Smith Doe, born Jane Mary Smith."
• Item 11 - Evidence of American Citizenship: Please complete this item with your United States passport number, date of issue, and place of issue as listed on your current passport. Foreign nationals should list the country of nationality in addition to the other information.
• Item 12 - Physical Presence: This means the actual time when the parent was physically present in the United States. Any travel outside the United States, including vacation, does not count toward physical presence. Maintaining a residence in the United States does not constitute physical presence. Start with your birth, if you were born in the United States, or your first entry to the United States and list all periods of physical presence in the United States up to the present.  You may attach a separate sheet with this information.
• Please do not sign the form until requested by a consular officer.

More Information

For more information about applying for a CRBA, please visit the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs website.