Documenting the U.S. Citizenship of a Child Born in Cyprus -- The "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" (CRBA)

General Information About a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA):

If your child has a claim to U.S. citizenship, it is necessary for the U.S. citizen parent to execute an application for a “Consular Report of Birth Abroad”, before a consular officer.  We recommend that you register your child after his/her birth.

The U.S. citizenship of a child born in Cyprus to a U.S. citizen parent can be documented with a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. citizen before the child reaches the age of 18 years. The Consular Report of Birth Abroad is the legal equivalent of a birth certificate issued in the United States. It can be important to obtain a Consular Report of Birth Abroad because most jurisdictions in the United States do not recognize foreign birth certificates.  

It is important to note that the U.S. citizenship of a parent does not automatically confer U.S. Citizenship on a child born in Cyprus. U.S. law requires that specific additional conditions be met for a child born abroad to acquire U.S. citizenship at birth.  

Please read one of the options listed below A to D to determine which category applies to you.  In addition, be sure to read the instructions below how to apply for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad:  

A. CRBA - Both Parents Are American Citizens
B. CRBA - One Parent Only is an American Citizen
C. CRBA - Child Born Out of Wedlock to an American Citizen Mother
D. CRBA - Child Born Out of Wedlock to an American Citizen Father

Required Application Forms and Documents

The Fees for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad and Minor Passport

To apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad for the child, both parents must come with the child to the consular section at the U.S. Embassy.  The U.S. Embassy strongly encourages parents obtaining a Consular Report of Birth for their child to also apply for a U.S. passport for the child.  

Required application forms and documents for obtaining a Consular Report of Birth Abroad:  

• Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad (form DS-2029) (PDF/1188kb)
• Application for a Social Security Card (form SS-5) (PDF/199kb) Download Adobe Reader
• Affidavit of Parentage and Physical Presence Form (no form number) (PDF/64kb). The U.S. citizen parent should sign this affidavit in the presence of the U.S. Consular Officer.
• Application for U.S. Passport (form DS-11) (PDF) Download Adobe Reader. Include one photo of the child meeting the photo requirements. 

In addition to the above forms, a number of other documents are necessary, these include: 

• The child’s birth certificate issued by the Cypriot municipality (original or certified copy)
• The parents’ marriage certificate (original or certified copy)
• The passport of the American citizen parent(s)
• The passport or other photographic identity document for a parent who is not a U.S. citizen, and
• Evidence of the termination of any prior marriages, if applicable.
• Evidence of American citizen parent(s) physical presence in the U.S.  

Once the parents have completed the necessary forms and compiled the required documentaton, they should schedule an appointment.  

The fees for the Consular Report of Birth and minor passport may be paid in U.S. currency (cash), the equivalent in Euros or by credit card. The fees must be paid at the consular cashier’s window at the U.S. Embassy. Checks are not accepted.  

A. CRBA - Both Parents Are American Citizens:  

A child born in Cyprus whose parents are legally married and both were U.S. citizens at the time of the child's birth acquires U.S. citizenship at birth if at least one of the parents resided in the United States prior to the child's birth.  

Both parents must provide proof of their U.S. citizenship, their marriage certificate, the final divorce decrees dissolving any previous marriages, the child's Cypriot birth certificate, and evidence that at least one parent lived in the United States prior to the child's birth.  

The interviewing consular officer may require additional evidence to demonstrate that the child is the biological offspring of the parents.  

B. CRBA - One Parent Only is an American Citizen:  

A child born in Cyprus whose parents are legally married and one of the parents was a U.S. citizen at the time of the child's birth acquires U.S. citizenship at birth if the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the United States for five full years before the child was born and two of those five years were after the parent's 14th birthday.  

In addition to the above list of forms and documents, the U.S. citizen parent must provide proof of his or her U.S. citizenship along with substantial evidence that he or she was physically present in the United States for a total a five full years before the child was born and that two of those five years were after the parent's 14th birthday.  

Evidence of physical presence may include Social Security payment summaries, original school transcripts, federal income tax filings with the wage earner's W-2 forms, any passports used before the birth of the child, and similar documents. To avoid the possible inconvenience of having to return to the U.S. Embassy with additional documentation, the U.S. citizen parent is urged to provide evidence of physical presence that is not limited to five specific calendar years but instead covers as long a period of time as possible.  

The interviewing consular officer may require additional evidence to demonstrate that the child is the biological offspring of the U.S. citizen parent. In rare instances, the consular officer may request that the U.S. citizen parent undergo DNA testing with the child to resolve uncertainties about their blood relationship. This testing follows strict security and privacy protocols and costs several hundred dollars.  

C. CRBA - Child Born Out of Wedlock to an American Citizen Mother:  

A child born out of wedlock in Cyprus to a U.S. citizen mother acquires U.S. citizenship at birth if the mother lived in the United States for one continuous year prior to the child's birth. The mother's age when she lived in the United States for one continuous year is not a consideration in determining the child's claim to U.S. citizenship. The child's mother must provide proof of her U.S. citizenship.

In addition to the above list of forms and documents the mother must provide evidence of physical presence in the United States, this may include Social Security payment summaries, original school transcripts, federal income tax filings with the wage earner's W-2 forms, passports used before the birth of the child, and similar documents. In some instances a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate and passports with relevant entry and exit stamps have provided sufficient evidence of the mother's physical presence in the United States.  

In extremely rare instances, the U.S. citizen mother may be asked to undergo DNA testing with the child to resolve uncertainties about their blood relationship. This testing follows strict security and privacy protocols and costs several hundred dollars.  

The Embassy strongly encourages an American citizen mother obtaining a Consular Report of Birth for her child to apply also for a U.S. passport for the child. If the father's name appears on the child's birth certificate, or if the parents married after the birth of the child, or if the father has not abandoned his parental obligations, the child's father will be required to be present at the U.S. Embassy and sign the passport application (DS-11) if the child is under 14 years of age.  

D. CRBA - Child Born Out of Wedlock to an American Citizen Father:  

A child born out of wedlock in Cyprus whose father is a U.S. citizen acquires U.S. citizenship at birth if five specific conditions established by the U.S. Congress are satisfied.

First, the blood relationship between the father and child must be demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence.
Second, the father must have been a U.S. citizen when the child was born.
Third, prior to the birth of the child, the father must have been physically present in the United States for a total of five full years, and two of those five years must have been after the father's 14th birthday.
Fourth, prior to the child's 18th birthday, the father must sign under oath or affirmation a written statement agreeing to support the child financially until its 18th birthday.
Fifth, prior to the child's 18th birthday, the father must either formally acknowledge his paternity of the child or legitimate the child in accordance with the laws of Cyprus. 

The U.S. citizen father must provide proof that he was a U.S. citizen when the child was born. The father's current or previous U.S. passport may provide the best proof of this.  

The U.S. citizen father provide substantial evidence that he was physically present in the United States for a total of five full years before the child was born and that two of those five years were after the father's 14th birthday.  

Evidence of physical presence may include Social Security payment summaries, original school transcripts, federal income tax filings with the wage earner's W-2 forms, any passports used before the birth of the child, and similar documents. To avoid the possible inconvenience of having to return to the U.S. Embassy with additional documentation, the U.S. citizen father is urged to provide evidence of physical presence that is not limited to five specific calendar years, but instead covers as long a period of time as possible.  

The U.S. citizen father will be asked to sign under oath or affirmation before a consular officer a written statement acknowledging his paternity and agreeing to support the child until its 18th birthday.  

The father must provide a certified copy of the child's Cypriot birth certificate.  

The interviewing consular officer may require additional evidence to demonstrate that the child is the biological offspring of the U.S. citizen father. In rare instances, the U.S. citizen father may be asked to undergo DNA testing with the child to resolve uncertainties about their blood relationship. This testing follows strict security and privacy protocols and costs several hundred dollars.  

The U.S. Embassy strongly encourages the U.S. citizen father obtaining a Consular Report of Birth Abroad for his child to apply also for a U.S. passport for the child. The child's mother must be present with the father and child to sign the passport application if the child is under 14 years of age.  

For inquiries e-mail us at: consularnicosia@state.gov