Birth

23 MINUTE READ

August 21, 2023

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 at least one U.S. citizen parent.

Before applying, please check the requirements to transmit U.S. citizenship to ensure you qualify. If you believe that your child qualifies for U.S. citizenship, please follow the steps below.

To be able to apply online, you MUST meet all the following criteria:

The child is under the age of 18.
The parent(s) and child can appear for an in-person interview at U.S. Consular Section Vienna.
At least one parent was a U.S. citizen (or U.S. non-citizen national) when the child was born.
You must be able to use an internationally accepted credit/debit card or a direct payment method to pay online for the CRBA application.
You are the biological parent of the CRBA applicant child.

If your child is over age 18 and believe they may qualify for U.S. citizenship, click here.

Please note we cannot “pre-adjudicate” your CRBA case or advise on the likelihood of issuance. If you cannot apply online, please contact the U.S. consulate: consulatevienna@state.gov

Online CRBA application on MyTravelGov

Step 1: Create a MyTravelGov account. (Watch this YouTube video for a detailed instruction about creating your account.) Use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to access MyTravelGov. You can also use Safari on MacOS, but cannot use Safari on iOS (iPhone or iPad).

Step 2: Start an online application for a CRBA. Enter all the required data and upload a scan of the following documents (only jpg, jpeg, png or pdf formats):

Child’s Austrian or other foreign birth certificate.
U.S. citizen parent(s)’s proof of U.S. citizenship (U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship).
Parents’ ID (U.S. or foreign passports, U.S. or foreign state-issued IDs).
If applicable: Parents’ marriage certificate.
If applicable: Proof of termination of any of the parents’ previous marriages (e.g., death certificate, court order).
If applicable: If born out of wedlock, father’s affidavit of paternity (in Austria: Vaterschaftserklärung).
Proof of the U.S. citizen parent(s)’s physical presence in the U.S. You must list all dates you were physical present in the United States, whether you were living in the U.S. or just visiting on vacation. Click here for examples of documents that may demonstrate proof of physical presence. Check the transmission requirements for detailed information.

Please note that all original documents listed above must be presented at the time of your in-person interview!

Step 3: Pay the CRBA fee of $100 by internationally accepted credit/debit card or a direct payment method online at the U.S. Government’s official payment site Pay.Gov and submit the application. You cannot finish the application without having successfully paid the fee.

Step 4: Schedule an appointment for the in-person interview. Please allow for 5 business days to process the payment. If you schedule an appointment less than 5 business days after the online payment submission, you may be required to pay the fee again.

Passport application

Step 5: Complete and print but don’t sign the form DS-11 [Application for U.S. Passport (state.gov)] and bring all the original documents below to the in-person interview. The personal appearance of the child and both parents is required!

Child’s foreign birth certificate, original and one copy.
Both parents’ passports, original and one copy.
Complete and sign this form [attachment Minor_No_SSN].
One U.S. size passport photo (see photo requirements).
Self-addressed envelope with 5.50 Euros in stamps and the registered mail slip (Einschreiben).
If applicable: child’s foreign passport, original and one copy.

Please note that the passport fee must be paid separately at the time of the appointment.

Child Citizenship Act of 2000

If a U.S. citizen parent does not meet the physical presence requirements to transmit citizenship at birth, the child may qualify for U.S. citizenship through the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. This act allows foreign-born, biological, and adopted children of U.S. citizens to acquire U.S. citizenship if they satisfy certain requirements before age 18. For details, click here.

By U.S. Mission Austria

Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)

Before proceeding with the Consular Report of Birth abroad, note that the parent transmitting U.S. citizenship has to provide evidence of physical presence in the U.S. (for more detailed information on the specific requirements click here).

Follow these steps to register your child (Must be under the age of 18 to complete the process):

STEPS	STEPS TO COMPLETE THE CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD
1. COMPLETE THREE FORMS	Complete & print the passport form (click here) (do not sign it – form must be signed in front of the officer). Complete & Print The Consular Report of Birth Abroad form (click here) Complete and Print the social security affidavit (click here)
2. PHOTO	Take a Passport Photo (See photo instructions). HINT: NOT A EUROPEAN SIZED PHOTO. Please use photos only from a special photographer. Photobooth pictures do not work!
3. DOCUMENTS (ORIGINAL DOCUMENT PLUS ONE PHOTOCOPY)	The child’s birth certificate Passports of both parents Marriage certificate of Parents (if applicable) Divorce Decrees of Parents (if applicable) Proof of five years of physical presence in the U.S. prior to the child’s birth (click here for examples) Austrian statement of paternity for a child born out of wedlock (from Standesamt).
4. ENVELOPE & STAMPS (To mail the documents back to you. We do not have pick up service)	Obtain an Envelope (A5 preferred) Obtain a “Einschreiben Sticker” for registered mail in Austria from the post office. Fill this out but do not attach to the envelope. Obtain 5.50 Euros worth of Austrian Postage stamps. Put stamps on the envelope in the upper right hand corner. On the envelope, write the address in Austria where you would like the new passport and consular report of birth abroad mailed.
5. PAY	Bring Cash or Credit card: click here for the current fee to the appointment. Sorry, no Bankomat available. NOTE: YOU WILL PAY FOR THE CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD AND A CHILD’S PASSPORT
6. APPOINTMENT	After you have all of your forms and documents completed and printed, make an appointment by clicking here. We are located at Parking 12A, 1010 Vienna (North entrance of Marriott Hotel) The child and both parents must appear in person. If this is not possible, click here.

List of requirements for minors to receive a passport and Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)

At the time of your appointment (at the U.S. Consulate at Parkring 12a, 1010 Vienna [Hotel Marriott building]), please bring with you:

Your child and both parents
Completed “Application for a Consular Report of Birth” (Form DS-2029 [pdf/103kb]) – Do Not Sign!
Please complete form [pdf/12kb]
For children under age 12 the Social Security Number must be applied for directly with the appropriate Federal Benefits Unit in Frankfurt, Germany (https://at.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/social-security). At the time of interview we will explain in detail the procedure.
For Passport issuance please see: Application for Passports for Applicants under age 16)
Child’s Austrian birth certificate (International version). Provide birth certificate with official seal and signature.
IMPORTANT INFO: For the Austrian birth registration at the Austrian Registrar’s Office “Standesamt” the parents need to provide their birth certificates and marriage certificate (if applicable) authenticated with an ”Apostille”
Parents’ U.S./Alien passports
Parents’ marriage certificate (Civil records)
Proof of termination of any previous marriages (Death or divorce certificates)
If applicable, Austrian affidavit of paternity (Vaterschaftserklärung)
One photo, see photo requirements. Please use photos only from a special photographer.
Any previous Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued to other children in the family to expedite processing
Self-addressed envelope
TO PICK-UP THE PASSPORT IN PERSON IS NOT AN OPTION! Attention: For all passport applications you must submit a self-addressed and pre-paid envelope for return registered mail!
For maximum security, we will only return passports by registered mail, please follow as instructed;
Please provide stamps in the amount of € 5.50. Get a “Einschreiben/Registered” sticker from your local post office. Fill in the sticker (do not attach it to the envelope) and attach only the stamps on your self-addressed envelope (preferably size A5).

Issuing time approximately 2 to 3 weeks. Please remember to bring all required documentation and completed forms with you to your appointment. If you do not bring all of the required forms and supporting documentation, you may have to make a new appointment and there will be a delay in processing your case.

Child Citizenship Act

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows certain foreign-born, biological and adopted children of U.S. citizens to acquire U.S. citizenship automatically. These children did not acquire U.S. citizenship at birth, but they are granted citizenship when they enter the United States as lawful permanent residents (LPRs).

Click here for more details on the Child Citizenship Act.