A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is an official document issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to document the birth of a child abroad who acquired U.S. citizenship at birth. This article outlines the CRBA application process in Ethiopia, including eligibility, required documents, fees, and appointment scheduling.
Who is Eligible for a CRBA?
A child born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may be eligible for a CRBA if they acquired U.S. citizenship at birth.
Children are granted citizenship at birth if one or both parents meet the requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Sections 301 or 309. Once a child reaches the age of 18, he or she is no longer eligible to receive a CRBA certificate.
When to Apply
You must submit your child’s CRBA application before their 18th birthday. If your child meets the CRBA requirements, you must apply for CRBA as soon as possible after the child’s birth.
It is not possible to apply for a CRBA within the United States.
Read also: Kenya CRBA Guide
Applying for a CRBA
Applying for a CRBA is a simple process. You must gather the required documents and submit them to us online. The online system will allow you to upload documents and submit them to us, pay the application fees, and schedule a required in-person appointment.
If there’s an issue or missing document, we can contact you to fix it before your appointment. The U.S. Mission in Ethiopia now accepts CRBA applications electronically (eCRBA).
Online Application (eCRBA)
We recommend that you schedule your appointment as soon as possible to avoid issues with your travel.
- Register for a MyTravelGov account.
- Use Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome web browser.
- Create an eCRBA application. Select “Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)” on the MyTravelGov homepage.
- Schedule your in-person interview using our online system. After you submit the eCRBA application and payment, you will see a confirmation screen with a “Schedule” button. Use this to schedule your in-person interview.
*Note: Applicants must have a Login.gov account to access eCRBA services on the MyTravelGov portal.
Paper-based Application
If you cannot apply online, please contact your local embassy for further instructions for your specific situation.
Read also: Appointment Requirements in Kenya
Scheduling an Appointment
Embassies/Consulates allow scheduling CRBA appointments online. This online scheduling service can give you an idea how quickly you can book a CRBA appointment.
You will need to schedule an in-person appointment at the U.S. embassy, consulate, or office providing consular services. Select an appointment time at least 72 hours in the future. If a CRBA appointment is available before your travel date, no matter how close to the date, please book it.
Each applicant requiring a service at the Embassy must have a separate appointment.
Attending the Appointment
One or both parents may go with your child to the appointment. Attend your appointment with your child at the scheduled time.
At the appointment, submit the completed Form DS-2029 and Form DS-5507 (if applicable) along with all other required original documents. A consular officer will review the documents and determine if an interview is necessary.
Read also: Planning Your Ethiopia Trip
Required Documents
It is important that you bring all required original documents to your case prescreening and interview. We’ve created a checklist that will tell you what to bring.
The U.S. citizen parent must bring her/his passport or 2 other forms of photo identification, such as a government-issued ID or Driver’s License. The U.S. citizen parent must have been a citizen at the time of the child’s birth.
Required documents include:
- Original birth certificate and 1 photocopy
- U.S. citizen parent's passport or other photo ID
- Original marriage certificate and 1 photocopy
- For marriages conducted in Nigeria, provide the official marriage certificate from the marriage registrar.
- Photos of the child from birth to their current age (if applying more than one year after the child’s birth)
- Medical records, ultrasound reports, birth report from hospital, and photos of the mother during pregnancy and after birth (helpful to establish the biological relationship between the mother and child)
If the U.S. citizen parent was not a citizen at the time of the child’s birth, that parent must bring proof of sufficient physical presence or residence in the United States before the birth in order to transmit citizenship. Physical presence in most cases must be at least five years, two of those years after the age of 14, all before the child was born.
Documents that may establish your physical presence in the United States include school transcripts, old passports, a Military Statement of Service or DD-214 Separation Statement (military members only). Consular officers will also consider Social Security Statements from www.ssa.gov or CBP exit/entry records requested by the applicant from www.foia.gov. Bring the original documents and 1 photocopy of each.
If you are applying for a CRBA more than one year after the child’s birth, please bring photos of the child from birth to their current age-many photos taken at different times and places. For marriages conducted in Nigeria, provide the official marriage certificate from the marriage registrar. Photos together over time, stamps in current and prior passports showing time spent together in any country. Applicants may also request CBP exit/entry records from www.FOIA.gov.
Forms
Complete, but do not sign! You may also be required to complete the Form DS-5507.
If both parents are U.S. citizens, the application for a CRBA is made using Form DS-2029, Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America. If only one parent is a U.S. citizen or not present, complete Form DS-5507, Affidavit of Physical Presence or Residence, Parentage, and Support.
Fees
The fee for a CRBA is $100. The fee will be paid online via eCRBA if possible. If payment on eCRBA is not possible, you may pay on the day of the appointment at the Embassy/Consulate.
Here's a breakdown of the fees associated with CRBA and passport applications for children:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| CRBA | $100 |
| Child’s Passport (under 16) | $135 |
| Child’s Passport (16 and over) | $165 |
| Total (CRBA + Passport for children under 16) | $235 |
Additional Information
After arriving you will be required to go through a security screening. No personal items are allowed into the Consular waiting area. After security screening, you will be directed to the consular waiting area.
The Embassy DOES NOT accept private DNA tests taken in advance of the CRBA appointment.
If your child is not eligible for CRBA, you might be required to file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, instead.
After your child’s appointment in Ethiopia, we will forward the CRBA application to the Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over your child’s birthplace. Therefore, processing will take longer than normal.
Passport Application
You should apply for a passport well before any travel to the United States. Applying for a CRBA is a simple process.
You may apply for a U.S. passport at the same time as the CRBA. Both applications may be submitted together at your scheduled CRBA appointment.
The fee for a child’s passport under 16 is $135; for those 16 and over, the fee is $165. Therefore, the total charge for children under 16 to apply for a CRBA and passport is $235.
You will need one passport photo, 2in x 2in (5cm x 5cm), set against a white background for the child (eyes must be open).
For children under the age of 16, both parents/legal guardians are required to come in person. passport for children under the age of 16.
If one parent cannot attend, they can complete a Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053) and have it notarized. The Statement of Consent document is only valid for 90 days after the date of signature. The absent parent can notarize the form at a U.S. embassy or consulate and send the original to the parent attending the interview, with 1 photocopy of the front and back side of the photo ID used during notarization.
Unlike a passport, the CRBA is not a travel document.
If your child meets the requirements for U.S. citizenship, you may apply for a U.S. passport for your child in the United States.
What Happens if a Child is Born Abroad to a U S Citizen?
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