Proving Citizenship and Identity to
Apply for a U.S. Passport

---

You may prove U.S. citizenship with any one of the following:

• Previous U.S. passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports are not acceptable as evidence of U.S. citizenship)
• Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state
  NOTE: A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal; the registrar’s signature; and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within one year of birth.
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
• Naturalization Certificate
• Certificate of Citizenship
• Delayed Birth Certificate filed more than one year after birth may be acceptable—but only if it:
• Lists the documentation used to create it, AND is signed by the attending physician or midwife, lists an affidavit signed by the parents, or shows early public records.

If you do NOT have a previous U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate, you will need:

• Letter of No Record
  NOTE: This is a document that is issued by the state with your name, date of birth, which years were searched for a birth record, and it states that there is no birth certificate on file for you.
• AND as many of the following as possible: 
• Baptismal certificate
• Hospital birth certificate
• Census record
• Early school record
• Family bible record
• Doctor's record of post-natal care
  
  NOTE: These documents MUST be early public records showing the date and place of birth, preferably created within the first five years of your life.
  
  
• You may also submit an Affidavit of Birth, form DS-10
  NOTE: This is from an older blood relative, i.e., a parent, aunt, uncle, or sibling, who has personal knowledge of your birth. It must be notarized or have the seal and signature of the acceptance agent.

If you were born abroad AND do not have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Birth on file, you will need the following:

• If you claim citizenship through birth abroad to ONE U.S. citizen parent:
• Your foreign birth certificate,
• Proof of citizenship of your U.S. citizen parent, and
• An affidavit from your U.S. citizen parent showing all periods and places of residence or physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birth.
• If you claim citizenship through birth abroad to TWO U.S. citizen parents:
• Your foreign birth certificate,
• Your parents’ marriage certificate, and
• Proof of your U.S. parents’ citizenship and an affidavit from your U.S. citizen parents showing all periods and places of residence or physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birth

For additional information on documentation of U.S. citizens born abroad who acquire citizenship at birth, go to this Web site: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_828.html.

For information on foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizens, go to this Web site: http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/info/info_448.html.

For Minors under the Age of 14

The citizenship evidence submitted for minors under the age of 14 must list both parents' names. For more information on the citizenship requirements for minors under the age of 14, go to this Web site: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html.

NOTE: The following are NOT proof of citizenship:

• Voter registration cards
• Army discharge papers

You may prove your identity with any one of these, if you are recognizable:

• Previous U.S. passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports are not acceptable as proof of identity)
• Naturalization Certificate
• Current, valid
• Driver's license
• Government ID: city, state or federal
• Military ID: military and dependents
  
  NOTE:  Your Social Security card is NOT acceptable documentation to prove your identity.

If none of these is available, you will need:

• Several documents with your signature (which are not acceptable alone as proof of ID, e.g., a combination of documents such as your Social Security card, a credit card, a bank card, a library card, etc.), AND
• A person who can vouch for you. He/she must meet the following criteria:
• Has known you for at least two years,
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident,
• Has valid ID, and
• Must fill out a Form DS-71 in the presence of a passport agent.

For Minors under the Age of 14

Both parents or legal guardians must present evidence of identity when they apply for a minor under the age of 14. Each minor child must also appear in person. 

For Minors Aged 14-17

• The child MUST appear in person;
• For security reasons, parental consent may be requested;
  If the child does not have identification of his/her own, a parent needs to accompany the child, present identification, and co-sign the application.
  

[Return to Previous Page]