How to Order a Birth Certificate When You Were Born Outside the USA

Your birth certificate is an important document for many reasons; having this vital record copy is critical for enrolling in school, getting a job, and obtaining various licenses. It’s a simple process if you were born in the USA, but getting a replacement birth certificate for children born overseas to parents in the military requires a different set of steps. Here’s what’s needed to get a birth certificate copy if the child was not born in the U.S.

If Your Biological Parents Are US Citizens

Your parents may not have been in the United States when you were born but are U.S. citizens. If your parents registered your birth with the country’s consulate or the U.S. Embassy, they should have been issued a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).
 
This document certifies you as a U.S. citizen from birth. Another option is to check for a birth listing with the vital records office in the country where you were born.
 
If you are over 18, you can request as many copies of the certificate of birth abroad, or FS-240, as you wish. In order to do this, you’ll need to submit a formal request in writing that includes several pieces of information. You’ll also need to submit a copy of a piece of valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license, military ID, or passport.
 
Should you not have the above ID, you can submit a copy of your school or employee ID, income tax return, or a utility bill and mail this information with your payment to the U.S. Department of State. You will need to wait up to eight weeks to receive your birth certificate copy with this process.

If Your Adoptive Parents Are US Citizens

You may have been born outside of the U.S. and then adopted by U.S. citizens. When this is the case, you will need to contact your birth country via the consulate or foreign embassy that’s closest to it. If the document requires translation, you can also request the embassy’s help in doing so.
 
You should also have been issued copies of citizenship or naturalization if you were adopted. If you don’t have these documents, you can contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service for an application requesting a replacement of this document.
 
It’s important to consult the USCIS website when completing and mailing form N-565. There are specific instructions that need to be followed to ensure prompt processing of your application.

The Fast and Easy Way to Get a Copy of Your Birth Certificate

If you are an adult who needs a replacement birth certificate for citizens born abroad, you can complete this process quickly and easily with FastBirthCertificates. Receive a copy of your birth certificate in just three simple steps.
 
You can start your application by filling out our short web form, signing and dating the documents we send you, and then the issuing government office will send you a copy of your birth certificate. Our process is state-certified and 100% secure. Get started ordering your birth certificate copy today.