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Reporting Birth Abroad

The American parents of a child born in Afghanistan should report the birth to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.  The Embassy will issue a Consular Record of Birth Abroad and a U.S. passport.  The Report of Birth may be used as a birth certificate for school, work, or other purposes. 

Please note, the birth of children born in Pakistan, even if the family lives in Afghanistan, must be reported to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad or the U.S. Consulates in Peshawar, Karachi, and Lahore.

Note also that the application for a Report of Birth includes an application for a social security number.  This number will be mailed to you approximately four months after registration.

Prior to your child being issued a birth certificate and a U.S. passport the Embassy must first determine that your child is entitled to citizenship.  The following is an extract from the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 listing sections of the law pertaining to the acquisition of U.S. nationality.  These sections may be applicable in your child’s case.

Section 301(c) – Born to Two United States Citizens Parents

A child born outside of the United States of parents both of whom are citizens, and one of whom has had a residence in the U.S. or one of its outlying possessions prior to the birth of such person, will be entitled to American citizenship.  (Please note: there is no specific period of time that either or both parents would have had to have spent in the U.S. or its outlying possessions.)

Section 301(g) – Born to One United States Citizen Parent and One Alien Parent Between the period December 24, 1952-November 14, 1986

A child born outside of the United States to ONE United States citizen parent and ONE alien parent will be entitled to U.S. citizenship PROVIDING the American citizen parent had, prior to the birth of the child, been physically present in the U.S. or one of its outlying possessions for a period, or periods totaling TEN (10) YEARS, at least FIVE (5) of those years must have been after the age of FOURTEEN (14). 

Section 301(g) – Born to One U.S. Citizen Parent and One Alien Parent on or after November 14, 1986

A child born outside of the United States to ONE United States citizen parent and ONE alien parent will be entitled to U.S. citizenship PROVIDING the American citizen parent had, prior to the birth of the child, been physically present in the U.S. or one of its outlying possessions for a period, or periods totaling FIVE (5) years, at least TWO (2) of those years must have been after the age of FOURTEEN (14). 

Documentary Requirements:

  • Completed application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad (DS-2029/SS-5);
  • Completed application for Passport (DS-11);
  • Fees: Consular Report of Birth, $65 and Passport, $82;
  • Child’s Birth Certificate, issued by the hospital or local government authority;
  • U.S. passport and/or Naturalization certificate of U.S. citizen parents;
  • If applicable, evidence of citizenship of alien parent, e.g. passport, Taskara;
  • Parent’s marriage certificate;
  • Divorce/death certificate, showing termination of all prior marriages;
  • An affidavit of physical presence, if only one parent is a U.S. citizen, stating precise periods of physical presence in the U.S. and documentary evidence substantiating there periods.  Examples of such evidence are:
    - School records
    - Employment records
    - Income tax records
  • Two identical photographs meeting the following parameters are required: 
    - The photograph must measure 2”x 2” (approximately 5cm or 50mm square) with no  border.
    - The background must be white. The face should cover about 50 percent of the photo and measure between 1” x 1 3/8” (25mm to 35mm). 
    - The photo must be full face with the applicant looking straight into the camera.
    - The hair from the crown should be visible and the ears should be exposed (no head coverings or veils). 
  • If only one parent is able to be present at the time of the passport application, the applying parent must bring his or her ID and a signed statement from the non-applying parent consenting to the passport issuance to the child.  This statement needs to be notarized. 

NOTE: All documents must be original.  Certified English translations of original documents written in Dari/Pashto are required.