When a child is born overseas to an American citizen parent or parents, certain documentation is required in order for the child to be registered as an American citizen. This involves filing an application for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). If only one parent is an American citizen at the time of the child's birth, current U.S. law requires that the parent must have been physically present in the United States for at least five years prior to the birth of the child. At least two of the five years must have been after the parent reached the age of fourteen.
(Click for » Application for Consular Report of Birth (pdf))
The following items are necessary for documenting a child as an American citizen:
- Original copy of the Polish birth certificate (the long version = Odpis Zupelny Aktu Urodzenia)
- Original copy of parents' marriage certificate
- Proof of the termination of parents' previous marriages (death or divorce certificates)
- Parents' passports
- 2 photographs, 5cm x 5 cm, with full-face shown and a light background
- $65 USD or Polish zloty equivalent for consular Report of Birth Abroad
- $85 USD or Polish zloty equivalent for passport
Both parents listed on the birth certificate and the child must be present for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad to be issued. Once this document has been prepared, you can apply for a passport for your child.
If you want to schedule an appointment or if you have questions about Reports of Birth or if the child was born out of wedlock, please contact American Citizen Services at Embassy Warsaw [(022) 625-1401 or 504-2784, or acswarsaw@state.gov], at Consulate General Krakow [(012) 424-5100, or KrakowACS@state.gov] or the Consular Agency in Poznan [(061) 851-8516 or capoz@post.pl]. The Consular Agency in Poznan accepts Consular Report of Birth applications by appointment only.
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