Report of Birth Abroad

If you are a U.S. citizen, it is possible that any child born to you is also a U.S. citizen, even though born outside the U.S. the child should be documented as a U.S. citizen as soon as practical after the birth. The Embassy will be happy to prepare a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a United States Citizen, and a U.S. passport for your child. (A U.S. passport must be used for every entry and departure from the U.S., even if your child is a dual national.) Because of the complexity of the process, Reports of Birth and first passports for children born abroad are done only by appointment; please call the American Citizen Services (ext. 3431) to schedule one.

How to Make a Report of Birth

On the day of your appointment, please bring the following documents with you:

1. Proof of the U.S. citizenship of one or both of the parents: U.S citizen parent's/parents' original Birth Certificate(s) (or certified copy(copies)), or U.S. citizen parent's parents' U.S. passport(s).
2. Child's original Birth Certificate.
3. Parents' original Marriage Certificate (or certified copy). If divorced, all original Divorce Decree(s) (or certified copies). If the parents are not married, please discuss this with a staff member when you make the appointment, as additional documents are required.
4. Identity document for the parent making the application for the Report of Birth, if not an American.
5. The fee of $65 for the Report of Birth (payable in U.S. dollars or Malawian Kwachas).

First Passport

We strongly encourage you to apply for the child's first passport at the time you get the Report of Birth. (We cannot issue the passport without a report of Birth.) Remember, the child cannot enter the U.S. on a foreign passport, and you might be delayed in traveling for a family emergency if you have not already obtained a passport for the child. The passport is valid for five years. To apply for a passport, please bring the following additional items:

1. The total fees for the application and execution of a first passport is $82 payable in U.S. dollars or Malawian Kwachas, no personal checks or credit cards are accepted.
2. Two identical photos of the child, taken full face, with no head coverings, light background, with the face covering ¾ of the photo. Please note that the photos must be 5cm by 5cm (2 inches by 2 inches).
3. Both parents must appear with the baby with their passports. If both parents cannot appear, the parent appearing must bring a signed written consent from the other parent for issuance of the child's passport.

At the time you call for an appointment, we will offer to send you some forms to fill out in order to save time waiting during your appointment. Please answer all questions legibly (a typewriter may be used), and pay particular attention to reply accurately to the question: "Precise periods of physical presence in the United States of the U.S. citizen parent". The application form also contains a second page on which you can request a Social Security number for your child (necessary for U.S. tax forms, etc.)

Usually, the Report of Birth  will be issued on the day of the appointment. The process normally takes one to two hours. If there are special circumstances affecting your child, you will be told what additional documents are required. Please note that passports can take as long as one month to arrive.