Citizenship of a baby born in a foreign country
What is the citizenship status of a baby born abroad to only one American – US citizen (and generally the rule for citizen’s of other counties)? Cutting to the chase and with out all the legalese, a baby born in a foreign country where one parent is a US citizen can be a US dual citizen. Therefore, if you live in Europe and are married to a European or EU citizen the baby is a US citizen. However, the following steps must be taken to register the baby.
Steps to register a baby in a foreign country as a US citizen
1. Go to the consulate with the baby
2. Original copy of the baby’s birth certificate
3. Original copy of the parent’s certificate of marriage
4. Parent’s passports
5. $65 USD
It is that simple. See the baby is already a US citizen when born, even to one parent, its just really registering the baby as a citizen. Can a child be a dual citizen? yes, simple in the US they go by US laws abroad they go by the laws of that county.
428 responses to Citizenship of a baby born in a foreign country
Do I have to register my child?
I am a US citizen and my husband is British. Our child was born in the UK. If we visit the US, does my child have to have an American passport? Even if he has a UK passport?
Marie, I believe your child can visit the USA with a UK passport as your child has not yet got connfirmation of US citizenship. I recommend you get the ball rolling as it is useful to have both passports. My nefew is a dual US and UK citizen and my daughter is a dual US and Polish citizen. The process is not that had if you have the papers. But I think for sure your child can visit the USA on a UK passport.
What if the baby is born in Lebanon?
Does this also apply to a baby born in Lebanon?
The father is American, the mother is Syrian, and the baby is to be born in Lebanon.
Will the same steps apply?
Well if you are married or can prove this is the father (there was a lot of citizenship fraud arround this) then it will be no problem as long as the father can show he lived in the USA for five years.
The main issue here is was the baby born in wedlock. If not, there is a greater burden of proof.
How can i get my child back from Mexico
My son was born in Mexico in the year 2004. Me and his dad are not together anymore. I came back to California in the yearr I believe was 2006. My son has two birth certificates but the first one which is the original only has my name and not his dads,and I am an us citizen and I was wondering what can I do to get my son here with me in the united states because he is not even living with his dad.
First in this short paragraph I had to clean up 25 grammar mistakes, please use proper punctuation grammar. Thanks. I am sorry you have this issues, but I think for sure you can get your son to the USA if he was born to an US mother. You have to do it the normal way everyone does. Go to the US embassy and apply for a report of a birth born abroad. They have a list of documents listed in the post I wrote, but basically birth certificate and proof you live five years in the USA as an US citizen. Let m know if there is any problem you forsee and I can try to guide you.
What to do when we get home?
Hey there
I don’t know if you are still answering questions here or not but I have one for you (You may have answered this already but my brain hurts from hours of searching the internet). I am a us citizen who is staying in Norway. My baby (She is 18 months old) was born here but I have not reported her birth. Very stupid, I know. Now I have to return to the US with her and intend to stay home. There is no time before the trip to make the report to the consulate. How do I go about reporting/getting proof of citizenship after we are in the US?
My child will be entering on a tourist visa with her Norwegian passport as it was the fastest way for her to be allowed to travel. I will NOT be able to return to Norway. Im a bit worried about what will happen to her after that 90 days. Im sure there must be a way to secure her citizenship by then…right?
I think you can get it no problem as long as you have the Norweign hospital documents. Do not worry they will not deport a child of a US citizen. You need to jump though a lot of hoops with paperwork and all but they are not going to seperate a baby from its mother unless there was some extreme situation.
She can go on a Norweign passport and work with the US State Department, but she needs a passport. You can do a rush job at the US embassy it should take less then a week.
Birth Certificate for army dependent born in Austria
How would a person who was an army dependent right after world war II get a copy of a birth certificate when they were born in Austria? This is in regard to her attempt to obtain a passport.
I am 100% certain the municiple or government of the locality they were born in Austria would have a record of this and be able to issue this. However, I am 99.9% sure this does not mean aything for Austrian citizenship because you have to be born of Austrian blood, not just born in the country, and if you were born after the war you would have had to sign up on a list within a certain time.
Dual citizenship Peru
My long term bf and I are currently planning and considering all options for adding another child into our family. We both are natural born US citizens however half of my ancestry comes from Peru. We were wondering if we give birth in Peru will our baby have dual citizenship or just US citizenship? (after reporting to the consulate)
Yes no problem as you are the female and the mother and Peru goes by right of blood. But why do you guys not get married, it would make the psychosocial life f your children more straight forward, it is only a piece of paper and would help your US taxes a lot. Now you are paying much more in taxes because you are not married. You can get credits if you are married and your deduction is higher. So what is the problem if I might ask?
Aussie daughter of an American citizen
I am a U.S citizen. My daughter was born in Sydney Australia in 1999. I have her original birth ceritificate and other documentation, and she has a current Aussie passport. Can I still get her U.S citizenship. If so, how would I go about it.
I see no reason why not. You just have to start the process at the US embassy. Go to the embassy website and download the application for reporting a birth of an US citizen abroad. There are some requirements like you would have had to live in the USA for x amount of years depending on various circumstances, but in my opinion you are good to go.
US Citizen Mother, Lebanese Father, Child born in Lebanon
Hello,
My wife is an american citizen by Birth, but she does not meet the 5 years including 2 years above 14 years, cause she moved out of the US by the age of 13.
My wife’s parents can meet the requirement as they are American Citizens and have been living in the US for more then 30 years.
We are having a baby in May, but i would like to know what is the best process in order to ensure that my daughter will get her citizenship without going throigh the regular immigration Form I-130.
I wish I knew. I do know your child will not have a problem getting a visa and living in the USA and eventually getting citizenship. But if you child can not be ‘confirmed’ a US citizen at birth, then I know no other way that naturalization. Perhaps an immigration lawyer knows a way around it, but I do not think there is.
US Citizen surrogate
I have a question for you, I am thinking about having a surrogate mother carry my child, once the baby is born, will he/she become a US citizen if I am a US citizen
This question is asked many times, the short answer is not problem because of the biological connection to US parents. But the long answer is found here. travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_5177.html You have to prove the connection with DNA and it is treated on a case by case basis.
Giving birth in Peru
Hello
My question is that I am pregnant and my hubby and I are planning a trip to Peru over the summer. I usually am early when it comes to having a baby but hoping that it will not happen until I am back in the US.
My question is that if I do end up having my baby what exactly do I need to bring back my baby to the US without any problems or any delays in our return?
Once in the US what do I need to do to make sure everything is in order with my baby?
Thank You
You will have no problem, but consider reading about fly while pregnanat, just a word of caution.
If you have your baby abroad you need to get your baby a passport at the US embassy. No person can enter the USA without a passport. You need to confirm citizenship or get a citizensship and passort from another country.
Call the department of immigration also because if you go by boat you might beable to come to the USA with a birth certificate but I am not sure on that. I know the rule is no one can enter without a valid passport with no exceptions. But the good news is if you go to the embassy it all can be done in little time if you have the forms and money. I would download the application for a report of an american citizen abroad and fill it out and have the papers before you go. The US embasssy will try to help, but they have to follow the law.
Register baby for a baby born in Brazil
My wife and I have a question/problem. I am an American living in Brazil. My wife is Brazilian and 5 months pregnant. I was planning on going back to the US in the next couple weeks to start working there and to get established. Looking on the US Embassy site, it says both parents have to be present to register the baby and to get her US passport processed. It’s important I get to the US sooner than later to start working. Is there anything we can do? Are there any other options?
Not a worry, just register the baby when you go back to Brazil. We did not register our baby the day she was born but like a year latter. What is the rush? You take the baby to the US embassy when you are ready. However, I think work should give you an allowance so you can be there when the baby is born, take some personal days or start your job after. But techically all that does not matter. You both have to be there at the embassy that is all.
Possible pregnancy
Thank you for your time. It may be the possibility that my girlfriend in the Dominican Republic could be pregnant. If she is indeed pregnant, will my child be an American citizen because I was born in the U.S. and she lives and is a citizen of the Dominican Republic? Important question so that I know what to do in the event he is pregnant. Thank you once again.
I think that the child is an American citizen or for sure could get citizenship in the future. I personally would marry her and there would be no problem. I would 100% have the baby as this is a life and it is the decent thing to do.
I can tell you as a father it is a great joy to be a father and it is no real extra work. I mean my daughter is my buddy and we have fun hanging out together, playing computer games and exploring the world. I think you are a lucky guy.
Do not worry, your an Amrican citizen after the birth you all just go to the US embassy or department of Immigration and take it one step at a time.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
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