U.S. Citizen Services
Report of Birth Abroad
Thank you for your interest in applying for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. If you have not scheduled an appointment already, please click here to get started.
The U.S. Consulate in Merida strongly encourages all U.S. citizens who have children born in Mexico to register them as U.S. citizens as soon as possible after the birth of the child. Upon registration, the child will be issued a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (CRBA), which is an official record confirming that the child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth. A CRBA can be issued only before the child reaches 18 years of age.
Parents seeking to obtain a CRBA for a child must be able to demonstrate to the interviewing consular officer that:
- At least one of the parents is a U.S. citizen;
- The child is the biological child of the U.S. citizen parent(s); and
- If only one of the parents is a U.S. citizen, the U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the United States prior to the birth of the child; if both parents are U.S. citizens, at least one of them must have resided in the United States prior to the child’s birth. The period of physical presence in the United States required to transmit citizenship to a child born abroad varies, depending on the date of birth of the child and the marital status of the parents.
In preparation for your appointment, please download and fill out application form DS-2029 as well as the Affidavit of Parentage and Physical Presence (main page, supplementary page). (Use the Sample Affidavit of Parentage and Physical Presence to assist you in filling out the forms). Please note that you must fill out the forms before your interview.
In addition to the application form, the parent(s) should be prepared to provide the following:
- Original or Certified Copy of the Mexican Birth Certificate, a provisional copy cannot be accepted.
- Proof of Parent’s Citizenship: Please show one of the following documents for one or both parents: US Passport (valid or expired); original U.S. birth certificate; or original Certificate of Naturalization
- Proof of Both Parents' Identity: Driver’s license, State ID card, School ID, Mexican Voting Card, Passport
- If only the child’s father is a US citizen, proof of parents’ relationship: If parents were married prior to the date of conception, please provide an original or certified copy of the marriage certificate and divorce decree (if applicable). If parents were not married at the time of conception, please provide proof of the existence of the relationship at that time (personal letters and cards, dated photographs, telephone bills)
- Prenatal Documents: ultra sounds, prescriptions, and medical records.
- Documents from hospital where the applicant was born: identification bracelet, crib card, discharge orders, hospital bill
- Photos of Pregnancy and From Hospital: Photos taken of mother during pregnancy and in the hospital before and after the birth.
- Photos of the applicant from birth to present.
- Proof of parents’ presence in Mexico: INM tourist card, FM-2, FM-3, Mexican passport
- If only one parent is a US citizen, proof of the parents’ physical presence in the US: The parent must prove at least 5 years of physical presence in the US, at least 2 of which are after the age of 14. The period of physical presence need not be continuous. Presence must be proven with concrete evidence (school records, tax forms with W-2, earnings statement, pay receipts, passport stamps). Please note that if the child was born before Nov. 14, 1986, the parent must prove 10 years physical presence, at least 5 after the age of 14. You are encouraged to consult with a consular officer to discuss these requirements and the required documentary evidence.
In certain cases, documents in addition to those listed herein may be required.
Some parents choose to apply for a CRBA and passport for their child at the same time. If you are interested in applying for a passport in addition to the CRBA, please fill out a form DS-11 and bring it to your interview along with two color 5 x 5 centimeter photos to the interview.
The application fee for a CRBA is $65 USD. The application fee for a U.S. passport for a minor under 16 is $85. Applicants can pay in cash (in either dollars or local currency) or with a credit card. Please see our web site for more information on passports.