Passports

The Consular Report of Birth Abroad is issued to parents following positive adjudication of their child's claim to United States citizenship. The child's claim must be adjudicated before a US passport can be issued.

Please note: All documents presented must be originals or certified copies from the office of vital records. Copies made by you or anyone else outside the office of vital records are not certified copies even if they are notarized. Certified copies normally have either a raised or printed seal from the issuing office.

For the most up-to-date and complete information on Reports of Birth Abroad please visit the State Department web page on this topic.

• DS-2029 Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America

A. For Civilian Families
• Child's German birth certificate ("Abstammungsurkunde"). There are four kinds of German birth certificates. Be sure you get the "Abstammungsurkunde".
• U.S. passport(s) of parent(s);
• Naturalization Certificate(s) of parent(s) if applicable;
• Parent's marriage certificate
• If either or both parents were previously married, evidence of termination of prior marriage(s), divorce decree(s) or death certificate(s) of former spouse(s);
• Fee: $ 65 or Euro equivalent

B. For Military Families
Military families must register their children through their Personnel Service Battalions. If one parent is serving with the U.S. Forces, the documents required are the same as above, with the following exceptions:
• A copy of the child's U.S. military hospital birth certificate (with original signature) may be presented instead of the German birth certificate.
• The military parent may present his/her ID card and a certified copy of his/her U.S. birth certificate instead of a passport. (Please note: The birth certificate must be issued by the state vital statistics office and bear the seal of that office; hospital birth certificates are not acceptable.)

C. Passport Issuance
Once the Report of Birth is completed, the child may be issued a U.S. passport. Two identical passport photos measuring 2x2 inches (5x5 cm), with a light background, are required. The photos may not be instant or machine-made photos, but may be color or black/white. Passport fees.

Please note: The Consular Report of Birth must be executed in person. The Consular Sections listed below are open to the public for Report of Birth services:

Berlin: 8:30 am - noon
Frankfurt: 7:30 am - 11:30 am by appointment
Munich: 8:00 am - 11:00 am by appointment

except on American and German Holidays.

Last updated: March 2008