How to Replace or Amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) (2024)

To replace or amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad form (FS-240), you must submit a:

1. Notarized, completed Form DS-5542

• Fill out the form on your computer
• If you complete the form by hand, use black ink
• Sign the form in front of a notary public

Amending the form?

• Provide original or certified documents that show the change you are requesting. No photocopies.
• Return all previous birth records we issued to you. If you cannot submit these documents, submit a notarized statement explaining the reason. (examples: document was lost, stolen, or destroyed).

2. Photocopy of the front and back of yourvalid photo ID.Examples include:

• State-issued driver’s license
• Non-driver photo ID
• Military ID
• Passport
• Veterans Affairs ID
• Prison ID

If you don't have any of these IDs, please seePassport Vital Records IDs.

3. Check or money order. The cost is $50 for each record you request.

• Make payable to the "U.S. Department of State"
• Include a complete mailing address on the check
• Must be payable in U.S. dollars through a U.S. bank

4.MailForm DS-5542, a photocopy of the ID, and payment to:

U.S. Department of State
Passport Vital Records Section
44132 Mercure Cir.
PO Box 1213
Sterling, VA 20166-1213

Avoid delays by signing your Form DS-5542 in front of a notary public.

Processing Times

Consider the total time it will take to receive your record when submitting your request.

• Our processing times only include the time your request is being reviewed by our office.
• Mailing times (which may add up to 4 weeks) are not included in processing times.
• Once we receive your request, we should process it in 4 to 8 weeks.We do not provide expedited service, and some documents may take longer than 8 weeks to locate.
• To avoid delays, provide complete information on your Form DS-5542, and submit all your supporting documents (example: CRBAs, or copies of old passport records). Your processing times may be delayed if we need you to provide more information.
• We can only provide official copies of records on file with the U.S. Department of State. If we issued your CRBA before November 1, 1990, we may need to do a manual search at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) which will take 14-16 weeks to complete.

Shipping Your Record

We will send your vital record to you. You can select First Class Mail or 1-2 Day Delivery:

• USPS First Class Mail: 1-2 weeks. No cost.
• 1-2 Day Delivery: Add $21.36 to the check or money order.

Do not include a pre-paid express mail envelope with your request. This will cause a delay in delivery.

Yes. The person must be a family member or friend who has known you for at least five years. We need:

• Your signed, written authorization. For example: "I (write your name), give permission to (write your family member of friend's name) to request my replacement Consular Report of Birth Abroad on my behalf."
• A photocopy of the front and back of two of your secondary IDs.
• A notarized statement from the person who is requesting your records.
• A photocopy of the front and back of the valid, state-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license) of the person making the request.

Apostilles are certificates attached to your consular documents. You must make sure that the country where you will use the document is amember of the Hague Conventionof 1961.

If you need an apostille to meet foreign document requirements, you must submit a:

1. Notarized, completed Form DS-5542
2. Photocopy of the front and back of a valid state-issued, photo ID(example: driver's license)
3. Check or money order for $50

• Make payable to the "U.S. Department of State"
• Include your complete mailing address on the check
• Must be payable in U.S. dollars through a U.S. bank

Mail yournotarized Form DS-5542, photocopy of your ID, and payment to:

U.S. Department of State
Passport Vital Records
44132 Mercure Circle
PO Box 1213
Sterling, VA 20166-1213

If you have a consular document issued within the last five years, you don't need to pay for the apostille.

You can request other consular documents for $50 per copy:

• Consular Report of Death Abroad
• Certificate of Witness to Marriage
• Panama Canal Zone Birth and Death Certificates