You may prove U.S. citizenship with any one of the following:

• Previous U.S. Passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports are not acceptable as evidence of U.S. citizenship.)
• Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state.
  A certified birth certificate has a registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office, which must be within 1 year of your birth

• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth

• Naturalization Certificate
• Certificate of Citizenship

A Delayed Birth Certificate filed more than one year after your birth may be acceptable if it:

• Lists the documentation used to create it, and
• Is signed by the attending physician or midwife, or, lists an affidavit signed by the parents, or shows early public records.

If you do not have a previous U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate, you will need:

1. Letter of “No Record found”,  issued by the Vital Statistics office of the state of your birth stating your name, date of birth, which years were searched for a birth record and that there is no birth certificate on file for you
2. AND as many of the following as possible:

• baptismal certificate
• hospital birth certificate
• census record
• early school record
• family bible record
• doctor’s record of post-natal care

These documents must be early public records showing the date and place of birth, preferably created within the first five years of the applicant’s life.

You may also submit an Affidavit of Birth, form DS-10, ( *PDF document) from an older blood relative, i.e., a parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, who has personal knowledge of your birth. It must be notarized or have the seal and signature of the acceptance agent.

If you were born abroad AND do not have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Birth on file, you will need:

1. If you claim citizenship through birth abroad to one U.S. citizen parent:

• Foreign birth certificate,
• Proof of citizenship of your U.S. citizen parent, AND
• An affidavit of your U.S. citizen parent showing all periods and places of residence or physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birth.

If you claim citizenship through birth abroad to two U.S. citizen parents:

• Your foreign birth certificate,
• Parent’s marriage certificate, AND
• Proof of citizenship of your U.S. parents and an affidavit of your U.S. citizen parents showing all periods and places of residence of physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birth.

The following are NOT proof of citizenship:

• Voter registration cards
• Army discharge papers

Information on foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizens.

If you travel extensively, you may request a larger 48-page passport at no additional cost. To do so, please attach a signed request for a 48-page passport to your application.

For minors under the age of 16:

The citizenship evidence submitted for minors under the age of 16 must list both parents’ names.

Evidence of Relationship to Parents or Guardians

Previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as proof of relationship to the applying parent(s) or guardian(s).

You will need to submit one of the following:

• Certified U.S. birth certificate (with parents’ names); or
• Certified Foreign Birth Certificate (with parents’ names and translation, if necessary); or
• Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) (with parents’ names); or
• Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) (with parents’ names); or
• Adoption Decree (with adopting parents’ names); or
• Court Order Establishing Custody; or
• Court Order Establishing Guardianship.

If the parent(s)’ or guardian’s names vary from those on the documents, evidence of legal name change is required.

Parental Identification

Each parent or guardian must submit one of the following:

• Valid Drivers License
• Valid Official U.S. Military ID
• Valid U.S. Government ID
• Valid U.S. or Foreign Passport with recognizable photo
• Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate from USCIS with recognizable photo
• Alien Resident Card from USCIS

Your Social Security Card does NOT prove your identity.

If none of these is available, you will need a person who can vouch for your identity and a combination of signed documents.

The person must have known you for at least 2 years; be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; have valid ID; and fill out a Form DS-71 in the presence of a passport agent.

The combination of signed documents can include cards such as a Social Security card, bank card, library card.

Proof of Identity

Your Social Security Card does NOT prove your identity.

The applicant’s identity can be proven with any one of these:

• Previous U.S. passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports are not acceptable as evidence of U.S. citizenship.)
• Naturalization Certificate
• Certificate of Citizenship
• Valid Drivers License
• Valid Official U.S. Military ID
• Valid U.S. Government ID
• Valid U.S. or Foreign Passport with recognizable photo
• Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate from USCIS with recognizable photo
• Alien Resident Card from USCIS

If none of these is available, you will need a person who can vouch for your identity and a combination of signed documents.

The person must have known you for at least 2 years; be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; have valid ID; and fill out a Form DS-71 in the presence of a passport agent.

The combination of signed documents can include cards such as a Social Security card, credit card, bank card, library card.

For Minors Under the Age of 14:

Each minor child shall appear in person. Both parents or legal guardians must present evidence of identity when they apply for a minor under the age of 14.

For Minors 14 to 17:

• Your child MUST appear in person.
• For security reasons, parental consent may be requested.
• If your child does not have identification of his/her own, you need to accompany your child, present identification and co-sign the application.

If you have been issued a social security number (SSN) you must provide it on your application for a U.S. passport. If the name on your social security record does not match the name on your passport application please make sure that you have completed question 9 on the form – ‘List all other names you have used’.

If your Social Security Number cannot be provided, only a limited validity passport for direct return to the United States can be issued.

If you do not have a Social Security Number, you must submit a statement, signed and dated, that includes the phrase, “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: I have never been issued a Social Security number by the Social Security Administration.”

If you are in Samoa and require a new or replacement Social Security number card, you should contact Social Security in Manila at FBU.Manila@ssa.gov.