CRBA Certificates

Is your child a U.S. Citizen?

When a child is born to at least one U.S. citizen parent outside of the United States, U.S. law may confer citizenship on the child, depending on various factors.  Citizenship laws are complex, and it is impossible to address all factual situations here. Below, however, are the most common ones:

• A child is born abroad to two U.S. citizen parents, regardless of whether they are married at the time of the birth:  The child is a U.S. citizen if at least one of the parents has resided in the United States for at least some portion of his/her life.  The law does not set out a minimum period of time during which the parent must have resided in the United States.

• A child is born abroad to a U.S. citizen father and a non-U.S. citizen mother, and the parents were married at the time of the birth:  The child will qualify for citizenship if the father was present in the United States for at least five years, including two years after the age of 14, before the birth of the child.
• A child is born abroad to a U.S. citizen father and a non-U.S. citizen mother, and the parents were not married at the time of the birth:  The child may qualify for citizenship if the father was present in the United States for at least five years, including two years after the age of 14, before the birth of the child.  In addition, before the child turns 18, the father must either legitimize the child under Icelandic law or sign a statement in front of a notary public or U.S. consular officer in which he acknowledges paternity.  The father must also sign a statement in front of a notary public or U.S. consular officer in which he promises to support the child until the child is 18 years old.

• A child is born abroad to a U.S. citizen mother and a non-U.S. citizen father, and the parents were married at the time of the birth:  The child is a U.S. citizen if the mother was present in the United States for at least five years, including two years after she was 14 years old, before the birth of the child.

• A child is born abroad to a U.S. citizen mother and a non-U.S. citizen father, and the parents were not married at the time of the birth:  The child is a U.S. citizen if the mother was physically present in the United States for at least one continuous year before the child's birth, regardless of the mother's age at the time she was present.

In some cases, time spent overseas working for the U.S government and other organizations may count under the physical presence requirements noted above.  Other specific laws may also affect citizenship in particular cases.  If you think your child may be a U.S. citizen but you are not sure, please contact the Embassy's American Citizen Services office at reykjavikconsular@state.gov for guidance.  

How To Document Your Child as a U.S. Citizen

If you believe your child is a U.S. citizen, your first step is to apply for the child's Consular Report of Birth Abroad.  This document serves as proof of U.S. citizenship and is generally a prerequisite for the issuance of a U.S. passport.  Although applications are accepted up until the child's 18th birthday, you should apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad as soon as possible after the birth of your child. Applications submitted years after the child's birth may take significant time to resolve because evidence to prove the child's citizenship may be difficult to obtain.  In some delayed cases it may be impossible to establish the child’s citizenship.

While the Consular Report of Birth Abroad is an essential document for documenting citizenship, it cannot be used to travel.  Consequently, at the same time that you apply for your child’s Consular Report of Birth Abroad, you may also apply for his/her U.S. passport.  There is no need to visit us twice to apply for your child’s Consular Report of Birth Abroad and passport; you may apply for both at the same time.

How Do I Make an Appointment?

The U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik accepts appointments every Wednesday for CRBA services.  To schedule an appointment please e-mail us at reykjavikconsular@state.gov or call us at +354-697-4448 or +354-562-9100 Monday through Friday between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. 

What Documents Must I Bring to my Appointment?

When you visit the Embassy, you will be asked to submit several forms and other identity documentation.  To keep your visit as short as possible, we recommend that you gather and complete these forms before your visit.

For Your Child’s Consular Report of Birth Abroad

1. Form DS-2029 (PDF 52 KB):  Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Note that the signature of the U.S. citizen parent must be notarized.  Do not sign the form until you are in front of the Consular Officer at the time of your interview).
2. An original certified copy of the child’s birth certificate, in English, from Thjodskra, the  Icelandic National Registry.
3.  Proof of U.S. citizenship for the parent(s).  This may be a valid U.S. passport, a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, or a Naturalization Certificate.
4. Proof of Identity:  Each parent must submit an original of a government-issued photo ID, such as a valid driver's license or the photo page of his/her valid passport.
5. Original marriage certificate of the parents (if applicable).
6. Original divorce decrees from any prior marriages for both parents (if applicable).  
7. Form DS-5507 - Affidavit of Parentage, Physical Presence, and Support:  This form must be completed by the U.S. citizen parent if the other parent is not also a U.S. citizen.  It is not required if both parents are U.S. citizens.  The affidavit requires the U.S. citizen parent to acknowledge that the child is his/hers, and to state, as specifically as possible, the parent's periods of physical presence in the United States.  Extra sheets may be attached as necessary. The document must be notarized or signed in front of the consular officer at the time of application.
8. Proof of Physical Presence in the United States:  In cases in which only one parent is a U.S.citizen, that parent must submit evidence that he/she was present in the United States for the required amount of time prior to the birth of the child (see above).  Such evidence frequently takes the form of passports; tax records, including W-2 forms; pay statements or other evidence of employment; photos; school transcripts; apartment leases; or annual Social Security statements.  These are merely suggestions, and you are encouraged to submit any type of available documentary proof.  If no such evidence is available, the consular officer will advise you at the time of your application what alternatives you may have for proving your presence in the United States.
9. The CRBA application fee of $100.00 or the equivalent in Icelandic kronur.  The Embassy accepts credit cards; we are unable to accept debit cards or personal checks.  
10. Finally, please note that both parents and the child must be physically present at the time of he interview.  If one parent is unable to come to the interview, please contact the American Citizen Services unit by e-mail at reykjavikconsular@state.gov for further information.  

For Your Child’s U.S. Passport

In addition to the documents listed above, you must also bring the following documents for the passport application for your U.S. citizen child:

1. Form DS-11:  Passport application for a minor child.  
2. Two (2) passport size photos of your child.  Click here for photo sizes and other photo requirements.  
3. Passport application fee of $105.00 or the equivalent in Icelandic kronur.  The Embassy accepts credit cards; we are unable to accept debit cards or personal checks.  
4. Both parents and the child must be physically present at the time of the interview.  U.S. law requires both parents to sign the passport application form for any child age 15 or younger.  If one parent is unable to come to the interview, please contact the American Citizen Services unit by e-mail at reykjavikconsular@state.gov for further information.  

Picking Up My Child’s Citizenship Documents

We recommend that you pick up your child’s Consular Report of Birth Abroad and his/her U.S. passport at the same time.  U.S. passports take approximately two weeks to process and the Embassy will contact you once your child’s documents arrive in Iceland.  You may return to the Embassy between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday to collect your child’s documents.  No appointment is necessary to pick up documents.

Alternatively, you may provide the American Citizen Services unit with a prepaid, self-addressed envelope.  We will place the documents in the mail to you when your child’s passport arrives in Iceland.  

Questions?

If your questions are not addressed here please contact us by e-mail at reykjavikconsular@state.gov. We will respond to your message within two business days.