Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is a formal document certifying the acquisition of United States citizenship at birth for a person born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). United States non-citizen nationals are also eligible for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, using the non-citizen option.
CRBA applications must be made before the child’s 18th birthday. We recommend that parents apply for the CRBA as soon as possible after the child’s birth.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply, your child must have been born in the United Arab Emirates and you must travel to Abu Dhabi or Dubai for the in-person interview.
To be eligible to apply for a CRBA online, you MUST answer all the following criteria with YES.
- Was the child born in the United Arab Emirates?
- Is the child under the age of 18?
- Was at least one parent a U.S. citizen or U.S. non-citizen national when the child was born?
- Can you use an internationally accepted credit/debit card or a direct payment method from a U.S. dollar denominated bank account (also known as “ACH”) to pay online for your Consular Report of Birth Abroad application?
- Are you a biological parent of a child born abroad who is applying for that child?
If any of the above statements do not apply to you, you MUST apply by completing a paper application (DS-2029).
How to Apply
You can now apply for a CRBA electronically at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the U.S. Consulate in Dubai. This new online feature allows U.S. citizen parents to complete a CRBA application online, upload all required documents, and submit payment prior to the in-person interview.
- To apply for a CRBA online, you need to create a MyTravelGov MyTravelGov is a secured, encrypted portal. Watch this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVgRyLQd3jA&t=4s) to learn more about creating your account.
- Once you have created a MyTravelGov account you can access eCRBA and submit your application online. The easy-to-use online process provides applicants with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application. You may review the necessary documents for the CRBA application in advance by reviewing this checklist.
- Once you complete the online application and submit payment, you will receive a confirmation by e-mail. You must then schedule your appointment by emailing AbuDhabiCRBA@state.gov of DubaiCRBA@state.gov, depending on which city is most convenient for you. CRBA appointments in the United Arab Emirates cannot be scheduled through MyTravelGov. Please request your appointment at least 72 hours after payment submission. This provides time for your payment to be processed prior to your CRBA interview. Please Note: Do NOT make another (or duplicate) payment for a CRBA ($100) at the Embassy.
- Attend your scheduled in-person interview with your originaldocuments and their photocopies (single-sided). Original documents will be returned to you after reviewing your application. You must provide English translations for all foreign language documents. The child must be present at the time of application. Generally, both parents must also attend the interview.
Need Help?
We are here to help!
- You can access eCRBA 2.0 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.
- You can view an application how-to-guide here.
- For questions or concerns please contact AbuDhabiCRBA@state.gov or DubaiCRBA@state.gov.
Other Important Information
Note: If you prefer to submit a paper-based application, please follow procedures available here.
Passport applications and Social Security Card applications must be completed and submitted separately.
Please note that an application for a Social Security Number can only be submitted after receiving the original Consular Report of Birth Abroad and Passport. To obtain a Social Security Number for your child, see further details available here.