- Eligibility for a CRBA
- Transmitting Citizenship
Children under the age of 18 and born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent(s) may have a claim to U.S. citizenship. For further information, please select the description below that best fits your family circumstances.
Please note that all periods of residence or physical presence must have taken place prior to the birth of the child.
Children under age 18 and born to U.S. citizens who are not eligible for U.S. citizenship as described below, may be eligible under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. Further information is available from the Department of State’s website.
Child born in wedlock to two U.S. citizens
A child born outside of the United States or its outlying possessions to two U.S. citizen parents, in wedlock, is entitled to citizenship, provided one of the parents had, prior to the birth of the child, been resident in the United States or one of its outlying possessions. No specific period of time is required.
Child born in wedlock to one U.S. citizen parent and one non-U.S. citizen parent (on or after November 14, 1986)
A child born outside of the United States to one U.S. citizen parent and one non-U.S. citizen parent may be entitled to citizenship providing the U.S. citizen parent had been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for five years, at least two years of which were after s/he reached the age of fourteen.
Child born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen mother
A child born abroad out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen mother on or before June 11, 2017, may acquire U.S. citizenship under Section 309(c) of the INA if the mother was a U.S. citizen at the time of the person’s birth and if the mother was physically present in the United States for a continuous period of one year (365 days) at some time prior to the birth of the child.
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Sessions v. Morales-Santana, a child born abroad out-of-wedlock to a U.S. citizen mother and non-citizen father on or after June 12, 2017, may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if the mother was a U.S. citizen at the time of the person’s birth and was physically present in the United States for a period of five years, two after the age of fourteen.
Child born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen father
A child born outside of the United States and out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen father may be entitled to U.S. citizenship providing the U.S. citizen father had been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for five years, at least two years of which were after he reached the age of fourteen. In addition, the U.S. citizen father must acknowledge paternity and agree in writing to provide financial support for the child until s/he reaches the age of 18.
