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 Suriname or French Guiana and you must travel to the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname for the in-person interview.

To be eligible to apply for a CRBA online, you MUST answer all the following criteria with YES.

1. Was the child born in Suriname or French Guiana?
2. Is the child under the age of 18?
3. Was at least one parent a U.S. citizen or U.S. non-citizen national when the child was born?
4. 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?
5. 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 apply for a CRBA electronically at the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname.  This 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.

1. To apply for a CRBA online, you need to create a MyTravelGov account. MyTravelGov is a secured, encrypted portal. Watch this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_8DmVyZruY) to learn more about creating your account.
2. 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.
3. Once you complete the online application and submit payment, you will then be directed to schedule your appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname. Please schedule 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.
4. Attend you scheduled in-person interview with your original documents 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 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 the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname by email at caparamar@state.gov

Other Important Information
Note:  If you prefer to submit a paper-based application, please review the checklist for what documents you will need to bring, and make an appointment on our online system located here: U.S. Citizens Services (state.gov). 

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 the following link: Social Security – U.S. Embassy in Suriname (usembassy.gov).

Note: US Embassy Paramaribo can approve or deny CRBA applications only for children born in Suriname and French Guiana.  If a child was born in another country, we can only collect the application and supporting documents and forward them to the U.S. Embassy in that country for adjudication. This usually adds 6-12 months to the processing time of the CRBA.