Foreign service posts are authorized and required, upon application by the parents or other interested person to record the birth abroad of any child who acquired a valid claim to U.S. citizenship at birth.

There are two foreign service forms that record births abroad of a U.S. citizen. Either one is acceptable evidence of age and U.S. citizenship for SSA purposes. If a claimant possesses either form, it will not be necessary to request a public or religious record of birth. The forms are:

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  FS-240 (Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States)

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    Reports the birth abroad of a child of a U.S. citizen

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    Is not a BC

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    Is a certification of the facts of birth based upon the affidavit of the person furnishing the information and supporting documentary evidence

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    Is not prepared in any case in which child has reached age 5 unless prior authorization is received from Department of State.

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  FS-545 (Certification of Birth)

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    Is based on the information shown on the FS-240

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    Is given to the individual reporting the child's birth

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    Does not contain as much identifying information as FS-240, but is evidence that child's birth has been registered at the post

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    Is considered by the Department of State as evidence of age and U.S. citizenship.

See GN 00308.235 for instructions on how to request these records.