Basic (08-05)

GN 00312.310 Panama Canal Zone – Vital Statistics Records

A. Procedure – Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates

 

Under the Panama Canal Treaty, civil records maintained and issued by the Panama Canal Commission Records Management Branch’s Vital Statistics Unit closed in 1999. However, all pertinent birth and death records were transferred to the United States Department of State in November, 1999.

 

1. Birth and Death Records.

You may obtain birth and death records by writing to the following address:

 

Vital Records Section
Passport Services
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 510
Washington, D.C. 20522-1705

 

Telephone: 202-955-0307

a. Requirements of a Written Request:

A written request must be notarized and must include a copy of valid photo identification of the requester. The written request must include:

  1. 1. 

    full name of child at birth (plus any adoptive names)

  2. 2. 

    date and place of birth

  3. 3. 

    names of parents

  4. 4. 

    serial number, if known, of the FS-240 (on those issued after November 1, 1990) if known

  5. 5. 

    any available passport information

  6. 6. 

    signature of requester and

  7. 7. 

    notarized affidavit for a replacement FS-240 (if applicable).

NOTE: For Panama Canal Zone (PCZ) birth certificates, just include items (1) through (3).

 

b. Fees

Make check or bank draft drawn on a bank in the United States, or money order, payable to the "Department of State." The Department will assume no responsibility for cash lost in the mail. Documents will be provided to the person who is the subject of the Report of Birth, the subject’s parents, the subject’s legal guardian, authorized government agency, or a person who submits written authorization from the subject of the Report of Birth.

Birth and Death Certificates:

  • $30.00 U.S., first copy;

  • $20.00 U.S., each additional copy.

 

2. Marriage Records.

Marriage records for the Canal Zone are located in the National Archives located at the following address:

 

Civilian Records (NW/CTC)
Textual Archives Services Division
8601 Adelphi Road, National Archives
College Park, MD 20740

 

Fees

 

If a marriage record is located, the applicant will be contacted as to the fees involved.

 


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200312310
GN 00312.310 - Panama Canal Zone – Vital Statistics Records - 07/30/2007
Batch run: 07/31/2007
Rev:07/30/2007