Guide
How to Replace a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)
How to request a replacement Consular Report of Birth Abroad from the U.S. Department of State — who can request, what to include, and what to do if yours is laminated or an older form.
Quick answer
Request a replacement from the U.S. Department of State’s Vital Records office. The person named on the record can request it as an adult; a parent or legal guardian can request it for a minor. You’ll need identifying details and proof of identity. A laminated CRBA usually needs replacing before it can be apostilled.
On this page
When you need a replacement
- The original is lost, stolen or damaged.
- It’s been laminated — lamination blocks the seal, so it can’t be apostilled.
- You hold an older form (FS-545 or DS-1350) and the foreign authority won’t accept it.
- Details on it need correcting.
Step by step
Check eligibility
The person named (if 18 or over), or a parent or legal guardian for a minor.
Prepare the written request
Full name at birth, date and place of birth, parents’ names, and any passport or record numbers you have.
Include proof of identity
A copy of valid photo ID, and proof of relationship if requesting for a minor.
Submit with the fee
Follow the current instructions and fee on the Department of State’s vital records page.
Keep the new FS-240 pristine
Don’t laminate, fold across the seal, or mark it.
Older forms still count
FS-545 and DS-1350 records remain valid evidence of citizenship, but some foreign authorities aren’t familiar with them. If yours is pushing back, requesting a current FS-240 is often quicker than arguing.
When you’ll need it abroad
- Registering dual nationality for a child born abroad
- Applying for the child's foreign passport
- School enrolment abroad
- Registering the birth with a foreign civil registry
Troubleshooting
You only have the foreign birth certificate
That's a host-country document. The CRBA is the separate U.S. record — request it if the birth was reported to a U.S. consulate.
The birth was never reported to a U.S. consulate
There's no CRBA to replace. Minors can still apply for one in some circumstances — check with the embassy.
Details on the CRBA are wrong
Request an amendment along with the replacement.
The CRBA is laminated
Request a replacement — lamination prevents authentication.
Next: getting it apostilled
Once you have the document, it needs authentication before a foreign authority will accept it. See how to apostille it. Our price is $299 per document for Hague Convention countries and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, with government fees included.
Frequently asked questions
Who can request a replacement CRBA?
The person named on the record if they're an adult, or a parent or legal guardian for a minor.
My CRBA is laminated. Can it be apostilled?
Usually not — lamination blocks the seal. Request a replacement first.
Is a CRBA the same as a birth certificate?
It documents U.S. citizenship for a child born abroad. The host country's birth certificate is a separate, foreign document.
Is a CRBA proof of citizenship?
Yes — it's primary evidence of U.S. citizenship acquired at birth abroad.
Can I get multiple copies?
You can request more than one certified copy in the same request.
Sources: U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · Hague Conference — Apostille Section · U.S. Department of State — CRBA. Federal Apostille USA is a private service, not a government agency.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.