DERIVATIVE U.S. CITIZENSHIP

You may have a claim to citizenship if:

• You were born in the United States; or
  
  
• You were born outside the United States or one of its outlying possessions to U.S. citizen parent(s) and your U.S. citizen parent(s) meets the physical presence requirement. 

Individuals who have previously been documented as U.S. citizens

If you have previously been issued any of the following documents, you may immediately begin your application for your first U.S. passport. If you are no longer in possession of any of these documents, you must obtain a certified copy from the issuing authority.

• A U.S. Birth Certificate;
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240);
• A Certification of Birth (Form FS-545 or DS-1350);
• A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship;
• A U.S. Naturalization Certificate;
• A passport of your U.S. citizen parent(s) in which you are included.

Once you are in possession of one of the listed documents, you can then apply for your first-time passport.

Individuals who have never been documented as U.S. citizens

If you were born outside the United States, have not been previously documented as a U.S. citizen, and are:

• under the age of 18: please contact a US consular close to your residence for detailed instruction.
  
  
• over the age of 18: you should see if your parent(s) had the prerequisite physical presence in the United States required by U.S. citizenship law in effect at that time. If, based on this information, you believe you have a claim to U.S. citizenship, you should write to us at the following address, giving as many details of your situation as possible.