REQUIREMENTS FOR BIRTH CERTIFICATES

To be used as primary evidence of U.S. citizenship for a passport application, certified copies of birth certificates must include the following information:

• Full name of the applicant
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal of issuing authority
• Registrar’s signature
• The date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office (must be within one year)

In addition, the U.S. Department of State requires the full names of the applicant’s parent(s) to be listed on all certified birth certificates to be considered as primary evidence of U.S. citizenship for all passport applicants, regardless of age.  Certified birth certificates missing this information will not be acceptable as evidence of citizenship.
 

To obtain a new birth certificate, see the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm