Can I submit copies of the supporting documents?
No. You are required to furnish the originals or copies certified by the issuing authority bearing the official’s seal and signature. Photocopies certified by a Clerk of Court, Justice of the Peace, solicitor, or notary public are not acceptable.
My most recent passport has an amendment that changes my name because I got married. When I apply to renew it, do I have to submit my marriage certificate again?
No. We have already documented your name change, so you should simply fill out the application form for your new passport in your new name.
Do you require a translation of birth certificates/marriage certificates/divorce decrees?
Written translation by an accredited translator are required for any documents not in English or German.
How do I obtaining copies of a birth certificate/Consular Report of Birth Abroad?
You may obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate from the state in which you were born. The National Center for Health Statistics maintains a list of states’ contact information for the purpose.
If you were born abroad, your parents should have registered your birth at a U.S. Embassy or consulate and received a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Form FS-240. This form is acceptable legal proof of birth and U.S. citizenship. Records are kept at the Passport Vital Records Section in Sterling, VA.
How do I obtain copies of U.S. marriage certificate, divorce, or death certificates?
You may obtain a certified copy of these documents from the state in which the marriage/divorce or death occurred. The National Center for Health Statistics maintains a list of states’ contact information for this purpose.
How do I request documents from the Department of State?
Please follow these links for information on obtaining copies of:
