FEDERAL DOCUMENTS
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240): Certified Copies and Apostille
If you or your child was born to U.S. citizen parents overseas, your Consular Report of Birth Abroad is your federal birth record. When a foreign office asks for it apostilled, it goes to the U.S. Department of State, not Massachusetts. We notarize your request for a certified copy, keep the paperwork moving and handle the apostille or legalization.
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BIRTH ABROAD
Certified copy and apostille
For Forms FS-240 and older DS-1350.
- DS-5542 request notarized at your home
- Certified copies from the Department of State
- Federal apostille or legalization
- Certified translation available
How a CRBA is authenticated
When people need it
- Registering a child's birth or citizenship in a second country
- Dual citizenship applications
- School enrollment and residency abroad
- Marriage abroad
- Inheritance and benefits abroad
- Replacing a lost or damaged original
The original FS-240 handed over at the embassy is usually best kept safe. Order certified copies for use abroad.
How it works
- 1
We notarize your DS-5542
At your home or office. Only the person named on the record, a parent, a legal guardian or another authorized requester can apply.
- 2
Order the certified copy
With the apostille option for Hague countries, or plain certified copies for legalization countries.
- 3
Embassy legalization, if needed
For non-Hague countries. Our DC Satellite Office lets us hand-carry federal submissions to the U.S. Department of State, so your documents don't sit in the mail.
- 4
Translate and ship
Certified translation and tracked delivery.
Good to know
Older records
Very old records may need a manual archive search, which takes longer.
Order extra copies
If several offices will keep a copy, order more than one.
Bring a clear ID copy
The request needs a photocopy of the front and back of your photo ID. We can make it at the appointment.
Other vital records
U.S. state birth certificates are handled differently. See Vital Records Retrieval.
Mistakes we help you avoid
- Signing the DS-5542 without a notary. The oath section must be signed before a notary or another official authorized to give oaths.
- Sending your only original. Order certified copies for use abroad instead.
- Requesting an apostille for a non-Hague country. The form's apostille option only works for Convention countries. Others need legalization.
- A missing ID copy. Include a clear copy of the front and back of your photo ID.
Official sources
We link to official sources so you can check the current rules yourself. Requirements change, and the receiving office always has the final word.
Where we meet you
Frequently asked questions
Can Massachusetts apostille a CRBA?
No. It's a federal document, so it's apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.
Does the DS-5542 need to be notarized?
Yes. The form says the oath section must be signed before a notary public or another person authorized to administer oaths.
Can a grandparent request the record?
Usually only the person named on the record, a parent, a legal guardian or an authorized representative can. Check the Department of State's rules.
How long does it take?
Federal processing times vary. Tell us your deadline and we'll give you a realistic estimate.
Can you notarize the DS-5542 at my home?
Yes, anywhere in Greater Boston, often the same day.
Need a Consular Report of Birth Abroad for use overseas?
We'll notarize your request and handle the rest.