A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), currently issued on Form FS-240, is an official U.S. Department of State document that serves as proof of U.S. citizenship for children born outside the United States to U.S. citizen parents. It is the federal equivalent of a birth certificate for Americans born abroad and carries the same legal weight as a state-issued birth certificate for most purposes.
When you need to use your CRBA in a foreign country — for residency applications, employment, marriage, education enrollment, property purchases, or other official purposes — it must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. Federal Apostille and Notary Processing handles this process for $120 per document.
ⓘ Why Does a CRBA Need an Apostille If It’s Already a State Department Document?
This is one of the most common questions we receive. While the CRBA is issued by the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, the apostille is issued by a different division — the Office of Authentications. Foreign governments require the apostille as a standardized verification under the Hague Convention, regardless of which U.S. agency originally issued the document. The apostille confirms the document’s authenticity for international use.
CRBA Forms: FS-240, DS-1350, and FS-545
Over the years, the U.S. Department of State has used different forms for consular birth registration. All of them can be apostilled:
| Form | Name | Status | Apostille Eligible? |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS-240 | Consular Report of Birth Abroad | Current form — actively issued | Yes |
| DS-1350 | Certification of Report of Birth | Discontinued in 2010 — previously valid copies still accepted | Yes |
| FS-545 | Certificate of Birth Issued by a Foreign Service Post | Older form — replaced by FS-240 | Yes |
Regardless of which form you have, Federal Apostille and Notary Processing can prepare and submit it for apostille at the U.S. Department of State.
Who Needs a CRBA Apostille?
An apostilled CRBA is commonly required in the following situations:
- International residency or visa applications — Proving your identity and citizenship when applying for residency in a foreign country
- Foreign marriage applications — Many countries require an apostilled birth document as part of the marriage process
- Employment abroad — Foreign employers and government agencies may require authenticated proof of identity and citizenship
- Education enrollment overseas — Universities and schools abroad may require an apostilled birth document for enrollment
- Property purchases abroad — Real estate transactions in foreign countries may require authenticated identity documents
- Dual citizenship applications — Applying for citizenship in another country often requires an apostilled U.S. birth document
- Inheritance and estate matters — International inheritance claims may require proof of identity with apostille
Our Pricing
Our CRBA apostille service is $120 per document. This covers our complete end-to-end service: document review, preparation, submission to the U.S. Department of State, and return of your apostilled CRBA.
💰 Service Fee: $120 Per Document
Our flat rate of $120 per document includes document review, preparation, submission to the Department of State, and return shipping. You can submit your CRBA by uploading online, mailing it in, or bringing it in person to our Washington, D.C. office.
CRBA vs. State Birth Certificate
If you were born abroad to U.S. citizen parents, you may have both a CRBA and a birth certificate from the country where you were born. Understanding the difference is important:
| Document | Issued By | Apostilled By | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRBA (FS-240) | U.S. Department of State | U.S. Department of State (Office of Authentications) | Proof of U.S. citizenship for Americans born abroad |
| Foreign Birth Certificate | Foreign government | Foreign country’s competent authority | Proof of birth in that country |
| U.S. State Birth Certificate | State vital records office | State Secretary of State | Proof of birth for U.S.-born citizens |
The CRBA is a federal document and can only be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. A state birth certificate, by contrast, is apostilled by the issuing state’s Secretary of State. Federal Apostille and Notary Processing specializes in federal document apostilles, including CRBAs.
How to Submit Your CRBA for Apostille
Federal Apostille and Notary Processing offers three convenient ways to submit your CRBA:
- Upload Online — Complete our online application form and upload your document digitally for the fastest way to get started
- Mail In — Send your CRBA by mail to our office at 400 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004. We recommend using a trackable shipping method (USPS Priority, FedEx, or UPS)
- Bring In Person — Visit our Washington, D.C. office at 400 8th St NW, DC 20004 and drop off your document directly. We are available 24/7
How Our CRBA Apostille Process Works
When you work with Federal Apostille and Notary Processing, we handle the entire process. Our service is $120 per document.
- Submit Your CRBAUpload online through our application form, mail to 400 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004, or bring in person. Call us at (760) 469-2997 or email submissions@federalapostille.org. We are available 24/7.
- We Review Your DocumentOur team verifies that your CRBA (FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545) meets the Department of State’s requirements for apostille — including proper condition, authenticity, and that the original document is present.
- We Prepare and Submit to the Department of StateWe complete all required paperwork and submit your CRBA to the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. for apostille processing.
- You Receive Your Apostilled CRBAOnce the Department of State issues the apostille certificate and attaches it to your CRBA, we return the completed document to you — ready for international use in any Hague Convention member country.
📄 Need a Replacement CRBA?
If your CRBA has been lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a replacement from the U.S. Department of State’s Vital Records section by submitting Form DS-11. Processing typically takes 6–8 weeks. Once you receive your replacement CRBA, Federal Apostille and Notary Processing can then apostille it for you. Contact us at (760) 469-2997 for guidance on the replacement process.
Our Full Range of Services
CRBA apostilles are one of our many services. Federal Apostille and Notary Processing also offers:
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Federal Apostille | Apostille processing for all U.S. federal documents through the Department of State — CRBAs, FBI checks, naturalization certificates, federal court documents, military records (DD-214), SSA letters, USPTO records |
| Notary Public | Professional notary public services for documents that require notarization before or alongside apostille processing |
| Certified / Sworn Translation | Certified translations for countries that require apostilled documents in their official language |
| Embassy Legalization | For countries not members of the Hague Convention, we coordinate embassy legalization through the appropriate foreign embassy or consulate |
🌐 Certified Translations for Your CRBA
If the receiving country requires your apostilled CRBA in their official language, Federal Apostille and Notary Processing offers certified/sworn translation services. We can handle your apostille and translation together so you receive a complete, ready-to-use document package. Contact us to discuss your translation needs.
