U.S. Citizen Services
Registering a Child
Children born abroad may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth only if at least one of the natural parents were U.S. citizens at the time of the child's birth. The exact requirements vary depending on the date of the child's birth, the marital status of the parents, and which parent (if not both) was a U.S. citizen.
U.S. citizens who wish to know if their Latvian-born child is an American citizen by derivation should contact the Consular Section's American Citizen Services unit at +371 6703-6200.
An interview is conducted before a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America can be issued. Both the parent(s) and the child are required to be present at the interview.
You may apply for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad during the working hours of the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Riga at your convenience. However, we strongly encourage booking an appointment when coming in with small children.
The following items are necessary for documenting a child as an American citizen:
- Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad Form DS-2029;
- Application for a Social Security Card Form SS-5;
- The child's original local birth certificate;
- The parents marriage certificate (if applicable);
- Evidence of termination of each parent's previous marriages (if applicable);
- Evidence of the American parent's residence in the U.S. prior to the birth of the child.
In some cases, the Consular Officer may also ask for additional documentation related to the parents’ life together, the pregnancy, and the child’s birth and subsequent development. This might include pre- and post-natal medical records, and family photos documenting the mother’s pregnancy, the parents’ wedding ceremony, and the child’s relationship with his or her parents from date of birth to the present.
Under circumstances when no other form of credible evidence of paternity/maternity is available, genetic (DNA) testing may be used for verifying an alleged biological relationship. Such testing is entirely voluntary, must be done in accordance with instructions provided by the Embassy, and all costs of testing and related expenses must be borne by the family.
The fee for this document is $65.00 or the equivalent in Latvian Lats to be paid in cash or by credit card.
If a determination is made that the child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth, the Consul will issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America. This document is recognized by U.S. law as a proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship and is acceptable evidence of citizenship for obtaining a passport, entering school, and most other purposes.