Form Ds-10 Birth Affidavit: Fill & Download for Free

That depends which country but usually through obtaining a delayed birth certificate by providing other proofs and affidavits.See for example the US Passport OfficeCitizenship Evidence“You must submit a delayed birth certificate OR a Letter of No Record, AND early public records.Delayed birth certificate (filed more than 1 year after birth) It must include the following: List the documentation used to create it (preferably early public records - see below) Signature of the birth attendant or an affidavit signed by the parent(s) If your delayed U.S. birth certificate does not include these items, it should be submitted with early public records (see below).Letter of No Record If a U.S. birth certificate is not on file for you in the state you were born, you will receive a Letter of No Record from the registrar instead of a birth certificate. It must meet the following requirements: Issued by the state Have applicant’s name and date of birth List the years for which a birth record was searched Include a statement that no birth certificate was found on file When submitting a Letter of No Record, you must also submit at least two early public documents or one early public document and one early private document with Form DS-10: Birth Affadavit.Early public or private documentsEarly public or private documents are documents that were created and/or issued early in the applicant’s life, preferably in the first five years.Public records should include the applicant’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth. Examples include: Baptism certificate Hospital birth certificate (often shows baby’s footprints) U.S. Census record Early school records Family Bible record Doctor’s records of post-natal care Form DS-10, Birth Affidavit (this form is for applicants whose birth in the United States was recorded more than one year late or who have a Letter of No Record.)”

Let’s make sure we’re on the same page.An “original birth certificate” is a state-issued certified copy of a birth certificate, called a “certificate of live birth” in most jurisdictions. It doesn’t matter when it was issued; all are just as valid for a passport.A “delayed certificate” is for a birth that was not timely registered (for State Department purposes it means more than one year after the birth). This typically happens in a home birth with no attending physician or certified nurse midwife. Delayed certificates are one area where vital records fraud is concentrated, and that is why this may not be sufficient for the passport office.In order to prove citizenship with a delayed certificate, you will need to submit additional documentation, specifically:It must include the following: List the documentation used to create it (preferably early public records - see below); Signature of the birth attendant; or an affidavit signed by the parent(s)If your delayed U.S. birth certificate does not include these items, it should be submitted with early public records (see below).Early public records are from your first 5 years of life and may include:Baptism certificateHospital birth certificate (often shows baby’s footprints)U.S. Census recordEarly school recordsFamily Bible recordDoctor's records of post-natal careForm DS-10, Birth Affidavit (this should be completed by an older blood relative or an attending doctor)For official information see: Citizenship Evidence

While sending off a birth certificate is the preferred method of proving your U.S. citizenship during the passport application process -- after all, that's the one thing everyone who is a U.S. citizen should have -- there are also alternatives to help you prove your nationality, so there's no need to panic if you don't have your birth certificate.This article covers the different ways you can apply for your passport, as well as what you should do if you are a U.S. citizen, but you were born outside of the United States.Using a Letter of No RecordA Letter of No Record is issued by the State and includes your name, date of birth, which years were searched for a birth record and the fact that there is no birth certificate on file for you. It's basically proof that there's no record of your birth in the United States, and you'll need to send this off with your passport application.In order to get a Letter of No Record, you'll need to speak to the government of the state in which you were born, and get in touch with their Department of Vital Statistics -- this is the only department who will be able to issue this letter. They'll be able to search their database to see if your birth is on record. If not, they'll provide you with a Letter of No Record. You can expect this process to take about a week in total.Once you've received your Letter of No Record, it's time to start gathering additional documentation as evidence of your citizenship. These documents are referred to as Early Public Records. Here's the full list of what you can use:Baptismal certificate with the Church's sealHospital birth certificate with the baby's footprints on and your parents' names on itCertified adoption decreeState or Federal Census recordsEarly school recordsFamily Bible recordMedical record of post-natal careMake sure that these documents are early public records that show your name, the date, and place of your birth, and that they were created within the first five years of your life.You may also submit an Affidavit of Birth form numbered DS-10 from an older blood relative, i.e.: a parent, aunt, uncle or sibling who has "personal knowledge" of your birth. It must be notarized or show the seal and signature of the acceptance agent.Using a Delayed Birth CertificateInstead of a Letter of No Record, you may be able to apply for a Delayed U.S. Birth Certificate.This is a birth certificate that is filed more than one year after your date of birth. You'll be able to apply for this and use it to get your passport as long as it lists the documentation that you used in order to apply for it and a signature from either an attendant who was there for your birth or an affidavit that has been signed by your parents.What if You Were Born Abroad to U.S. Parents?If you were born abroad and do not have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Birth on file, the Department of State has the following instructions for you to follow:If you claim citizenship through birth abroad to one U.S. citizen parent, you will need:Your foreign birth certificateProof of citizenship of your parent who is a U.S. citizenAn affidavit of your parent who is a U.S. citizen. This needs to show all periods and places of residence or physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birthIf you claim citizenship through birth abroad to two U.S. citizen parents, you will need:Your foreign birth certificateYour parents' marriage certificateProof of citizenship of your U.S. parentsAn affidavit of your U.S. citizen parents showing all periods and places of residence of physical presence in the United States and abroad before your birth.