Registering a baby born abroad: the rules on this page
Registering the birth locally
- France: within 5 days
- United Kingdom: within 42 days
- Philippines: within 30 days
- Thailand: within 15 days
- Japan: within 14 days
- Germany: within 7 days
- Italy: within 10 days
- Singapore: within 42 days
- South Korea: within 30 days
- Netherlands: within 3 days
- India: within 21 days
- United States: the hospital files it
Every step, in order
- France: declare the birth at the French consulate within 15 days (30 in some countries) — or, at any time, ask it to transcribe the local birth certificate with its translation, a parent's proof of French nationality and the family book. https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr
- United States: apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) before age 18 — as soon as possible, online where the embassy offers it; the fee is $100. Both parents usually attend with the baby. https://travel.state.gov
- United Kingdom: registering the birth with the UK is optional — the local certificate is enough for a British passport. https://www.gov.uk/register-birth-abroad
- Philippines: file a Report of Birth at the Philippine embassy or consulate within 1 year; the PSA birth certificate is available about 3 months later. After a year, a delayed-registration affidavit and a 10-day posting are needed. https://jakartape.dfa.gov.ph/consular-services/civilregistry/rob
- Japan: submit the birth notification to the embassy within 3 months — if the baby got another nationality at birth, declare that you keep Japanese nationality in the same form, or the baby loses it. https://www.mofa.go.jp
- Germany: if the German parent was also born abroad after 1999 and lives abroad, register the birth with the German mission within 1 year — otherwise the baby doesn't become German. https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de
- Canada: apply for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) — there's no deadline. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/06/bill-c-3-an-act-to-amend-the-citizenship-act-2025.html
- Australia: apply for Australian citizenship by descent — there's no deadline. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- India: register the birth at the Indian mission within 1 year for citizenship by descent (later needs government permission). https://www.mea.gov.in
- Italy: register the birth with the Italian consulate — the 2025 law tightened citizenship by descent, so check the conditions first. https://www.esteri.it
- Thailand: register the birth at the Thai embassy or consulate. https://www.mfa.go.th
- Korea: report the birth through the Korean embassy or consulate. https://overseas.mofa.go.kr
- China: ask the Chinese embassy about travel documents — if a parent has settled abroad and the baby got another nationality at birth, the baby isn't Chinese. https://cs.mfa.gov.cn
- Ask the embassy of the parent's country how to register the birth and whether there's a deadline.
The baby's citizenships
By birth in the country: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica. In some cases: United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Ireland, South Africa.
- Confirmed by the Supreme Court on 30 June 2026 (Trump v. Barbara); later executive orders target birth tourism — check the latest.
- British if a parent is British or settled in the UK.
- German if a foreign parent has lived lawfully in Germany for 5 years with a permanent right to stay.
- Not at birth, unless a parent was also born in France; otherwise possible later (from 13 on request, or at 18).
- Australian if a parent is a citizen or permanent resident.
- A New Zealander if a parent is a citizen or entitled to live there indefinitely.
- Canadian by birth in Canada (except children of foreign diplomats).
- French automatically — a child with at least one French parent is French.
- US citizen if the conditions are met: with one US parent, that parent needs 5 years of physical presence in the US (2 after age 14) before the birth; with two, one must have lived in the US.
- British by descent if the British parent was born, adopted or naturalised in the UK — a parent who is British by descent can't usually pass it on automatically.
- Filipino automatically — a child of a Filipino parent is Filipino, even with another nationality.
- Japanese if a parent is Japanese — but see the 3-month rule if born abroad.
- German if a parent is German — with the 1-year registration rule for families already abroad.
- Canadian if the parent was born or naturalised in Canada; a parent born abroad needs 1,095 days in Canada before the birth (for births from 15 December 2025).
- Australian by application; a parent who is Australian by descent must have spent 2 years in Australia.
- Indian by registration at the mission, if the parent is Indian and the child holds no other passport.
- Italian only under the 2025 conditions — check with the consulate.
- Thai if a parent is Thai.
- Korean if a parent is Korean.
- Chinese if a parent is Chinese — unless a parent has settled abroad and the baby got another nationality at birth.
- Usually passes from a citizen parent — ask the embassy of the parent's country.
- French father: recognise the baby at any town hall or French consulate, before or after the birth — the recognition act goes with the transcription.
- Filipino parents: the baby takes the mother's surname unless the father signs an affidavit of admission of paternity and the mother an affidavit to use the father's surname.
- US father: blood relationship, written acknowledgment (or legitimation) before 18, and a written promise of financial support until 18.
- Japanese father: acknowledge the baby — before birth it counts from birth; after birth, a nationality notification is needed.
- The father's recognition is usually needed for his surname and his citizenship — ask his consulate.
- Apply to the country whose nationality is on record first: bring the birth certificate (and the consular registration), baby photos to the passport rules, and both parents' IDs.
- US passports for children under 16: both parents appear, or the absent one signs a notarised consent (form DS-3053).
- Only one parent present: bring the other parent's signed consent (notarised or apostilled) for the registration and the passport.
- Born at home: you register the birth yourself — bring a statement from the midwife or a witness, and any medical record.
- Websites charging to “fast-track” a birth certificate — the civil registry and consulate forms are the real thing.
- Missing a deadline: late registration often means affidavits, public posting or a court order.
- Consular deadlines that cost a nationality (Japan, Germany) — they don't bend.