Applying for a US Passport for a Baby Born in France
Last updated: 11 May 2026
When my daughter was born, she became a dual national from her very first day, French by birth and American because I had finalized my French nationality just months before. That meant the next item on the administrative to-do list was applying for her American passport from France.
Compared to some of the other paperwork hurdles immigrant parents face, this process turned out to be refreshingly straightforward. There are clear steps, the embassy appointment is well organized, and the whole thing from application to receiving the documents in the post took about four to six weeks. Here is everything I learned so you know what to expect.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Basics
Applying for a US passport for a baby born abroad is slightly different from the standard adult passport process. You are not just getting a travel document, you are establishing your child’s US citizenship at the same time. A few key things to know upfront:
Both parents must appear in person. Unlike adult renewals, baby passport applications cannot be done by mail or online. Both parents or legal guardians must attend the embassy appointment with the child.
The online passport renewal portal does not apply here. The US State Department’s online renewal system is for adults aged 25 and over applying from within the US. For a baby’s first passport from France, you will use Form DS-11 and apply in person at the embassy.
Start early. Embassy appointments in Paris fill up quickly. When I applied at the end of November, the next available slot was a month away. Leave plenty of time before any planned travel.
Plan for 4-6 weeks total. From the date of the appointment and submission of paperwork to receiving the CRBA and passport by post, plan on four to six weeks.
The CRBA: Your Baby’s American Birth Certificate
Before your child can have a US passport, their US citizenship needs to be officially established. This is done through the Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or CRBA, essentially your baby’s American birth certificate. It proves that your child is a US citizen from birth, even though they were born outside the United States.
Most children born abroad to at least one American parent are automatically US citizens, but the exact requirements depend on your residency history. The American parent must have lived in the US for a certain period prior to the child’s birth. The embassy website has a questionnaire to help you determine eligibility, and the A-Z listing of services covers the specifics in detail.
The good news is that you can apply for the CRBA and the passport at the same appointment. The CRBA is processed first to establish citizenship, and then the passport is issued. Both documents are returned to you by post in the same envelope.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Begin the CRBA application online
Start the CRBA application online via the eCRBA portal. You will need a MyTravelGov account to begin. Complete as much as you can online, you will finish the process in person at the embassy.
Step 2: Complete Form DS-11 for the passport
Download and complete Form DS-11, the passport application form. Fill it out in full but do not sign it, the form must be signed in front of a consular officer at the appointment. You can use the State Department’s form finder at travel.state.gov to locate the current version.
Step 3: Book your embassy appointment
Make sure you have paid the fees before booking your appointment, allow at least three days after payment for it to process before your appointment date. Appointment slots at the Paris embassy fill up quickly, so book as far in advance as possible.
- Paris: U.S. Embassy PARIS 4 avenue Gabriel 75008 Paris
- Marseille: Place Varian Fry, 13006 Marseille . Available only for applicants located in PACA, Occitanie, Monaco, and Corsica
- Strasbourg:Strasbourg Consulate General 15 Avenue d”Alsace 67000 Strasbourg
Step 4: Prepare your Colissimo return envelope
You will need a self-addressed Colissimo pret-a-envoyer envelope with a 500g capacity for each applicant. This is how your passport and CRBA are sent back to you once they are ready. Note down the tracking number or photograph it before your appointment, the agent will ask for it and you will not have the envelope with you once you have handed it in.
Step 5: Attend the appointment
Bring all your documents, your completed forms, and your baby. See the embassy appointment section below for a full walkthrough of what to expect on the day.
Documents You Will Need
Here is the full document checklist for applying for both the CRBA and the passport at the same appointment:
If you ever have any doubts about anything, you can reach out here: passportsparis@state.gov
| Document | CRBA | Passport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child’s foreign birth certificate | ✅ | ✅ | Must list both parents’ names. Used to prove birth and parentage. |
| Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) | ❌ | ✅ (if already approved) | If applying at the same appointment, CRBA is processed/issued first, then passport. |
| Parents’ passports/IDs | ✅ | ✅ | Both parents must show valid ID (U.S. or foreign passport, driver’s license). |
| Proof of U.S. citizenship (parent) | ✅ | ✅ | U.S. passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate. |
| Proof of physical presence in the U.S. (parent) | ✅ | ❌ | School records, tax returns, pay stubs, leases, etc. Not required for passport once citizenship is established. Find full list here. |
| Evidence of parental relationship | ✅ | ✅ | Usually the birth certificate itself suffices. |
| DS-2029 (CRBA application form) | ✅ | ❌ | Completed but unsigned until the appointment. Can fill out application online. |
| DS-11 (passport application form) | ❌ | ✅ | Completed but unsigned until the appointment. Can fill out application online. |
| DS-3053 (parental consent, if one parent absent) | ✅ (if needed) | ✅ (if needed) | Required if one parent cannot attend the appointment. Must be notarized. |
| Baby’s passport photo | ❌ | ✅ | One photo, 2×2 inches, white background. Follow American standards. |
| Payment for fees | ✅ | ✅ | Separate fees for CRBA and passport; both payable at the appointment. |
| Photocopies of all documents | ✅ | ✅ | Embassy often keeps copies, so bring duplicates. |
Proof of US Citizenship: Physical Presence Requirements
To pass US citizenship to your child, the American parent must meet certain physical presence requirement, proof that you lived in the United States for a qualifying period prior to your child’s birth. The embassy will ask you to upload documentation during the online application. Acceptable documents include:
- Wage and tax statements (W-2)
- Rental leases
- Official academic transcripts
- Vaccination or other medical records
- Property tax records
- Utility bills
- Employment records
I did not print out all of my documents; I had enough physical evidence to satisfy the requirement and was not asked to provide copies of everything at the appointment. Check the US Embassy website for the full list and the exact physical presence requirements, as these vary depending on your circumstances.
What to Expect at the Embassy Appointment
The embassy appointment can feel daunting but the process is well organized. If you can, book an early morning slot, our 8:30am appointment took one hour start to finish. Friends who booked later in the morning waited three to four hours.
Arrival and security
Arrive at least 15 minutes early. You will go through two security checkpoints at the Paris embassy. The first is a brief check where agents verify why you are there and do an initial bag check. The second involves a metal detector and x-ray. Since I had my daughter with me, I carried her through and they used the handheld wand instead. All electronic devices including mobile phones are held at security and returned when you leave. You are given a badge to keep with you inside the building.
Note: if you have a stroller, the elevator was not working when we visited and we had to carry it upstairs. Worth being prepared for.
Check-in and waiting
At the American Citizen Services section you check in at a machine and take a number. There are greeters who can direct you to the right area. You wait in front of a row of windows and are called when it is your turn.
Document submission
You will be called to a window where an agent goes through your application document by document and asks questions as they enter your information into the system. Once everything is in, you verify all the details on screen. You are then directed to a second window to complete the CRBA process.
Oath and interview
A consular officer calls your family name and you both approach the window. The officer verifies your information, asks a few questions about your life abroad, and then asks both parents to raise their right hands and swear that all information provided is accurate and true.
Then she handed us a small American flag and congratulated our daughter on her official US citizenship. After everything we had navigated to get to that point, it was a genuinely lovely moment.
Payment
You pay separate fees for the CRBA and the passport. If you paid online before the appointment, you provide proof of payment when asked.
Final confirmation
The first agent confirms next steps and asks if you have noted the tracking number on your Colissimo envelope. Make sure you have it written down or photographed before this point, I had bought the envelope through my La Poste account so the number was already saved there, but it is easy to forget.
Practical tip: Bring snacks, a toy, or something soothing for your baby. Even a short appointment involves some waiting. Bring duplicates of all documents, the embassy keeps copies.
After the Appointment: What Happens Next
If everything is in order, the CRBA is approved first. Once citizenship is established, the passport is issued. Both documents are mailed to you in your Colissimo return envelope. You will receive email updates as the application progresses and can check the status online using the tracking number.
Plan on four to six weeks from the date of the appointment to receiving your documents. Processing times can vary.
If there is an error on the documents
When our envelope arrived, the last name on the passport was misspelled. I called the embassy and was told to send back the passport with supporting paperwork and a completed DS-5504 form plus a new photo. Because the error was corrected within the first year of issue, there was no charge for reprinting. Check all details carefully as soon as the documents arrive.
Can I apply for my baby's US passport online?
No. The US State Department online passport renewal portal is only available for adults aged 25 and over who are applying from within the United States. For a baby’s first passport, whether you are in France or anywhere else outside the US, you must apply in person at the US Embassy using Form DS-11. Both parents and the child must be present at the appointment.
What is a CRBA and does my baby need one?
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is the official document that establishes your baby’s US citizenship when they are born outside the United States. It functions as your child’s American birth certificate. You need it before a US passport can be issued. The good news is that you can apply for both the CRBA and the passport at the same embassy appointment, the CRBA is processed first and the passport follows immediately after.
How long does it take to get a US passport for a baby in France?
Plan on four to six weeks from the date of your embassy appointment to receiving the CRBA and passport by post. You will receive email updates as the application is processed and can track your Colissimo return envelope. Appointments themselves can be hard to get, when I applied in late November, the next available slot was a month away. Start the process as early as possible, well before any planned travel.
Do both parents have to attend the embassy appointment?
Yes, both parents or legal guardians must be present at the appointment along with the baby. If one parent genuinely cannot attend, you will need a completed and notarised DS-3053 form (Statement of Consent) from the absent parent. Without either the in-person presence or the DS-3053, the application cannot proceed.
What happens if there is an error on the passport when it arrives?
Check all details carefully as soon as your documents arrive. If there is an error, as there was on our daughter’s passport, where the last name was misspelled, call the embassy and follow their instructions. You will need to send back the passport with supporting paperwork and a completed DS-5504 form plus a new photo. If the error is corrected within the first year of issue, there is no charge for reprinting.
What if I need the passport urgently before the standard processing time?
Expedited service is limited outside the United States, but if you have urgent travel needs, medical reasons, a family emergency, explain the situation at your appointment. The embassy may be able to help in genuine emergencies. Contact the embassy in advance if possible rather than waiting until the day of the appointment.
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