What Can I Use Instead of a Birth Certificate for a Passport?

A birth certificate is often needed for official procedures, like getting married. Once we no longer need it, we usually put it away with other seldom-used papers.

Then, when renewing or applying for a passport, it’s playing hide-and-seek. So, you might wonder: “If I don’t have a birth certificate, what can I use instead?”

Don’t panic—we have the answers.

Do You Need a Birth Certificate to Apply for a Passport?

One of the essential documents required when applying for a passport is proof of citizenship.

Typically, this proof is a US-issued birth certificate (also referred to as primary evidence).

However, there’re circumstances where you might not have access to your birth certificate.

Perhaps it was lost, damaged, or never obtained. In such cases, other forms of citizenship evidence for a US passport (secondary evidence) are accepted.

Let’s explore them in the following section.

💡 Did you know? A regular, blue-cover passport is also called the Type “P” passport because it’s used for personal travel (hence the “P”).

What Can I Use Instead of a Birth Certificate for Passport Applications?

US birth certificate and other documents you can use for passport applications.

If you were born in the US and don’t have a birth certificate, you can provide a delayed birth certificate (filed more than one year after birth) or a state-issued letter of No Record, along with one of the following:

Baptism certificate
Hospital birth certificate (even without a raised seal)
US Census record
Early school record
Family Bible record
Doctor’s records of post-natal care (shows early health visits after birth)

If you submit Form DS-11 (first-time passport application) with one of these documents instead of your birth certificate, you must also fill out and attach Form DS-10: Birth Affidavit.

Note: The Birth Affidavit must be completed by an affiant, such as a close blood relative (e.g., your sibling) or a person involved in your birth (e.g., an attending physician). The form must be signed in the presence of a passport agent, notary, or at a passport acceptance facility.

If you were born in a foreign country to US citizens, you must submit:

Foreign birth certificate listing your parents’ names
Evidence of your parents’ citizenship
Marriage certificate
Signed statement from your parents detailing the time and place of their whereabouts at the time of your birth

Note: All documentation must be translated into English by a professional who can provide a notarized letter confirming the accuracy of the translation.

Now—

Proof of citizenship isn’t the only supporting document you need when applying. You’ll also be required to submit a compliant passport photo.

Luckily, we can help with that.

Simply download the PhotoAiD® app for iOS or PhotoAiD® for Android and tick off another item on your passport application to-do list.

US passport photo taken with a mobile app.

Pssst! You can also upload your self-portrait using the button below—it’s just as easy.

FAQ

Can you use a social security card for a passport?

No, a social security card isn’t considered valid proof of citizenship. While it’s an important form of identification, it doesn’t establish your status as a US citizen.

Can I use a photocopy of a birth certificate for a passport?

When applying for a passport, you must submit both the original birth certificate and a photocopy on 8.5” x 11” white paper (black and white, single-sided).

What’s equivalent to a US birth certificate?

Documents like a certificate of citizenship, consular report of birth abroad, and naturalization certificate are equivalent to proving citizenship.

Do you need your original birth certificate to apply for a passport in the US?

Yes, you need the original or a certified copy of your birth certificate for passport applications.

Can you bring an old expired passport instead of a birth certificate to get a new one?

Yes, a previously issued passport can serve as proof of citizenship when renewing your passport, for example, at the post office, provided it was issued when you were an adult (16 years or older).

Can I use my driver’s license as proof of citizenship?

No, you can’t. A driver’s license isn’t considered valid citizenship evidence.

Sources:

Sylwia Green

Sylwia is a skilled writer with a BA in English Studies and an active SPJ member. For nearly three years now, she’s been writing captivating articles for international companies, turning her lifelong passion into a career.