US Consular Report of Birth Abroad and First Time Passport

To register a child born in Israel as an American citizen, one should apply at the U.S Embassy or Consulate for a  Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and/ or U.S passport. 

This involves a two-step process:

• Step One: Complete an E-CRBA
• Step Two: Schedule an Appointment

At this appointment, one will be able to apply for a CRBA and first-time passport as well as apply for a Social Security number. See here for more information. 

Step One: Complete an E-CRBA

Before the appointment, an online CRBA application (e-CRBA) must be completed. This reduces waiting time and allows the embassy to determine whether a child is eligible for citizenship or not before even coming for an appointment.

Click here to begin the e-CRBA application process online.

Applicants will need to upload: 

• The child’s teudat laida (birth certificate) from The Population Authority (Misrad Hapnim) 
  • The E-CRBA may be submitted without the birth certificate, but it must be brought to the appointment.
• Proof of ID and U.S Citizenship for both parents (eg U.S Passport) 
• Parents’ marriage license 
• Proof of Physical Presence in the U.S (see below) 

Step Two: Schedule an Appointment

Click here to access the US Citizen Service Portal.

The US Embassy requires you to open an account on their online portal in order to access their services, such as booking appointments.

If you do not yet have an account, register and create a new profile, here.

If one already has an account, log in to schedule an appointment.

Choose Israel from the drop down list (page 2 of list) and enter any additional required details.

Select the option of booking an appointment. Enter the applicant’s details if required.

Select appointment location (Jerusalem or Tel Aviv) and service (CRBA).

Click on “select date” and choose a date and time from the calendar and submit. You will receive email confirmation. If there are “no slots available”, try again later. 

See here for instructions on canceling or rescheduling. 

Step Three: At The Appointment

Be sure to arrive on time; if one arrives more than 15 minutes late, they will be asked to reschedule.  Given security screening, waiting and processing times, prepare for the appointment to take approximately two hours.

Baby carriages are not allowed into the Embassy or Consulate. In Jerusalem, there is an area where they can be left outside. In Tel Aviv, they may not be left unattended outside the office. Large backpacks are also not permitted into the building.  Furthermore, cell phones and other electronics are also prohibited from their premises. In Jerusalem, electronics have to be handed in to security officials before entering the building, and they will be held for the applicant until they leave. In Tel Aviv, phones, electronics, strollers and other items should be left in the car or in a rented locker in a store across the street from the consulate.

Who Should Come

For CRBA only: Preferably both parents should attend with the child.  If the parent attending is not the one passing on citizenship, the embassy may request additional documentation or that the second parent come in person at a later time.

For a passport: Both parents – American or not – must attend, or provide notarized consent of the passport’s issuance and original photo ID used for notarization.

The child must always be present.

What to Bring

1. Printed appointment confirmation email
2. Child’s original teudat leidah (Israeli birth certificate) from The Population Authority (Misrad Hapnim) + 3 photocopies

3. Passport photo of the baby on a white background. When having the picture taken, specify that it is for an American passport. Photo must be 2×2 inches and the height of the head must be between 1-1 3/8 inch. A newborn baby (up to a few weeks) does not need to have his eyes open, but ears should be visible. 

4.  Parents original marriage license (or certified copy) in Hebrew or English, + 1 photocopy

5. If one parent was previously married: original divorce or death certificate 
6. U.S. Passports of both parents, signed + 3 photocopies of each

If a U.S citizen parent does not have a U.S passport: alternate ID + proof of citizenship (U.S. birth certificate) + 3 copies of each. 

If one parent is not a U.S citizen: Valid ID (e.g. passport or teudat zehut) + 3 copies

7. Child’s Israeli or other passport (if applicable) + 1 copy
8. Original signed and dated statement that the child has not been issued a Social Security number by the Social Security Administration.  If the child has already been issued a Social Security number, skip this form and include his/her Social Security number on the passport application form
9. Email received upon submission of the E-CRBA
10.  Form DS-11: Application for U.S. Passport, completed online only (handwritten forms are no longer accepted), printed and not signed

11. As of October 1, 2025, Israel Post will resume delivering documents on behalf of the U.S. Embassy. Click here to arrange and pay for a pre-paid postage label from the Doar. Print this out and bring to your appointment.

12. Passport Fee of $135

To be paid in one of the following ways: 

• At the appointment – U.S. credit card or cash, exact change only in dollars or shekels (according to the day’s exchange rate). Payment is non-refundable, even if the consular officer later determines that the child is not eligible for citizenship
• In advance online – The receipt must be presented at the appointment.

13. Form SS-5-FS: Application for Social Security Number

14. Proof of physical presence in the United States: The U.S. citizen parent(s) must prove that s/he was a U.S. citizen prior to the child’s birth and bring proof of time spent in the U.S. 

Acceptable proof of physical presence includes W-2 forms, immunization and medical records, and employment records. School transcripts may be accepted as proof when combined with others.

If Only One Parent is a U.S. Citizen, or if Both Are U.S. Citizens but Only One or Neither was Born in the U.S.

In addition to bringing all of the above documents:

The U.S. citizen parent(s) must fill out an affidavit of physical presence.

A Note on Social Security

If not applying for Social Security at the initial CRBA appointment, one must apply separately at a later date or from within the U.S. See here for more information.     

The passport and CRBA will be delivered by Israel Post.

See here for more information on delivery and tracking passports.