US Citizenship for Minors: What You Need to Know

Once you complete your naturalization process and become a US citizen, many opportunities open up. You can vote, apply for a US passport, and, most importantly, apply for US citizenship for your minor child (under 18).

And we’re not just talking about children you might have after you become a citizen. If you already had children under 18 when you became a citizen, they may also automatically become US citizens.

There are two ways a child can acquire US citizenship through a parent: at birth and after birth. 

The process can feel complicated and overwhelming, especially with all the paperwork after your naturalization ceremony. But don’t worry, we’ll walk you through it step-by-step so you know exactly what to do without the stress.

If your child was born before you became a citizen

If your minor child was born before you became a citizen, they may still be eligible for US citizenship through you. The key is that they must have been under 18 when you became a citizen.

Now, the process is slightly different depending on whether your child lives inside or outside the United States.

US citizenship for minors living in the United States

If your child is a lawful resident of the United States they can automatically become a citizen under section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). So, if you or your spouse became a citizen through naturalization after your minor child was born, they can automatically obtain citizenship.

But they must meet the following requirements:

• At least one parent is a US citizen by birth or naturalization
• The child was under 18 at the time the parent became a citizen
• The child is a lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
• The child lives in the US in the legal and physical custody of the US citizen parent

If your child meets these requirements, they can apply for a Certificate of Citizenship.

What if my child is adopted or a stepchild?

US citizenship for minors applies to adopted children as long as the adoption is legal and occurs before the child turns 18.

Your stepchildren may also qualify – but only if you legally adopted them before they turned 18. They don’t qualify through this process if they weren’t legally adopted.

So…

How to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship for your minor children (Form N-600)

To apply for a Certificate of Citizenship for your minor child living in the United States, you’ll need to fill out Form N-600. Even though your child may automatically acquire US citizenship, the government doesn’t automatically recognize it on paper.

Sounds like a tongue twister, right? But here’s what it means: your child may be a citizen under the law, but they won’t have proof of it – like a certificate of citizenship or a US passport – unless you apply.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Complete Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
• Pay the required filing fee ($1385)

Remember that these fees are non-refundable, so double-check everything before submitting your form.

But that’s not all. The paperwork doesn’t end there. Along with the N-600 form, you’ll also need to include supporting documents.

These include:

• Two passport-style photos of your child
• Your child’s birth certificate
• Your child’s permanent resident card (green card)
• US citizen parent’s birth certificate
• Parent’s naturalization certificate
• Parent’s marriage certificate
• Proof that the child is in the legal and physical custody of the US citizen parent

👉 If your child is adopted, you may need to submit additional documents. Visit uscis.gov for detailed requirements in adoption cases.

What if your child lives outside the US?

Under Section 322 of the INA, a minor child who lives outside the United States may still be eligible for US citizenship. To qualify, the child must meet the following requirements:

• The child has at least one US citizen parent (by birth or naturalization), including adoptive parents.
• The US citizen parent or grandparent meets specific physical presence requirements in the US.
• The child is under 18 years of age.
• The child lives abroad in the legal and physical custody of the US citizen parent – or someone else if the parent is deceased and there’s no objection to the petition.
• The child is lawfully admitted to the US, is physically present, and maintains lawful status when the petition is approved and during naturalization.

How to apply for US citizenship if your minor child lives abroad (Form N-600K)

In this case, your minor child can obtain US citizenship under Section 322 by following these steps:

• Complete Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322
• Pay the filing fee

Before filing Form N-600K and paying the fee, review the USCIS instructions carefully to ensure everything is complete.

As with Form N-600, you must submit supporting documents with your petition. This includes:

• Two passport-style photos of your child
• Your child’s birth certificate
• Birth certificate of the US citizen’s parent
• Proof of US citizenship of the qualifying parent or grandparent
• Parent’s marriage certificate
• Evidence of legal and physical custody of the child by the US citizen parent
• Proof of the child’s lawful admission and maintenance of legal status in the US.
• Passport and travel document numbers
• Proof that the parent or grandparent met the required physical presence in the United States

If you don’t include all the required documents, USCIS may delay or deny your application, so double-check everything before submitting it.

What if you’re already a US citizen and your child is born abroad?

In this case, you must report the birth to the US embassy or consulate in the country where your child was born. These offices will issue a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).

The CRBA is proof of your child’s US citizenship. It’s essential to apply for their US passport, enroll them in school, and access government benefits. But remember that a CRBA alone is not valid for travel, so you’ll still need to apply for a passport once it’s issued.

To successfully apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, you must meet the following requirements:

• At least one parent was a US citizen at the time of the child’s birth.
• The child is under 18 years old.
• The US citizen parent must have a biological or legal relationship with the child (including adoptive parents)
• The US citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States for a required period before the child’s birth.

How to apply for a CRBA (Consular Report of Birth Abroad)

Applying for a CRBA is not complicated; you can do it online. The online system allows you to:

• Submit all required documentation.
• Pay the application fee.
• Schedule your appointment at the US embassy or consulate.

You can apply soon after your child’s birth or even a little later, as long as your child is under 18 at the time of application.

However, the process may vary depending on the embassy or consulate in the country where your child was born. So, you need to visit the official website of the US embassy in that country and read all the instructions carefully.

The documentation required may differ slightly from one location to another, but generally, you’ll need to provide:

• A completed but unsigned Form DS-2029 (Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad)
• The child’s birth certificate
• Proof of the US citizenship and identity of the parent(s)
• Evidence that the US citizen parent lived or was physically present in the United States before the child’s birth
• The parent’s marriage certificate (if applicable)

As expected, applying for a CRBA involves a fee. As of this writing, the cost is $100, and like other US government fees, it is non-refundable.

An important reminder: The CRBA only applies to children of US citizens born outside the United States.

Suppose your child is born in the United States or its territories (such as Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands). In that case, they automatically become a US citizen at birth. So you only need to apply for their state-issued birth certificate-you don’t need a CRBA.

Summing up…

One of the greatest benefits of becoming a US citizen is the opportunity it provides for your children. If you have minor children, they can automatically become US citizens – whether they live with you in the United States or still live in their country of birth. The main difference is how you apply, not whether they qualify.

There’s no doubt that this is one of the most significant benefits of naturalization. As a parent, knowing that your child can have legal status for life and enjoy the full rights and protections of US citizenship brings real peace of mind.

And that’s it! If you still have questions about how to apply for your child’s citizenship, feel free to leave them in the comments – we’re here to help.