Birth Certificate Guidance

TSA will accept only the following birth records:

  • A long-form U.S. state/territory-issued certified/sealed Birth Certificate; or
  • A U.S. state/territory-issued certified/sealed Birth Abstract that meets the requirements of a Birth Certificate (see below. Please note that Birth Registration/Certificate of Birth Registration records are not acceptable); or
  • A birth certification card that meets the requirements of a Birth Certificate or abstract (see below) (Birth Registration or Notification cards are not acceptable); or
  • An electronic “Birth Certify” birth record obtained through NAPHSIS/EVVE.

Document Requirements for Birth Certificates/Birth Certification Cards/Certified Abstracts of Birth

  1. Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
  2. Lists applicant’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth
  3. Lists parent(s) full names.
    • A full name consists of a first and last name; middle name is not required. "Unknown” entries for one or both parents on a valid birth certificate are acceptable, as long as the parent names fields are present. Additionally, a blank space or asterisks (****) in the space where a mother’s and/or father’s name would be listed will be deemed acceptable, since there is no standard input across agencies to indicate that one or both parents are unknown.
  4. Has the signature of the city, county, or state official or registrar.
  5. Has the date filed with registrar's office.
  6. Has the seal of issuing authority (seals may appear, but are not required to be printed, as an embossed or raised overt security feature).

TSA will NOT accept Birth “Registration” or “Notification” Cards, or Birth Registration/Certificate of Birth Registration records. 

Unacceptable U.S. Birth Documents

  • Document illegible due to wear/tear or damage
  • Private hospital-issued document
  • Any birth document titled with the word “Registration” or “Notification”
  • Foreign Birth document that is not an acceptable State Department record of birth abroad
  • State-issued document stating applicant was born in a foreign country
  • Puerto Rican Birth Certificates issued before July 1, 2010
    • The Government of Puerto Rico passed a law invalidating all Puerto Rican birth certificates issued prior to July 1, 2010, and replacing them with enhanced security birth certificates with features to combat passport fraud and identity theft.
    • Only Puerto Rican birth certificates issued on or after July 1, 2010 will be accepted as primary evidence of U.S. citizenship.
  • “No Record Certification of Birth” document
  • Notarized copies of documents and digital identity documents are not acceptable.