Last verified: October 2026
Form DS-10: Birth Affidavit is secondary citizenship evidence for certain U.S.-born passport applicants. It is used when no birth certificate exists or when a U.S. birth certificate was filed more than one year after birth. It is submitted with Form DS-11 and other supporting records; it is not a substitute for a qualifying birth certificate that you can obtain from the issuing vital records office.
Before using DS-10: If a qualifying U.S. birth certificate exists but you do not have your copy, request a certified replacement from the office that issued it.
Use DS-10 when: no birth certificate exists, or the birth certificate was filed more than one year after birth and the State Department requires secondary evidence.
Download the current Form DS-10: Birth Affidavit (PDF)
Who Can Complete Form DS-10?
The person completing the form is the affiant. The current DS-10 instructions say the affiant should be either:
- a close blood relative, such as an older sibling or parent, who has personal knowledge of the details of the applicant's birth; or
- a person who was personally involved in the birth, such as the attending physician.
The affiant must be able to explain the circumstances of the applicant's birth in detail. The State Department may verify the statements and documents submitted with the passport application.
What Must Be Submitted With Form DS-10?
According to the current DS-10 instructions, the passport applicant should submit the birth affidavit as part of a package of secondary citizenship evidence. That package includes:
- Form DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport.
- Form DS-10, Birth Affidavit, completed by the affiant and signed in front of an authorized witness.
- Early public records that support the applicant's birth information.
- Either a delayed birth certificate or a Letter of No Record, depending on what birth record exists.
Birth certificates and Letters of No Record are obtained from the vital records office in the state where the applicant was born. See the State Department's citizenship evidence guidance for the current requirements.
What Counts as an Early Public Record?
Early records should generally come from the first five years of the applicant's life and show the applicant's full name, date of birth, and place of birth. Examples listed by the State Department include:
- baptism certificates;
- hospital birth certificates or birth records;
- U.S. Census records;
- early school records;
- Family Bible records; and
- doctor's records of post-natal care.
Form DS-10 is supporting evidence. It does not carry the same status as primary citizenship evidence such as a qualifying U.S. birth certificate or full-validity U.S. passport.
How to Complete and Sign Form DS-10
Complete the form in black ink. If the affiant makes an error, the current form instructs the affiant to complete a new form rather than correct the existing one.
Do not sign the form in advance. The affiant must sign Form DS-10 in front of a passport agent, passport acceptance agent, or notary. The date of the affiant's signature must be the same as the date of the witnessing official's signature.
The affiant must also provide a clear photocopy of the front and back of the valid government-issued photo ID presented to the passport agent, acceptance agent, or notary.
What Information Is on Form DS-10?
The current form asks for seven items about the passport applicant and the affiant's knowledge of the birth:
- the passport applicant's name;
- date of birth;
- place of birth;
- current home address;
- how many years the affiant has known the applicant;
- how the affiant knows the applicant; and
- a detailed account of what the affiant remembers about the birth, including the date, time, location, people present, how the affiant knows the information, and the names of the birth parents if known.
The form also collects identifying information about the affiant and the government-issued ID presented when the affidavit is signed. If more room is needed for the birth details, the form allows a separate sheet of paper to be attached.
How DS-10 Fits Into a Passport Application
Form DS-10 supports a new passport application when primary citizenship evidence is unavailable. It does not by itself establish eligibility for a passport, and submitting it does not guarantee approval. The State Department reviews the entire evidence package and may request additional information.
After gathering the required citizenship evidence, complete the rest of the new passport application process, including Form DS-11, a compliant passport photo, acceptable photo identification, and the applicable passport fees.
If you need a copy of the completed birth affidavit for your records, the current DS-10 instructions say to request copies at the time the affidavit is executed.
If Your Travel Is Urgent
Urgent processing does not waive citizenship-evidence requirements. If you are still missing the records needed to support Form DS-10, resolve the evidence issue first. If your documentation is complete and your travel deadline is urgent, compare the urgent passport options available for your travel date.
A private passport courier can help with eligible submission logistics, but it cannot approve citizenship evidence, issue a passport, or override State Department requirements.
✈️ Need Your Passport Fast?
Save 10% on VIP expedited courier service with processing as fast as 2–4 business days. For a more affordable option, choose the popular Priority Service with 7–9 business day processing. Check current available processing speeds.
