The document that anchors a South Sudanese file is the nationality certificate. Civil registration in the country is young — independence came in 2011 — so many families abroad hold a mixture of South Sudanese papers, older Sudanese ones, and refugee or resettlement documents issued elsewhere.
Quick facts
That mixture is normal. A large part of the South Sudanese community in the United States arrived through resettlement, and the consular section deals constantly with families whose documents came from several countries and systems.
Fees breakdown
| Service | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality certificate matters | Consular tariff | Ask the consular section |
| Civil certificates | Charged in South Sudan | Obtained locally |
| Document certification | Consular tariff | At the embassy |
| U.S. certificate | $15–$50 | State vital records office |
| Translation | Not applicable | English is official |
For a child born in the United States to South Sudanese parents, the American certificate is certified through the chain and the parents’ documents establish the link. No translation is needed.
How to file
- Gather every document the family holds, whatever country issued it.
- Write to the consular address explaining what you have and what you need.
- Ask which documents it accepts as evidence in your circumstances.
- Order the U.S. certificate and put it through the certification chain.
- Submit on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
- Keep copies and scans of everything before it travels.
Required documents
- Nationality certificate where the family holds one.
- Parents’ passports, South Sudanese or older Sudanese.
- Child’s U.S. birth certificate, certified.
- Resettlement or refugee documents where relevant.
- Photographs where a document is being issued.
- Completed forms from the embassy.
Where to file
At the embassy on Vermont Avenue in Washington, on its three opening days.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
Bring everything
Mixed documentation from several countries is the norm here, not a problem to hide. Explain what you have.
Ask what counts
Where a record cannot be obtained from South Sudan, the consular section is the right place to ask what else is accepted.
Names and spellings
South Sudanese names are written in several forms across systems. Settle one spelling and use it consistently.
Keep scans
Documents that survived displacement are hard to replace. Store originals safely and copies separately.