Philippine posts abroad take reports of birth, marriage and death and transmit them to the civil registry in the Philippines, where they become PSA records. For families here the report of birth is the important one: it is what turns a child who is legally Filipino into a child the Philippine system can recognise.
Quick facts
Jurisdiction follows the place where the event happened, not where the family lives now, and that catches people who have moved states since the birth.
Fees breakdown
| Service | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Report of birth, marriage or death | Consular schedule | Money order at several posts |
| U.S. certificate of the event | $15–$50 | County or state office |
| PSA copy once transmitted | Ordered from the Philippines | Available months later |
| Affidavit of discrepancy | Consular notarial fee | Where names differ |
| Return postage | Prepaid envelope | Flat-rate envelopes are standard |
Late reports are accepted but require more supporting evidence, so filing soon after the event is considerably simpler.
How to file
- Order the U.S. certificate of the event from the county or state office.
- Identify the post with jurisdiction over the place where the event occurred.
- Complete the report form in the number of copies the post requires.
- Book the appointment, or follow the mail procedure for outreach missions.
- Submit with the parents’ or spouses’ Philippine documents and pay the fee.
- Order the PSA copy once the record has been transmitted and registered.
Required documents
- U.S. certificate of the event, original and copies.
- Filipino parent’s or spouse’s passport and PSA birth certificate.
- Parents’ PSA marriage certificate where applicable.
- Proof of the Filipino parent’s citizenship at the time of the event.
- Affidavit of one and the same person where names differ.
- Prepaid return envelope.
Where to file
With the post covering the place where the event happened, or through an outreach mission serving that area.
Philippine Honorary Consulate - Colorado & S Wyoming
View details →ChicagoConsulate General of the Philippines
View details →HonoluluConsulate General of the Philippines
View details →HoustonConsulate General of The Philippines
View details →Los AngelesPhilippine Consulate General, Los Angeles
View details →New YorkConsulate General of the Philippines
View details →San DiegoPhilippine Consulate General
View details →San FranciscoPhilippine Consulate General in San Francisco
View details →WashingtonEmbassy of the Philippines Consular Section
View details →Additional notes
Citizenship at the time of birth
What matters for a child born abroad is whether the parent was a Philippine citizen on the date of the birth. A parent who naturalised afterwards does not change that.
PSA records take time
Transmission and registration in the Philippines are measured in months. File the report well before you need the PSA copy for a passport or a school.
Marriages
Reporting a marriage celebrated in the United States is what makes it recognised in Philippine records, with consequences for property and succession.
Divorce is different
Philippine law treats foreign divorces restrictively, and recognition generally requires a court proceeding in the Philippines rather than a consular filing.