Certificate of Foreign Birth for Adoptees

A.R.S. 36-338 outlines the requirements for registering a foreign-birth certificate for children adopted by citizens of Arizona.

The Office of Vital Records shall establish a Foreign-Born Birth Certificate for an adopted person who meets the following criteria:

  • Was born in a foreign country

  • Was not a United States Citizen at birth

  • Has completed the adoption process in a foreign country before coming
     to the United States--or one parent has completed the adoption
     process in a foreign country and the other parent has completed
     the adoption process in a Superior Court in Arizona.

  • Has been adopted by a resident(s) of Arizona.

  • An Arizona Superior Court, adoptive parents or adopted person has  
    submitted the appropriate legal and evidentiary documents.

The Office of Vital Records will not register a certificate in the following cases:

  • For a person who has a registered Foreign Born Certificate in another
    state.

 • For a person who was born in a foreign country to citizens of the United
   States.

Name changes or discrepancies with the child’s date of birth:

  • Amendments to the child’s date of birth shall not be permitted unless  
    the parent submits a certified court order from a Superior court to 
    correct the child’s date of birth.

  • Name changes must be stated in the adoption order; otherwise, a
    court-ordered name change will be required to enter the new name on
    the birth certificate.

Documents:
  • Documents that are in language other than English, must be translated 
     into English by a certified translator. The translator shall attests that
     he/she believes the translation to be accurate and complete and the
     translator shall sign the certified statement in the presence of a notary
     public. This statement and signature should be attached to the original 
     document and the translation.


  • Original documents such as adoption decrees, passports, birth
     certificates, etc., must be submitted to the State Office of Vital
     Records. A copy of the original documents will be made by the Office  
     of Vital Records, and the original documents will be returned to the
     adoptive parents. Exception: Original adoption orders mailed directly 
     from the court to the Office of Vital Records will be retained.


What Do You Need to Register a Foreign Born Birth Certificate?

Click on the appropriate scenario below:

1. IR-3 Stamped Passports
2. IR-3 Stamped Passport and Re-Adoption in an Arizona Court
3. IR-4 and Other Stamped Passports
4. Child Adopted When Adoptive Parents Were Residents of Another State

The Registration Process

After the required documents have been received by the Office of Vital Records to register a foreign birth certificate, the request will be processed in the order it was received. The Office of Vital records will prepare a foreign-born certificate in accordance with the information provided in
the final adoption order, etc.


The adoptive parents must complete the foreign-born worksheet if the following information is not listed in the evidentiary documents

1. Adoptive father’s complete name, place of birth and date of birth

2. Adoptive mother’s complete name, place of birth and date of birth

3. Adoptive parents’ home address at the time the adoption was finalized.

The certificate will be registered once all information required for the birth certificate is complete. To receive a certified copy of the birth certificate, an application for a copy of the foreign-born certificate must be completed, signed and notarized or accompanied by a clear photocopy of the applicant’s valid government issued photo ID, with signature, and the appropriate fee in one of the following methods of payment: cashier checks, money orders or credit cards (personal checks are not accepted). If applying in person, cash and traveler’s checks are also an acceptable
method of payment. The adoptive parent(s) will receive one certified copy of the registered certificate. Additional copies of the certificate may be purchased.

The certified copy of the certificate will be mailed to the parents. The parents shall review the certificate when received to ensure all information listed on the certificate is correct. Any errors should be reported to the Office of Vital Records immediately.