Register Your U.S.-Born Child as Honduran
If you are Honduran and your child was born in the United States, you can register their birth at the Honduran consulate so they are recognized as a Honduran national. This registration is the first step for your child to apply for their Honduran passport and, later, their identity document (DNI), as well as enjoying dual nationality. In this guide we explain who can do it, which documents are usually required, the role of the apostille and how to book the appointment.
ℹ️ Important: requirements, fees and timeframes vary by consulate and can change. Always confirm the current procedure with your consulate or at citaconsular.sreci.gob.hn before starting.
Contents
Who can register the child?
Children of a Honduran father or mother born abroad can acquire Honduran nationality. To register the birth at the consulate, the following is usually required:
- That at least one parent is Honduran and can prove it.
- The presence of the parents or legal guardians on the day of the appointment.
- The child's U.S. birth certificate, duly apostilled.
If the parents have not yet registered their marriage in Honduras, it is worth checking the Honduran marriage guide, since some consulates request it.
Why it is worth registering the birth
Registering your child as Honduran has practical and rights-related benefits for the whole family:
🛂 Access to the passport
Once registered, the child can obtain their Honduran passport and travel as a national.
See passport →🪪 Identity and DNI
Registration is the basis so that, at the appropriate age, the child can apply for their Honduran identity document.
🌎 Dual nationality
Your child keeps their U.S. citizenship by birth and adds Honduran nationality, with the rights of both countries.
The apostille of the birth certificate
The birth certificate issued by the U.S. state is a public document that, to be valid in Honduras, must be apostilled. The United States and Honduras are both parties to the Hague Convention, so the apostille is issued by the competent state authority (Secretary of State) of the state where the child was born.
- Request a certified copy of the birth certificate from the state or county registry.
- Obtain the apostille from the relevant state authority.
- If the consulate requires it, prepare a Spanish translation of the document.
We expand on this in the apostille and legalization guide.
Documents usually required
- Birth certificate of the child issued in the U.S., with apostille.
- Parents' Honduran identity documents: DNI/identity card and/or Honduran passport.
- Marriage certificate of the parents, if the consulate requires it.
- Appointment confirmation obtained through CitaConsular.
- Where applicable, a Spanish translation of the certificate and payment of the fee.
Note: some consulates use their own forms or request additional data. Verify the official checklist when you book your appointment.
Step by step
- Get the birth certificate certified from the U.S. state where your child was born.
- Apostille the certificate with the competent state authority.
- Book the appointment at citaconsular.sreci.gob.hn, choosing the U.S. and your consulate.
- Attend with the parents and the documentation, including the apostilled certificate.
- Pay the fee and submit the documents to channel the RNP registration.
After the registration
Once the birth is registered, your child is recognized as Honduran and you can move forward with other procedures:
- Apply for their Honduran passport as a national.
- Keep copies of the Honduran birth record once it is issued.
- Learn about dual nationality and the rights in both countries.
Frequently asked questions about birth registration
Can my U.S.-born child be Honduran?
Yes. Children of a Honduran father or mother born abroad can acquire Honduran nationality. For Honduras to recognize it, you must register the birth at the consulate or the RNP, presenting the apostilled U.S. certificate and the parents' documents.
Does my child lose U.S. citizenship?
No. By being born in the U.S., your child is a U.S. citizen by birth. Registering them as Honduran adds Honduran nationality, so they will hold dual nationality with the rights of both countries.
Do both parents have to be present?
It depends on the consulate. Many offices ask for the presence of both parents or, if only one attends, additional documentation. Confirm the exact requirements with your consulate according to your family situation.
Is there a deadline to register my child?
It is best to do it as soon as possible to facilitate the passport and other procedures, but recognition of nationality by descent does not expire with age. Even so, ask your consulate whether there are particular conditions based on the child's age.
Does the consulate do the registration or only receive the documents?
It varies by office. Some consulates register directly and others receive the apostilled documents to channel the registration before the RNP in Honduras. Confirm how your consulate operates when you book the appointment.