Register US-born child for Peru dual nationality
A parent who is Peruvian by birth can register a child born in the United States at a Peruvian consulate in the US, and the registration gives the child Peruvian nationality. It is free: gob.pe says «puedes inscribirlos gratuitamente en el Registro de Nacimientos de la Oficina Consular del país donde nacieron, para otorgarles la nacionalidad peruana» (last changed October 20, 2025), and the Washington DC consulate hands over the first copy of the Peruvian birth record at no charge. The Washington DC consulate gives the civil-registry procedure a duration of about one hour; the child’s DNI comes next, and the passport after that (official pages read October 3, 2026).
Who can register the child
What gob.pe’s birth-registration page states:
- The parent must be Peruvian by birth. «los menores adoptados en el exterior, o hijos de nacionalizados peruanos, no podrán ser registrados.»
- One or both parents can register. If that is provably impossible, or the child has lost both parents, grandparents, adult siblings, blood uncles or aunts, or any person or entity with custody of the child can do it.
- «Este proceso no puede ser realizado solo por el padre extranjero» — the foreign parent alone cannot register the child.
The Washington DC consulate adds that the person registered on its minors’ page must be under 18 and that it cannot register anyone whose birth certificate was issued outside the United States.
If the father does not sign. The Paterson FAQ says the record can be signed without the father, but he will then not appear as a declarant and, if he is not legally married to the mother under Peruvian law, there is no legal filiation for Peru.
Adults: official sources disagree. gob.pe (last changed September 10, 2025) says an adult born abroad can register free at the consulate if a parent is Peruvian by birth; the Paterson FAQ says the same. RENIEC’s FAQ (undated) says that someone not registered as a minor «debe tramitar el derecho de opción de la nacionalidad peruana ante la Dirección General de Migraciones y Naturalización». Ask your consulate which route it applies.
Which consulate, and when the birth certificate needs legalization
- Washington DC registers children born in its jurisdiction (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Delaware and the District of Columbia). For a birth in another state, «la partida de nacimiento original debe ser legalizada por parte del Consulado peruano correspondiente» before registration in DC.
- Miami takes original certificates from Florida, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands. For a birth in another state, the certificate must first be legalized by the consulate with jurisdiction over that state «o apostillado por la secretaria del Estado» where it was issued.
- For a certificate from the consulate’s own jurisdiction, neither the Washington DC nor the Miami requirement list includes a legalization or apostille step.
Find the consulate for each state in the Peru consulate directory or consulates by US state. For US certificates and apostilles, see US vital records by state and the apostille process.
Documents by consulate
| Consulate (source, date) | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| Washington DC (consulate page, read Oct 3, 2026) | Its forms, completed and printed; both parents present and identified — the Peruvian parent gives a DNI number, a foreign parent brings a copy of a passport or driver license with names matching the birth certificate; the child’s original US birth certificate, which stays at the consulate; 1 recent passport-size color photo of the child, white background |
| New York (gob.pe, last changed Feb 20, 2026) | Original, updated long-form New York birth certificate, not returned; DNI of both parents and/or the valid passport of a foreign parent; simple copy of the Peruvian marriage record if the parents married under Peruvian law; both parents sign (recommended for parents not legally married under Peruvian law); the child need not attend |
| Miami (gob.pe, last changed Mar 6, 2026) | Application; document proving the parent is Peruvian by birth; ID of parents and declarants (a foreign parent: passport or a Florida or other US state ID); original local birth certificate, kept on file; both parents present to sign; the child’s presence is not strictly necessary |
| Paterson (gob.pe, last changed Oct 31, 2025) | Signed application; the child’s birth certificate with a Spanish translation if needed; parents’ ID — Peruvians identify with their DNI; document proving the parent is Peruvian by birth |
None of these lists asks for US immigration documents or US proof of address.
How to book
- New York: «La cita deberá ser solicitada al correo electrónico registrosciviles@consuladoperuny.org», one appointment per person and per procedure.
- Paterson: email registrosciviles@conpernj.org; the FAQ says you get a date and time 3 to 4 days later.
- Miami: the consulate’s appointment system, service “Registro Civil - Nacimientos”.
- Washington DC: an appointment is recommended («Se recomienda programar una cita»).
Cost and copies
| Item | Fee (source, read Oct 3, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Registration | Free (gob.pe; Washington DC; New York; Miami) |
| First copy of the Peruvian birth record | Free (Washington DC; New York; Miami) |
| Each additional certified copy | 6.00 soles consulares (New York) / US$6.00 (Paterson) |
After registration: DNI first, then passport
- The Miami consulate says that with the first certified copy you can start the child’s first DNI at the same office right away.
- For a child’s first DNI, the Washington DC consulate asks for the Peruvian birth record obtained at registration, with the child and the Peruvian parent present; the fee there is US$5.00 and delivery about 16 weeks. See Peru DNI at US consulates.
- Washington DC’s minors’ passport page: if the child never had a DNI, the DNI must be processed the same day as the passport, with one appointment for each. Its adult-registration page says a passport applicant must first wait to receive the DNI. See Peru passport at a US consulate.
Dual nationality
The United States permits dual nationality. Per the US Department of State: “Dual nationality means you are a national of 2 countries. A dual national generally has legal rights and obligations in both countries.”
On Peru’s side, Ley 26574, Art. 9: «Los peruanos de nacimiento que adoptan la nacionalidad de otro país, no pierden su nacionalidad, salvo que hagan renuncia expresa de ella ante autoridad competente». Migraciones (November 7, 2025): «La legislación peruana permite a los peruanos tener doble o hasta múltiples nacionalidades», and Peruvians with two or more nationalities must enter and leave Peru with the same document they used to enter through a migration or border control post.
When the child is an adult, voting from abroad depends on the address on the DNI, not on this registration — see voting in Peru elections from the US.
Related information
- All Peru consulates in the US
- All Peru consular procedures
- Peru passport at a US consulate
- Peru DNI at US consulates
- Peru birth certificate from the US
- Peruvian passport for a minor
- Peru minor travel authorization
- Apostille process for US documents
- US vital records by state
- Find pro bono immigration legal help
Official sources
- gob.pe — Registrar el nacimiento de peruanos menores de edad nacidos en el extranjero (New York, Miami and Paterson versions linked from the same page)
- gob.pe — Registrar el nacimiento de peruanos mayores de edad nacidos en el extranjero
- Consulado General del Perú en Washington — nacimientos de menores de edad
- Consulado General del Perú en Washington — registros civiles
- Consulado General del Perú en Paterson — preguntas frecuentes (PDF)
- RENIEC — preguntas frecuentes sobre actas
- Ley 26574, Ley de Nacionalidad (PDF)
- Migraciones — peruanos con múltiples nacionalidades (7 nov. 2025)
- US Department of State on dual nationality: travel.state.gov
- 14th Amendment of the US Constitution (birthright citizenship)
Last verified: 2026-10-03. General procedural information for educational purposes. Birth-registration requirements differ between Peruvian consulates and change. Verify directly with your Peru consulate before your appointment. Not legal advice.