In December 2009 the government of Puerto Rico enacted Law 191 of 2009. This law will invalidate all Puerto Rico birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 and require Puerto Rico-born citizens to obtain new birth certificates. Due to the high number of birth certificate copies that each Puerto Rico born citizen holds many are left “vulnerable to identity theft, ruined credit, stolen Social Security benefits, and increased ‘random’ security checks at airports…”Since Puerto Rico-born citizens are required only have proof of citizenship, not passports, when traveling between Puerto Rico and the United States, birth certificates serve as one of the most common forms of proof of citizenship. Birth certificates also serve as proof of citizenship for Puerto-Rico born citizens seeking to apply for passports, driver’s licenses, and state federal benefits, such as Social Security. As of September 30th 2010 (due to an extension), the new law requires that Puerto-Rico born citizens present the new birth certificate in order to obtain a passport or a driver’s license, or obtain public benefits. Additionally, if Puerto-Rico born citizens use their birth certificate as their proof of citizenship when traveling between Puerto Rico and the United States they must present the new birth certificate starting September 30, 2010.
New birth certificates will not be issued by, or sent from, the Puerto Rican government until July 1, 2010. Those living in the United States can apply for a new birth certificates online or by mail. They may either go online at anytime to www.pr.gov and fill out the form then upload the required identity documents and pay the $5 fee by credit card or they may print and fill out a Birth Certificate Application form and submit it by mail on or after July 1, 2010.
The application form can be downloaded at: www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates and www.prfaa.com/certificadosdenacimiento
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