Proof of Citizenship or U.S. National Status

Before You Submit

Covered California may ask you to submit documents to confirm your citizenship or U.S. national status. "U.S. national status" includes U.S. citizens and people born in certain U.S. territories, such as American Samoa or Swains Island, or born to non-citizen U.S. national parents.

Primary Documents You Can Submit

Submit a copy of one of the following documents. You only need to submit one primary document.

U.S. Passport

• U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card, current or expired (issued without limitation)

Citizenship or Naturalization Certificates

• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-560 or Form N-561)
• Certificate of Naturalization (Forms N-550 or N-570)

See sample images on USCIS.gov.

Federally Recognized Tribal Documents

Documents issued by a federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe. Documents must identify you by name and confirm your membership, enrollment or affiliation with the tribe.

Accepted documents include, but are not limited to:

• Tribal enrollment card
• Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB)
• Tribal census document
• Documents on tribal letterhead, signed by the appropriate Tribal official

If You Don’t Have a Primary Document

If you do not have any of the primary documents listed above, you must submit copies of two documents: one from List A and one from List B below. Both documents are required.

List A: Citizenship or U.S. Place-of-Birth Evidence

Birth and Citizenship Records

• U.S. Public Birth Certificate
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)

  • Department of State Form FS-545 (no longer issued but still accepted)
  • Department of State Form FS-240
  • Department of State Form DS-1350

See citizenship evidence descriptions on travel.state.gov for details on birth certificates and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.

• U.S. citizen identification card (I-197 or the prior version I-179)
• A Northern Mariana Identification Card issued to a collectively naturalized citizen born in the CNMI before Nov. 4, 1986 (I-873)

See sample images on USCIS.gov for descriptions of citizenship certificates and identification cards.

Adoption and Child Citizenship Records

• A final adoption decree showing the child's name and U.S. place of birth; or, if the adoption is not finalized, a statement from a state-approved adoption agency showing the child's name, U.S. place of birth and birthdate or age. The agency must state that the source of the place-of-birth information is an original birth certificate.
• Documentation of a foreign-born child (including a foreign-born adopted child) who received automatic U.S. citizenship through IR3 or IH3 or the Child Citizenship Act. Documentation must clearly show the child's name and date of birth.

Service and Military Records

• U.S. military records showing a U.S. place of birth
• Evidence of U.S. Civil Service employment before June 1, 1976

Medical, Insurance, Religious or School Records

• U.S. medical records, including hospital, clinic, midwife or physician records, or admission papers from a nursing facility, skilled care facility or other institution. The record must:

  • Show your U.S. place of birth
  • Be signed and on hospital letterhead
  • Be established at the time of your birth
• U.S. insurance records showing a U.S. place of birth. The record must:

  • Show your U.S. place of birth
  • Be created at least five years before the initial Covered California application date, unless the applicant is under age five
• Official religious records recorded in the U.S. The record must:

  • Be created within three months of birth
  • Show your U.S. place of birth
  • Indicate the date of birth or your age at the time the record was made
  • Be an official record recorded with the religious organization
• School records, including preschool, Head Start and daycare records showing the child's name

Other Government Records

• Individual Fee Register receipt (INS Form G-711) (no longer issued but still accepted)
• Federal or state census record showing U.S. citizenship or U.S. place of birth

List B: Identity Evidence

• Driver's license issued by a state or territory, or ID card issued by the federal, state or local government
• School identification card
• U.S. military card or draft record, or military dependent's identification card
• U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner card
• A clinic, doctor, hospital or school record, including preschool or day care records (for children under 19 years old)
• Two documents containing consistent information that prove your identity, such as:

  • Birth certificate
  • Social Security card
  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce decree
  • Employer identification card
  • High school or college diploma (including high school equivalency diplomas)
  • Property deed or title document

Immigrants Who Are Not Lawfully Present

Not lawfully present in the U.S.? You may still qualify for Medi-Cal. Visit Information for Immigrants to learn about your options.