Passport birth certificates are a must if you plan on traveling abroad. Traveling abroad in countries other than Canada or Mexico requires a valid U.S. passport. If you don't already have a copy of your U.S. passport, then you will need to obtain one before your trip in order to make your travel plans a reality.

When you apply for a U.S. passport, however, you will be required to show proof of identity in the form of a certified birth certificate. The U.S. government requires this document routinely, as a matter of course, and without exception. Without your passport birth certificate, you will fail in getting the United States government to issue you a passport.

Avoid Hassles by Having Your Passport Birth Certificate On Hand

These rules are strict and unbending for a reason. Especially in today's post-9/11 world, identity theft and threats to homeland security remain a huge problem. If just anyone could get a passport in your name, we as a nation would be in serious trouble. Thus the rules for identification are stringent and as foolproof as possible.

This shouldn't be a problem for you, however. All you need to do is not procrastinate! In other words, if you don't already have a copy of your passport birth certificate in your possession, then you should get one now. Though you can do this by going through the state government offices, the quickest way to obtain your birth certificate nowadays is to go online.