How do you verify ethnicity?

In verifying ethnicity, the best place to begin is with the long form birth certificate. If the applicant’s long form birth certificate does not include ethnicity or race, the following documents should be requested in the following order. There documents will connect the lineage of the family’s ethnicity or race to the applicant.

1. Long form Birth Certificate of the applicant’s parent (mother or father) that includes the ethnicity or race.
2. Death Certificate of the applicant’s parent (mother or father) that includes the ethnicity or race.
3. Long form Birth Certificate of the applicant’s grandparent (mother or father) that includes the ethnicity or race.
4. Death Certificate of the applicant’s grandparent (mother or father) that includes the ethnicity or race.
5. Long form Birth Certificate of the applicant’s child that includes the ethnicity or race.
6. Death Certificate of the applicant’s child that includes the ethnicity or race.

Alternative documents, translated by applicant if necessary, may include but are not limited to:

• Medical records.
• Military records or other government issued documents that includes race.