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Updated September 24, 2010
10-209
Oregonians born in Puerto Rico may need to replace their birth documentation
 Oregon residents who were born in Puerto Rico might need to replace their birth certificates with a new, more secure version now being issued by the U.S. territory.
Because of identity and passport fraud, Puerto Rico has been issuing a new type of birth certificate with additional security features since July 1, 2010. As of Oct. 30, 2010, Puerto Rico will not accept as valid any of its birth certificates issued before July 1.
Also as of Oct. 30, Oregon – along with most or all other U.S. states and jurisdictions –will stop accepting Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1. These older documents will no longer meet Oregon requirements for driving privileges and identification cards.
"Oregonians born in Puerto Rico might want to replace their birth certificates as soon as possible – before they need to renew their Oregon Driver License or ID card," DMV Administrator Tom McClellan said. "A birth certificate is one of the few documents that can prove citizenship. It's a vital document to obtain many privileges and services in the U.S."
Oregon requires proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S. in order to obtain or renew driving privileges or an ID card. A birth certificate issued by a state, territorial or local government in the U.S. is the most frequently used proof of citizenship that customers provide to meet this Oregon requirement.
Oregon DMV also accepts U.S. passports that are currently valid or that have been expired no more than five years to meet this requirement. DMV will continue to accept U.S. passports from Oregon residents born in Puerto Rico.
As of July, there were 3,227 people born in Puerto Rico who have Oregon driving privileges or an ID card – out of a total of about 3.1 million people with Oregon driving privileges or ID cards.
"If you have a son or daughter born in Puerto Rico, you will need to replace their birth certificate before they can apply for their first driving instruction permit or ID card in Oregon," McClellan said.
For more information on how to replace a Puerto Rican birth certificate, visit http://www.prfaa.com/.
For information about Oregon's requirements to obtain driving privileges or state-issued ID, visit http://www.oregondmv.com/.
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