Glossary · People and paperwork
Birth certificate
In short
A birth certificate is an official record of a person's birth, used to prove identity and U.S. citizenship. You'll need it if you're a U.S. citizen applying for an SBA loan and lack a passport.
What it means in a deal
Lenders require proof of citizenship for all key principals. If you don't have a U.S. passport, a certified copy of your birth certificate, along with a government-issued photo ID, typically serves as sufficient documentation to satisfy this requirement for the SBA 7(a) loan.
Official sources
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
SBA Form 1919 — Borrower Information Form
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA form
Last checked 2026-06-15. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Related terms
Common questions about Birth certificate
Defined by CapBench SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
Know what you'll need before you apply
Tell us about the deal and who's buying — we'll flag the guaranty, eligibility, and paperwork issues that slow SBA approval before they cost you time.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day
Backed by data on 1,000+ SBA lenders and 300,000+ funded deals. Your details go only to lending partners you ask to be matched with — never sold to advertisers.