A passport is an important identification and travel document even for minors, including newborn babies, infants, and toddlers. Parents or legal guardians who plan to travel outside the United States with a minor or their kids must obtain a U.S. passport for them.
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What is the minimum age to apply for a passport?
All minors, including newborn babies and infants, may apply for a passport.
Are babies less than a year old required to have his or her own passport?
Unless not traveling by air, newborns or babies under a year old are not required by U.S. federal laws to have a passport.
Do both parents need to be present to get a child passport?
Minors, under age 16, applying for a U.S. passport need both parents to accompany them to the passport acceptance facility. It is to show parental awareness that the parents are aware of the child applying for a passport.
If both parents are present in the passport acceptance facility with their child, they do not need to accomplish Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance Of A U.S. Passport To A Child. It is a form used when one or both of the legal parents or legal guardians cannot accompany the child to apply for a passport in person.
Can a 16-year-old get a U.S. passport?
Yes, applicants age 16 and 17 can get a U.S. passport by themselves as long as they have valid government identification and all the documents needed for the application. However, parental awareness or consent is required.
Here are the options on how a parent can give consent.
- At least one parent or legal guardian must appear in person with the child. The legal parent or guardian must bring a photocopy of his or her ID and sign Form DS-11.
- If parents are unavailable, the child must bring a photocopy of his or her parent’s ID and a signed Form DS-3053.
- The child must submit proof that his or her legal parent or legal guardian is paying for the application fees, such as a check or money order with the parent or legal guardian’s name.
Does a 16-year-old need both parents for a passport?
No, you only need at least one of your parents or legal guardians to accompany your U.S. passport application. If you are age 16 or older, you are considered an adult applicant. Thus, you may apply by yourself with the needed requirements, including your parent’s consent. A parent or legal guardian’s consent can be him or her appearing with you in person in the passport acceptance facility.
Do both parents need to be present for the child passport in the USA?
Yes, depending on the age of the child.
If the child is under age 16, both parents need to be present at the passport acceptance facility with their child. They have to fill out and sign Form DS-11.
If the child is age 16 or 17, at least one parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to the passport acceptance facility. Otherwise, the child must bring a signed Form DS-3053 and a photocopy of the parent or legal guardian’s ID.
What happens if one parent refuses to sign the passport?
Minor applicants under 16 years old must have both of their parents sign their passport application. Otherwise, the passport application may be delayed or rejected.
If you are a single parent or have sole legal custody of your child, here are the things you need to do:
- Appear in person with your child;
- Sign Form DS-11 in front of the consular officer; and
- Submit primary evidence of sole authority, such as:
- your child’s certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate listing only one parent;
- your child’s consular report of birth abroad or certification of birth abroad listing only your name;
- court order granting sole custody to you;
- adoption decree, if you are a sole adopting parent;
- court order specifically permitting your travel with the child;
- judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent; or
- death certificate of the non-applying parent.
At what age can you get a passport without parental consent?
Applicants ages 18 and older can get a U.S. passport without parental consent.
Although applicants age 16 and 17 can apply for a passport by themselves, they still need documents to show parental awareness or consent. It includes Form DS-3053, a photocopy of their parent’s ID, and evidence that their parents or legal guardians are paying for their application fees.
Does my child need to be present to renew a passport?
You cannot renew your child’s passport. For an individual to be eligible to file Form DS-82, U.S. Passport Renewal Application For Eligible Individuals, he or she must be at least 16 years old when issued with a recent U.S. passport.
You need to submit a new passport application for your child to obtain a new passport since applying for a passport renewal for a minor is not allowed. Also, your child’s presence at the passport acceptance facility is required.
Can a child travel with an expired passport?
No. Regardless of age, a passport with at least six months validity period is required to travel outside the U.S. by air.
I am my child’s only legal parent. Does that make a difference?
No, especially if the only parent listed in your child’s U.S. birth certificate is you. In this case, you only need your consent or signature to apply for your child’s passport.
If your child has a non-custodial parent listed in his or her birth certificate, the non-custodial parent will still need to accompany you and your child to the passport acceptance facility or sign Form DS-3053.
If you are a legal guardian of the child other than his or her parents listed on the birth certificate, you will need to submit certified copies of the proof of legal guardianship.
How do I get a passport for a minor?
Both parents or legal guardians and the minor applicant must apply in person to get a U.S. passport for minors.
Here are the steps you need to take.
- Fill out Form DS-11. If your child is under 16 years old, you are the one to fill out Form DS-11.
- Provide U.S. citizenship evidence. Submit an original or certified physical copy of your child’s citizenship evidence.
- Bring a photocopy of U.S. citizenship evidence. Submit a photocopy of your child’s citizenship evidence.
- Show parental relationship. Submit documentation that shows your relationship with the minor applicant or your child.
- Present identification. Submit an original copy of your identification or any government-issued IDs.
- Bring a photocopy of your ID. Submit a photocopy of your identification or any government-issued IDs.
- Show parental consent. To show parental consent for your child’s passport application, you need to accompany him or her to the passport acceptance facility. If one parent is unavailable, he or she must sign Form DS-3053.
- Provide a photo. Submit a valid passport photo of your child.
- Calculate fees. Be aware of the passport fees you need to pay at the passport acceptance facility to prevent delays.
- Submit your completed application. After gathering all the requirements, you may submit them to the passport acceptance officer.
What are the requirements to get a passport for a minor?
Here are the requirements for minor applicants applying for a U.S. passport.
- Form DS-11 — Form DS-11 must be signed by both parents at the passport acceptance facility.
- Minor Applicant’s Social Security Number — If none, parents must submit a statement, signed and dated, that includes the phrase, “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: (Child’s full name) has never been issued a Social Security Number by the Social Security Administration.”
- Citizenship Evidence — Parents must submit both original and a photocopy of their child’s citizenship evidence document. They may submit one of the following documents:
- Child’s fully valid or expired yet undamaged U.S. passport
- Child’s U.S. birth certificate that:
– is issued by the city, county, or state of birth;
– lists the child’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth;
– lists the parent or parents’ full name or names;
– has the date filed with the registrar’s office that must be within one year of birth;
– has the registrar’s signature; and
– has the seal of the issuing authority.
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Parental Relationship — Parents need to prove their relationship with the minor applicant. They may submit any of the following documents:
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
- Foreign Birth Certificate
- Adoption Decree
- Divorce or Custody Decree
- Child’s U.S. Birth Certificate
- Parent or Parent’s Identification — Parents need to submit an original copy and a photocopy of any of the following IDs:
- Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card
- In-state, fully valid driver’s license or enhanced driver’s license with photo
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
- U.S. military or military dependent ID
- Current (valid) foreign passport
- Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) – commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
- Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
- Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs
- In-state, fully valid learner’s permit with photo
- In-state, fully valid non-driver ID with photo
- Temporary driver’s license with photo
- Parental Consent — Parents need to file Form DS-3053 or other parental consent documents to authorize their child’s U.S. passport issuance, or go to the passport acceptance facility with their child.
- Passport Photo — The child or the minor applicant needs to have a valid passport photo. The standard passport photo must be clear and colored with a plain white or off-white background. Here are some tips for taking a passport photo of infants and newborns:
- Lay the child on its back on a white blanket or sheet to ensure its head is supported without the aid of a hand.
- Alternatively, cover a car seat with a plain white sheet and take a picture of your child in the car seat.
- Please make sure no other person is in the photo.
- A photo with the child looking at the camera is preferred, although not required.
- Passport Fees — The application fee for the children’s passport book is $80, while the passport card is $15. There is an execution fee of $35 for every application.
What documents are required for a child passport?
Here are the documents required to get a child’s U.S. passport:
- Form DS-11 signed by both parents at the passport acceptance facility;
- The minor or child applicant’s citizenship evidence;
- Parental relationship documents, such as Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth;
- An original and a photocopy of the ID of the minor or child applicant’s parents, such as current U.S. passport, driver’s license, or other government-issued IDs;
- Parental consent document such as Form DS-3053 signed by the minor or child applicant’s parents, or the presence of both parents at the passport acceptance facility;
- The minor or child applicant’s valid passport photo; and
- The passport fees. It includes the $80 acceptance fee for a passport book, the $15 acceptance fee for a passport card, and the consistent $35 for the execution fee.
How much are U.S. passports for minors?
The U.S. passport fees for minors depend on the type of passport.
The acceptance fee for a passport book for a minor applicant is $80, while the passport card is $15. If applying for both, you need to pay $95. There is a consistent $35-execution fee for every application.
What are the photo requirements for a passport for minors?
The photo you submit for a child U.S. passport must meet the following criteria:
- 2″ x 2″ in size, printed in color on high-quality photo paper;
- Plain white background;
- No hats, headbands, or hair bows;
- No extra objects or people in the photo — no pacifiers, bottles, toys, chairs, or parent’s hands; and
- The child must face the camera and have eyes open.
My baby can’t sit up on his own. How can we take his passport photo?
If your baby cannot sit on his or her own, consider lying the baby down on a plain white blanket or sheet. Then, take the photo looking down at his or her face.
How can I get a certified copy of my child’s birth certificate?
You can get a copy of your child’s birth certificate from the Vital Statistics Office in the state where he or she was born. You can also order a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate online through registered websites issuing such a vital record.
Will I get my child’s birth certificate back? What about his old passport?
Yes, your child’s birth certificate and previous passport will be returned to you in a separate envelope after you get your child’s new U.S. passport.