How to Apply for a U.S. Passport for Children?

The Department of State does not issue U.S. passports of minors or children under age 16 without the consent of both parents. Such a rule protects children involved in custody disputes and prevents a parent from taking a child to another country without the consent of the other parent.

United States passports for children under age 16 are only valid for five years.

Apply for a U.S. passport for a child under age 16 in 6 steps.

Fill-out U.S. Passport Forms here.

Step 1 of 6 — Fill out Form DS-11

All U.S. citizens and nationals, whether adults or children, use Form DS-11, U.S. Passport Application, to apply for the first passport. First-time U.S. passport applicants can use the form; however, certain exceptions apply. Use Form DS-11 if one of the following conditions apply to you:

• You are applying for your first U.S passport
• You are applying for the U.S passport of your child
• You are 16 years old or older
• Your U.S. passport was issued when you were under 16 years old
• Your U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged
• Your U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago and is now expired
• You changed your name and your U.S. passport still reflects your previous name
• You are requesting a gender marker change in your U.S. passport

How to fill out Form DS-11?

If you are the parent of the minor applicant, you can fill out Form DS-11 on his or her behalf. The form is a six-page application form; two pages require the information of your child and the other four pages contain instructions.

First page

Determine whether you are applying for the U.S. passport card, U.S. passport book, or both, of your child. Select the applicable box. Then, answer the nine fields:

1. Name — Enter the full legal name of your child.

2. Date of Birth — Enter the date of birth of your child in the following format: mm/dd/yyyy.

3. Sex — Select the gender of your child. Mark “M” for male and “F” for female.

4. Place of Birth — Enter the place of birth of your child.

5. Social Security Number — Enter the Social Security Number (SSN) of your child if there is any.

6. Email — Enter the email address of your child if there is any.

7. Primary Contact Phone Number — Enter a phone number. This could be yours.

8. Mailing Address — Enter your full mailing address.

9. List of all other names you have used legally — Enter the other names your child has legally used if there are any.

Second page

Answer the rest of the fields:

• Name of Applicant — Enter the full legal name of your child in the following format: Last, First, and Middle.
• Date of birth — Enter the date of birth of your child in the following format: mm/dd/yyyy.

10. Parental Information — Provide your and your spouse’s required information.

11. Have you ever been married? — Mark “No.”

12. Additional Contact Phone Number — Enter an additional contact number if there is any.

13. Occupation — This field is not applicable.

14. Employer or School — Enter the name of your child’s school.

15. Height — Enter the height of your child.

16. Hair Color — Enter the hair color of your child.

17. Eye Color — Enter the eye color of your child.

18. Travel Plans — Provide any travel plans that involve your child. Enter the required information.

19. Permanent Address — Enter your full permanent address.

20. Emergency Contact — Enter the person to contact in case of an emergency.

21. Have you ever applied for or been issued a U.S. Passport Book or Passport Card? — Answer the questions regarding past U.S. passport applications. If your child is a first-time applicant, answer “No” to all the questions.

Do not sign Form DS-11 until instructed by the acceptance agent.

Get access to U.S. Passport Forms here.

Step 2 of 6 — Gather requirements

Documents proving U.S. citizenship

Submit a document that proves your child is a U.S. citizen or national. You must provide an original or certified copy, as photocopies, even notarized ones, are not acceptable. Submit one of the following documents:

• Birth certificate, meeting the following requirements:
  • Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
  • Lists full name and date and place of birth
  • Shows the date filed with the registrar’s office — must be within one year of birth
  • Has the registrar’s signature
  • Has the seal of the issuing authority
• U.S. hospital birth record
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Citizenship
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certificate of Birth
• Fully-valid, undamaged U.S. passport — may be expired

Parental relationship

Submit a document to show your relationship with the child. You may use one of the following documents to show parental relationship:

• U.S. birth certification
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Foreign birth certificate
• Adoption decree
• Divorce or custody decree

Identification documents of parents or guardians

Present one of the following identification documents to the acceptance agent:

• In-state and fully-valid driver’s license
• Valid or expired, undamaged, U.S. passport
• Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
• Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
• U.S. military ID or military dependent ID
• Valid foreign passport
• Matrícula Consular (Mexican Consular Identification, commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant)

If you present an out-of-state identification, you must present an additional ID.

Photograph

Provide a photo of your child, observing the following requirements:

• Colored, high-resolution photo
• Use a plain white or off-white background
• Photo size must be 2×2” or 51×51 cm
• Wear regular clothes
• Do not wear any headdress or eyeglasses, unless for religious reasons

Step 3 of 6 — Show parental consent

For the issuance of a child’s passport, both parents or guardians must authorize the application. Both parents or guardians must go with the child to apply in person.

Instructions if both parents cannot appear in person:

If you have sole legal custody

Submit a document as evidence of sole legal custody. You must submit one of the following documents during the application:

• A court order granting you sole legal custody of the child, such as a divorce decree or custody order
• A court order permitting you to apply for your child’s passport
• Your child’s birth certificate listing you as the only parent
• An adoption decree listing you as the only parent
• The judicial declaration of incompetence of the parent that cannot appear in person
• The death certificate of the parent that cannot appear in person

If one parent is unable to appear

Submit Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor Under Age 16.

If you cannot  locate the other parent

Submit Form DS-5525, Statement of Exigents/Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor Under Age 16.

If neither parent is able to appear

A third-party may apply for your child’s passport using a notarized statement from both parents or guardians giving the third-party permission. The notarized statement must have a photocopy of the identification document of both the parents or guardians.

If in case the statement is from only of the parents or guardians, the third-party must show evidence of sole custody of the consenting parent or guardian.

Step 4 of 6 — Prepare fees

Here are the fees you need to pay for your child’s U.S. passport:

The application fee and the execution fee are paid separately. You can pay the fees in cash, checks, major credit cards, or money orders. Checks and money orders should be payable to the “U.S. Department of State.”

Step 5 of 6 — Submit application

You and your child must submit Form DS-11 and other requirements in person at a passport acceptance facility.

Step 6 of 6 — Wait for your child’s passport

Wait for your child’s passport to be processed and delivered within four to six weeks.

Download and print U.S. Passport Forms here.