Traveling with a child (especially a baby) isn’t always easy. You have to make sure that you have all of your ducks in a row before even thinking about making travel plans with your little one. And if you plan on traveling internationally, there are even more hoops that you’ll have to jump through, including getting your child a passport. Though this may seem like a daunting task, we’re here to tell you that obtaining a passport for your baby isn’t as hard as you may think.
Ready to get the process started but aren’t sure where to begin? Here’s everything you need to know about how to get a passport for a newborn:
Do Babies Need Passports?
If you plan on traveling internationally with your baby, you may be wondering if they’ll need a passport. The answer is yes! Anyone who wants to travel internationally, no matter their age, must obtain a passport.
Does a Newborn Need a Passport?
In short, yes. People of all ages need a passport if they want to travel internationally. This includes newborn babies.
What Documents Are Needed to Get an Infant a Passport?
When you’re ready to apply for your baby’s passport, be sure to have the following documents on hand to make the process go smoothly:
- Proof of Citizenship For Your Infant
- DS-11 Passport Application
- A Passport Type Photo
- Two Original Letters of Authorization (if you’re obtaining your child’s passport with Swift)
- A Copy of Your Valid Photo ID
- Payment to the Government
- Proof of Departure Within Two Weeks
- Photocopy of All Application Materials
- Sealed Envelope Waiver
To learn more about what documents are needed to get a baby a passport, you can look at this checklist located on the Swift website.
Can Babies Get a Passport Without a Social Security Number?
Though it’s a good idea to get your newborn a social security number, your baby doesn’t necessarily need one in order to obtain a passport. If you need to apply for a passport for your child and they don’t have a social security number, there are some extra steps that you’ll need to take. You can read all about those steps in this blog.
How Do I Sign My Baby’s Passport?
There’s a very good chance that your infant will not be able to sign their own passport quite yet. This means that one of the child’s parents or guardians will need to sign for them. To sign your baby’s passport, you’ll need to print their name, sign your own name, and then indicate your relationship to the child in parenthesis. It’s as simple as that!
You can learn more about how to sign your child’s passport by going here.
How Much Does it Cost to Get a Newborn a Passport with Swift?
In order to get your baby a passport, you will need to pay some fees. If you’re looking to expedite the process, the total cost to obtain your newborn’s passport is $777.32. This includes a $599 service fee and a $178.32 government fee. Please note that this does not include shipping fees or the $10 processing fee.
How Long Will it Take to Get My Baby a Passport?
If you’re ready to get a passport for your infant, you may be wondering how long it will take. As of June 13, 2022, we can help get your child a passport within 7-10 business days. Please note that you must call ahead if you are interested in using this service, as it is being offered on a first come first serve basis.
How Can I Get My Baby a Passport?
Getting the process started to get your infant a passport is actually quite simple. If you’re ready to start the passport application process for your child, you can do so on the Swift website. Here, you’ll need to fill out all of the necessary information, gather the required documents, pay any fees, and send all of the required items to Swift. When you send us the required items, please be sure to use FedEx or UPS, not USPS. Once we process your baby’s passport application, you will get their completed passport sent to you.
How Long is a Baby’s Passport Valid?
Though adult passports are valid for ten years, the validity of a newborn’s passport doesn’t last as long. From the date that your baby’s passport was issued, it is valid for five years. After five years, you will need to apply for a new child passport.
Obtaining a passport for your baby doesn’t have to be complicated. We hope that you were able to get some clarity from this article and have a better idea of how the process works. If you have any other questions about obtaining a passport for your baby, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’d be happy to help! As always, no matter where you plan on going, we’ll get you there!
