Passport requirements for kids age 15 and under are actually quite similar to the requirements for adults. You’ll need to prove the child is a US citizen, fill out a form, and provide a photo. There are just a few more passport requirements for children that involve proving the child is in fact your child.
Here is a complete list of what you will need to apply for an American child’s passport:
- Form DS-11 – You can download this form here. Fill it out at home, in the passport office, or bring it by our office if you need help figuring out how to fill it in correctly. Remember not to sign the form until you are directed to do so in person. The form will ask for your child’s social security number. If for whatever reason your child doesn’t have a social security number yet, you can enter all zeros (then go get your child a social security number – more on that here).
- Proof of US Citizenship – You’ll need to prove that your child is a US citizen by bringing in an original or certified copy of one of the following documents: their valid, undamaged US passport (which can be expired); their birth certificate; their consular report of birth abroad or certification of birth; or their certificate of citizenship. You should also bring a photocopy of whichever document you choose to submit with your application. The photocopy should be on regular paper, in black and white, and only printed on one side.
- Proof of Parental Relationship – You need to be able to show that you are the parent or legal guardian of the child applying. You can do that with a birth certificate, adoption decree, foreign birth certificate, or a divorce/custody decree.
- Your ID – Bring a valid driver’s license, state ID, or passport, as well as a copy of that ID for each parent/guardian.
- Parental Consent –Bothe parents and the child applicant are required to get the child’s passport application “executed” by a passport acceptance agent. If both parents cannot go to the acceptance agent, you’ll need the non-apearing parent to complete, sign, and notarize a DS-3053
- A Photo – Bring a passport photo of your child. If you’re getting a passport for your baby, try laying them down on a white sheet to get a good photo.
- The Application Fee – The current fees for a passport book are $80 for the application and $25 for the execution. If you are expediting, the $80 fee goes up to $140.
Keep in mind that your child’s passport will only be valid for five years, not ten, and remember that you need to complete the application in person. As always, if you have any questions or if you need a child passport in a hurry, contact our team today!
2 thoughts on “Passport Requirements for Children”
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