Acquiring or renewing a child's passport is no walk in the park. Over the past few years, new requirements have been added in an effort to combat child abduction and trafficking. The new requirements mean more work for parents to acquire passports for their children. While guaranteeing the safety of children may be a worthy objective, it still means more work. To make it through the process without a hitch, start early and pay attention to details.

The first thing you need to know is that any child under age 18 and both parents or legal guardians need to appear in person to apply. What do you do when a parent or legal guardian cannot appear? You must provide either written permission from the absent parent or guardian or some other documented explanation, such as proof of sole custody of the child, an adoption decree or the death certificate of a deceased parent. You can either provide you own letter or fill in the sample form letter available on the State Department Web site. Be sure to get the letter notarized.

Is your child under age 16? If so, you need to provide both proof of citizenship and proof of relationship.

Proof of citizenship can be established with a certified birth certificate. You can acquire this at the registrar's office of the state where your child was born. Be sure to get the "long form".

Other documents that serve to prove citizenship are a previous fully valid U.S. passport, a Report of Birth Abroad, a Certification of Birth Abroad or a Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization.

While you can provide a previous U.S. passport as proof of citizenship, it is not accepted as proof of relationship. To prove the child's relationship to the applying partent(s) or guardian(s), you must submit one of the following.

Certified U.S. birth certificate (with parents' names); or
Certified Foreign Birth Certificate (with parents' names and translation, if necessary); or
Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) (with parents' names); or
Certification of Birth Abroad ( Form DS-1350) (with parents' names); or
Adoption Decree ( with adopting parents' names); or
Court Order Establishing Custody; or
Court Order Establishing Guardianship.

You also need to take with you photo ID such as your own passport or drivers license, Passport Application Form DS-11 filled out but not signed, two passport photos of each child and payment.

You will have at least three fees - the Passport Application Fee, the Execution Fee and the Security surcharge.

For children age 16 or older, the passport fee is $75 and the execution fee is $25. The total is $100.

For children under age 16, the passport fee is $60 and the execution fee is $25. The total is $85.

An expediting fee of $60 must also be paid to the U.S. Department of State if you want to obtain your child's passport within 2 weeks.

NOTE: Both parents must appear together and sign or one parent appears, signs and submits second parent's notarized Statement of Consent, Form DS-3053.

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Child Passport FAQ

Is a child passport necessary?

Yes. Your child will need a passport. Each individual must possess his/her own passport independent of age.

Do child passport applications require the consent of a parent or legal guardian?

The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs requires that all consent statements by a non-applying parent included with U.S. passport applications for minors under age 14 be notarized. The consent statement must include the child's name and date of birth, as well as parent's identification information or a copy of his/her ID. This new requirement is being implemented to enhance the accurate identification of applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and substitution.

How do I obtain a child passport?

If your child is under 16:

• IMPORTANT: All minors must now appear in person.
• Both parents or legal guardians, can apply for your child.
• Both parents or legal guardians must show current, valid ID.
• If you do not have acceptable ID, someone with current, valid ID must vouch for you.

If your child is 16 or 17:

• Your child must appear in person.
• Your parental consent may be requested

What is the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP)?

Separate from the Two-Parent Consent requirement for U.S. passport issuance for minors under the age of 14, parents may also request that their children's names be entered in the U.S. passport name-check system. The Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program provides:

Notification to parents of passport applications made on behalf of minor children, and
Denial of passport issuance if appropriate court orders are on file with CPIAP.
For more information, contact the Office of Children's Issues at 202-736-7000, or, by fax at 202-312-9743.

My child is too young to sign his/her own passport. How do I sign my child's passport?

In the space provided for the signature, the mother or father must print the child's name and sign their own name. Then, in parenthesis by the parent's name, write the word (mother) or (father).

For how long is a child passport valid?

10 years (if 16 or older at issuance)
5 years (if 15 or younger at issuance)

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