Do passports serve as legal proof of citizenship even when kids grow up?

by William & Liz
(Oregon)

Question: It is very expensive to get US certificates of citizenship. Therefore, although my wife and I have US citizenship/naturalization certificates our teenagers only have US passports.

Since you have a couple of related passport questions, they will be answered in the order you gave them.

Question: Can passports serve as proofs of citizenship for teenagers and also when they grow up?

Answer: A previously issued United States passport can serve as evidence of U.S. citizenship as long as it is not damaged.

Question: We, parents, have severe allergies and have to commute to work therefore chances to die because of illness and traffic accidents are big. If parents die before teenagers' passports are renewed, may teenagers renew their own passports and be granted new passports?

Answer: Parental consent must be provided in written form for minors age 15 and under who wish to apply for a passport. Minors age 16 and 17 only need to provide written consent from parents when the consent is not implied on the passport application form.

If you were to die while your children were still minors then someone would be granted legal guardianship of your children. Legal guardians can also provide the consent needed for a minor to get a passport.