Can a child return to the United States with an expired passport?
Question: Hi. At the moment, my family and I are in Canada and we are all Americans. I have a daughter whose passport expired. She is 5 years old. We want to go back home ASAP. I was wondering if I can use her expired passport and her birth certificate to re-enter the United States? We will be traveling by plane. The nearest embassy is 4 hours away. Please help! Thank you for your attention.
Answer: ALL PERSONS (including children) traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a
valid passport book or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.
Children under age 16 will be able to continue crossing land and sea borders using only a U.S. birth certificate. This does not apply to air travel. The airline will not allow your daughter to board without a current, valid passport.
You either have to apply for your daughter's new passport at the nearest U.S. embassy or authorize a private expediting service to submit the application for you. While this would avoid the need to travel to the embassy, it can be quite expensive.
If you want to investigate further the option of using a private expediter, click the link below.
Apply to expedite child's passport
Click for fast expedited courier service
Top 5 Questions About Expedited Passport Couriers
UPDATE:
High demand and mailing delays are impacting how long it takes to get a passport.
- Standard service is currently taking between 8 and 11 weeks.
- Expedited service is currently taking between 5 to 7 weeks.
NOTE: Processing times begin when applications are received at a passport agency or center. Requesting 1-2-day mailing service is recommended.
Need to get a passport faster?
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