Expired child's passport
by June Sloane
(Boca Raton, Florida)
Question: My granddaughter has an expired passport. She is now 14 & I want to take her to Europe when she is 15. Can I apply for a passport for her or does she need to go in person with her mother?
Answer: Passports issued to minors cannot be renewed. Your granddaughter must apply for a new passport.
The first step is to complete
Form DS-11. The application should not be signed until an agent asks your granddaughter to do so. This is done at a passport application acceptance facility.
Your granddaughter will also need to submit proof of U.S. citizenship (can be her expired passport) and one
passport photo.
When applying for a minor under age 16, both parent(s)/guardian(s) must submit evidence of their relationship to the minor applicant and must also present acceptable personal identification at the time of application. A photocopy of the identification document should be submitted as well.
If one parent cannot be present, the one who is must submit the second parents' notarized
Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053).
For complete instructions on getting a passport for a minor, click the link below.
How to Apply for a Child's Passport
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Top 5 Questions About Expedited Passport Couriers
UPDATE: Mailing delays and high demand are impacting passport processing. The Department of State's processing times begin when applications are received at a passport agency or center and not when you mail them or apply at a local acceptance facility.
Standard service may take between 8 and 11 weeks. This timeframe does not include delivery time. Mailing times vary across the country.
Expedited service takes from 5 to 7 weeks excluding mailing times on the front and back end. Current mailing delays are significant. Requesting 1-2-day mailing service is recommended.
Regional passport agencies are offering two types of appointments: Life-of-Death Emergency Service and Urgent Travel Service.
Life-or-death emergencies are serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family (parent, legal guardian, child, spouse, sibling, and grandparent) that require you to travel outside the United States within 3 business days.
If you need to travel due to a qualified life-or-death emergency, please call the National Passport Information Center for an appointment:
Mondays through Fridays 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. ET, call 1-877-487-2778 (TDD/TTY:1-888-874-7793)
Outside of these hours, call 202-647-4000.
For Urgent Travel Service, you need to call 14 days before your scheduled international travel or 28 days if you also need to secure a foreign visa.
If you need to travel urgently for reasons other than a life-or-death emergency, please call the NPIC at 1-877-487-2778 Mondays through Fridays 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. ET.
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