Must BOTH parents be present when renewing a passport of a 16yo minor?
by DIanna
(Seattle, WA USA)
Question: Our daughter is turning 16 on Wednesday and we are traveling on June 16. We want to wait until she is 16 so her passport will be valid for a longer time.
Do both parents need to accompany her for the renewal? If not, does the other parent have to provide notarized consent? Can we make an appointment for the expedited service even though we will be traveling in 3 weeks (not two)? Will we be turned away from the appointment?
Please advise. Thank you in advance.
Answer: Both parents are not required to appear when a minor age 16 submits an application for a passport. Only one parent is required. This parent must also present valid photo ID if the minor does not have his or her own .
Concerning parental consent, the State Department states that minors age 16 or 17 must "establish parental consent." They go on to say that this should be "implied on the application." When it is not, the minor "may be requested to provide written parental consent."
Regional passport agencies only attend to applicants whose departure date is within two weeks. The only way you can submit the application sooner is if you also need to obtain travel visas. In this case, the agency allows you to make an appointment up to four weeks before your departure date.
Click the link below for information about the agency that serves your state.
Seattle Passport Agency
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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 10 and 13 weeks. This timeframe does not include delivery time. Mailing times vary across the country.
Expedited service takes from 7 to 9 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.
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.
A registered expedited passport courier can often assist in obtaining a passport as quickly as the same day. You can learn more about this service here.
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