Question

Does my husband need to be present to renew my son's passport? He is under 16, but my husband cannot be present for work.

Answer

Both custodial parents need to appear with the child when the passport application is submitted. If the father cannot be present, he may complete Form DS-3053 and have it notarized. You may then submit the notarized form with a photocopy of his ID.

Question

My child currently has a passport and the father has agreed, now it is time for renewal but the father has moved away and has no contact on where to find him, what do I need to do?

Answer

Passports of minors cannot be renewed. You need to apply for a new passport exactly the same way as the previous one.

You need the father's consent for the application if you do not have sole legal custody of the child. Social media is usually a good place to find a person you have lost contact with.

Question

Do both parents have to be present to renew passports for children under 16? If they were both present to apply for the first time together, and this is merely a renewal, why would both parents have to be present?

Answer

Passports issued to minors age 15 and under cannot be renewed. You need to submit a new application the same way you did for the previous passports so both parents still need to be present.

Question

FOR CHILDREN UNDER 16

To submit an application for a child under age 16, both parents or the child's legal guardian(s) must appear and present all of the following:

• Evidence of the child's U.S. citizenship
• Evidence of the child's relationship to parents/guardian(s) (Example: a birth certificate or consular report of birth abroad listing the names of the parent(s)/guardian(s) and child)
• Original parental/guardian government-issued identification and a photocopy of the front and back

If only one parent/guardian can appear, you must also submit one of the following:

• The second parent's notarized written statement or DS-3053 (including the child's full name and date of birth) consenting to the passport issuance for the child. The notarized statement cannot be more than three months old, must be signed and notarized on the same day, and must come with a photocopy of the front and back side of the second parent's government-issued photo identification.
• The second parent's death certificate (if second parent is deceased)
• Evidence of sole authority to apply (Example: a court order granting sole legal custody or a birth certificate listing only one parent)
• A written statement (made under penalty of perjury) or DS-5525 explaining, in detail, why the second parent cannot be reached

Answer

This FAQ is about passports for a 16-year-old, not under. The presence of BOTH parents is only required when applying for a passport for a child age 15 or younger.

Question

Can you please help me. My daughter's ex-partner as renewed their daughter's passport without her consent. What can we do?

Answer

If the passport has already been issued, you need to speak to a lawyer regarding the passport issuance and possible revocation.