Passport for 16 & 17 Year Olds

The requirements to get a passport for a 16-year-old or a 17-year-old are identical to those needed to get a passort for an adult but with a few additional considerations.

Minors ages 16-17 with their own identification can apply for a passport by themselves. However, Passport Services does recommend that at least one parent appear in person with the minor to identify him/her and to show parental awareness. Parental awareness can be shown by having a parent accompany the minor when applying or a signed statement consenting to issuance of a passport from at least one parent. The latter should be accompanied by a photocopy of that parent's ID.

A passport generally will not be issued to a minor if a parent or legal guardian who has custodial rights over the minor has provided written notification that he or she objects to issuance of the passport.

Be aware that some Application Agents will allow a minor age 16 or 17 to submit the application without the presence of a parent while others will not. We recommend you contact the passport office where the application will be submitted and confirm requirements with the passport application acceptance agent.

If your child is age 15 or younger, visit the child passport requirements page or access a list of FAQ about applying for a passport for a minor age 15 or younger. You can also find answers to questions about passports for 16 & 17 year olds below.

List of FAQ about Passports for Minors Ages 16 and 17

If you find a question below for which you would like to read the answer, just click the link...

Can a 16-year-old get a passport without a parent?  Question: My 16-year-old son has an expired passport. My husband and I are outside the U.S. at the moment so we sent him back to the US before ...

Travel Abroad of 16-Year-Old of Divorced Parents  Question: Mother is designated custodian of 16-year-old. Can the 16-year-old get a passport without the father's permission? Can the 16-year-old travel ...

Must both parents be present when renewing a passport for a 16yo?  Question: Our daughter is turning 16 in a couple of days and we are traveling soon afterwards. 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?

Top 5 Questions About Expedited Passport Couriers