Items required for passport for child and what is the age limit to be considered a minor?

Question: I understand the evidence of citizenship would be a Birth Certificate. Is that correct? What is 'evidence of identity?'

Is a 14-year-old considered a minor?

Answer: Evidence of United States citizenship must be a certified birth certificate. A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth.

Proof of identity can be the most recent passport, a valid driver's license, a state-issued photo ID. There are other possibilities. For a complete list, click the link below.

Proof of Identity

Yes, a 14-year-old is considered a minor and must appear with both parents when applying for a passport. For complete instructions, click the link below.

Apply for a Minor's Passport

American citizen father with daughter born in Winnipeg, Canada. - how to get passport for her?

Question: My daughter was born in Winnipeg, Canada (mother and daughter coming back to the United States on Canadian passports).

The State Dept website states that I can apply for a U.S. Passport for my child in lieu of a Consular Report Abroad for a more convenient alternative.

I cannot get a hold of anyone to validate this statement and if valid, what documents should I present at the passport office?

Answer: For a complete list of documents needed in order to get a passport for a minor, click the link below.

Apply for Child's Passport

The State Department website states that you can use a "previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport" as evidence of citizenship when applying for a child's passport rather than submit a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

However, it will be your daughter's first passport so she does not possess one that was previously issued. Since your daughter was born in Canada, you should submit a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or a Certificate of Citizenship.

There is a U.S. Consulate in Winnipeg where you can obtain this document. However, both parents must appear with the child.

U.S. Consulate in Winnipeg

How to Apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad

If you are unable to apply for the Consular Report of Birth Abroad, you can submit an application for a Certificate of Citizenship for your daughter once she is in the United States.

This is done through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Click the link below for complete details.

Application for Certificate of Citizenship

Once you have either the Consular Report of Birth Abroad or the Certificate of Citizenship, then you can apply for a passport for your daughter.

passport for child in adoptive placement

by mich
(los angeles ca)

Question: We have signed papers for adoptive placement. We were fostering and the 4-year-old child will not be officially adopted by us until after our trip.

Answer: Your social worker should be able to give you guidance concerning this question.

From what we understand, the person or persons who have legal custody of the child must appear with the child and submit the application or provide notarized consent for a third party to get the passport.

You will most likely need a court order that grants you permission to obtain a passport for the child and travel outside the United States with him. You can ask the social worker to have the county or state attorney file for this.

You may also need a certified copy of the child's birth certificate and a copy of the original order granting custody of the child to DSS.

Most states either pay the passport fees or reimburse the foster parents for it. In fact, you may not even be allowed to pay the fee and the bureaucracy involved may cause the process to take longer than normal.

Note, routine service takes 4-6 weeks. The need for a court order and the process of getting the fees paid may add a few more weeks to this process. You should plan your trip accordingly.

Passport for child with notarized letter from parents

by Jacki
(Willits CA, USA)

Question: Can I obtain a passport for a child with a notarized letter from her parents, her original birth certificate and her SSN? I am fiancé to her uncle and want to take her with me when I visit him in Mexico next month.

Answer: Yes, you can obtain a passport for a child if you submit a notarized written statement or affidavit from both parents authorizing you to apply for a passport. For a complete list of requirements, click the link below.

Apply for Child's Passport

Note, it is also recommended that you obtain a notarized letter of consent to travel with a minor from the child's parents and keep it with you at all time during your trip.

Letter of Consent to Travel with a Minor

Need Passport for My Children

by Yiniva
(Colombia)

Question: I was deported to Colombia. My children are in New York with my mother. They want to come see me. My son had a passport before. He came to Colombia when he was a baby with my mom on vacation.

I´m the only one on his birth certificate so I got him the passport for the trip but my daughter's father is on the birth certificate. I know that would be a little more difficult. What can I do to have my children come visit?

I need to see them. I miss my children and they miss me. Please help me. Thank you.

Answer: Your mother can apply for a passport for your son if you send her a notarized written statement or affidavit authorizing her to apply for the passport. If this only has your name on it, your mother must also provide evidence that you have sole legal custody. The birth certificate without the father's name would be sufficient. Note, this must be a certified copy and not a photocopy.

You can get the statement notarized at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate general.

U.S. Embassy in Bogota

As you mentioned, it is a little more difficult to get a passport for your daughter. Either the father can appear with your daughter and submit a notarized consent form from you. Or your mother can appear with your daughter and submit a notarized written statement or affidavit authorizing her to apply for the passport. This must be from both parents.

If there is some special circumstance because of which the father cannot be contacted, then you can complete the "Special Circumstance" section of Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent of Special Circumstances: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16 and submit it with the application.

If your mother has legal guardianship of the children or if they are 16 years of age or older, then the consent forms may not be necessary. For more information, click the link below.

Apply for Passport for Minor

Professional passport expediters can often help in such circumstances. Click the link below for contact information.

Passport Expediting Services

Do I have the necessary documents to renew passport for my foreign-born adopted child?

by Alicia
(New Orleans, LA.)

Question: My husband and I are both U.S.-born citizens. We adopted our son from Russia in 2003. He is now 9 years old. He has a U.S. passport which expired on 3 years ago. We do not have his Certificate of Citizenship. We do have his Russian birth certificate with a translation, listing us as the parents. We also have the Russian adoption certificate with the translation. Is this adequate to renew his passport?

Answer: A previously-issued passport can be submitted as evidence of U.S. citizenship. You also must submit a document which established your relationship with your son. An adoption decree with the adopting parents names on it is acceptable. A foreign document is acceptable with the passport application as long as it is accompanied by a translation. Click the link below for a list of locations where you can apply.

Other required documents include a photocopy of parent's identification documents and a recent passport photo.

New Orleans Passport Offices

My 9 year son's passport expired last year. What form do I need to fill out to renew his passport?

by Grace
(Hillsborough, NJ)

Question: My son's passport expired October of last year. I would like to renew his passport and was wondering which forms I need to fill out for his renewal.

Answer: It will be necessary to apply for a new passport for your son at a passport application acceptance facility. The requirements are listed below.

1. Completed, unsigned application Form DS-11
2. Evidence of U.S. citizenship
3. Evidence of relationship to minor
4. Proof of identification
5. Photocopy of identification document
6. One recent passport photo

Note, both parents must appear or the applying parent must submit a notarized consent form from the non-applying parent. If you have sole legal custody, you must provide proof of such.

For more information, click the links below.

Apply for a Child's Passport

New Jersey Passport Offices

Get Minor's Passport Fast

Do I need to provide photos of my one-month-old child in order to get a passport for him?

by Abdullah
(Columbia, Mo)

Question: My child is only one-month old. Do I still need to provide his photos in order to obtain a passport for him?

Answer: A photo is required of every U.S. citizen that applies for a passport, independent of age. This means that parents of newborn babies and small infants need to submit the passport photo.

Unacceptable photos are the number one cause for delays in the process. You can access a list of photo requirements by clicking the link below.

Passport Photo Requirements

You should make sure your child's eyes are open in the photo. One way to do this is to drape a white sheet over one (sitting) parent, who also holds the baby's head and neck upright under the sheet while the photographer takes the photo. A second way is to place the child on a white blanket on the floor and take the photo while standing over him/her.

Passports for children in foster care

by K. Quinn
(California)

Question: I'm the social worker for a 15-year-old girl in foster care. No one knows where her parents are located, so no signatures can be obtained. After obtaining a court order, how do I proceed with getting her a passport?

Question: Whoever appears with the minor must submit evidence of legal custody or notarized consent from the person who has legal custody. Once you have a court order which grants legal custody or guardianship, you must appear in person with the minor at a passport application acceptance facility and submit this document to an authorized passport agent along with all the required forms and documents. For a complete list, click the list below.

Passports for Minors

To locate a passport office near you, click the link below.

California Passport Offices

Do I have to submit the original documents for evidence of US citizenship and evidence of relationship or can I provide photocopies?

Question: My child is a minor under 16 and born outside of the US (in Taiwan). As Evidence of U.S. Citizenship I will present his Certificate of Citizenship (issued in the US) and as Evidence of Relationship I will present an English birth certificate issued by the hospital in Taiwan bearing both parents' names. Do these documentation have to be the original documents, or can I submit photocopies? Thank you.

Answer: The documents that you submit must be original documents or certified copies. Certified copies can be obtained through the official issuing agency for each document. Photocopies are not accepted.

If you are concerned about the possible loss of these documents, understand that only on rare occasions does this happen. There are a couple of things you can do to increase the chances that the documents will not be damaged nor lost in transit.

1. Use a secure means of packaging, such as a Tyvek envelope.

2. Mail your passport application and any personal documents using a traceable delivery method.

For complete instructions on obtaining a passport for a child, click the link below.

Get a Passport for Minor

Is a minor's previous passport that has not expired enough identification to get a new one?

by Sara
(West Lafayette, IN USA)

Question: My minor daughter's passport expires this coming October. Since her current passport has not expired yet, is it enough documentation to take to get a new one or do I have to take her birth certificate and whatever other documentation needed?

And is my passport, which is also current and is still valid for another 10 years, enough identification for me as her legal parent or do I need to take more documentation on myself?

We will be traveling out of the country on a cruise in November so I need to get my daughter's "renewed" as soon as possible. Thank you.

Answer: Your daughter's passport can be used as both evidence of U.S. citizenship and your passport can be used as proof of identity as long as neither are damaged.

However, you must submit a document that establishes your relationship to your minor child. You also need to take your daughter's certified birth certificate.

Note, both parents must appear with the minor child age 15 and under. You can appear alone if 1) you have sole legal custody and have an official document to prove this or 2) you submit a notarized consent form from the non-applying parent.

For complete details, click the link below.

How to Apply for a Child's Passport

Does a US birth certificate of a foreign born adopted child serve as proof of citizenship?

by Annette
(Portland, Oregon)

Question: My daughter was adopted from Guatemala. We immigrated her to the U.S. on a Guatemalan passport. She had a green card. We recently completed the re-adoption process in the state of Oregon and now have a foreign born Oregon birth certificate. Does this satisfy the requirement for proof of citizenship? Do we need any other documentation to get a passport for her?

Answer: You will need the following when the child applies for a passport:

1) Proof of the child's relationship to the U.S. citizen parent. For an adopted child, it is a certified copy of the final adoption decree (and translation if not in English);

2) The I-551 stamp endorsed in the child's foreign passport showing that the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services admitted the child for lawful permanent residence , or the child's permanent resident card (green card);

3) Completed, unsigned passport application Form DS-11;

4) Proof of identity of the U.S. citizen parent(s);

5) Recent passport photograph;

6) Payment of application fee and execution fee.

Click the link below for a list of locations you can apply.

Oregon Passport Offices

You may already be aware of it, but there is a helpful resource for parents of adopted Guatemalan children. You can visit here:

Guatemala Adoptive Families Network

What paperwork do I need and what is the cost of getting passports for my children?

by Lori
(Pembroke MA, USA)

Question: My children's passports expire in April. I need to have new ones for a trip in July. Since I cannot "renew" their passports, what paperwork do I need and what is the cost? Does the Hanover application acceptance location do photos?

Answer: You should complete application form DS-11 and submit evidence of U.S. citizenship for each child. This can be a previously issued passport or a certified birth certificate.

Also, you must submit proof of your relationship to your children. The certified birth certificate serves this purpose as long as it has the names of both parents.

Note, both parents must appear and present personal identification and a photocopy of the identification document when apply for minors under age 16.

If one parent cannot be present, the one that is must either submit the second parents' notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053) or present legal proof of sole custody.

There are at least two fees when applying for a child's passport. The application fee for a passport book is $80. The execution fee (paid to the attending agent at the acceptance facility) is $25.

For an additional $15 fee, you can get a passport card (restricted to land and sea travel between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda) for each child.

According to our resources, the passport application acceptance facility in Hanover does offer photo service on site. The address is below.

Town of Hanover
550 Hanover Street
Hanover MA 02339-2217
(781) 826-5000