Child Passport Guide

When applying for a child passport you will need to have a lot of patience. The guidelines for minor passports are very specific and you must have all the documentation required to avoid suspensions or delays. Keep in mind that these requirements were put in place for safety of all children however daunting it may seem.

For information about getting a passport for an adopted child, see: Passports for Adopted Children

Child Passport Application Overview

• All minors under the age of 16 must apply in person at an acceptance agent.
• Both parents will have to be present at an acceptance facility when submitting the application or have proper parental consent from the absent parent.
• All minors including infants will need a passport of their own to travel internationally.
• For minors age 16 and 17, follow the adult new passport application guide.

Child Passport Forms

The first thing you need to do is fill out a DS-11 application. Although you can acquire this form at the post office and fill it out by pen, the preferred method is to fill it out at the Passport Office website online. This causes less errors, less risk of someone not being able to read your handwriting, and reduces the chance of a suspension. If you do fill it out by hand make sure it is done in black ink and that the writing is clearly legible.

Read our tips on filling out a DS-11 for a minor.

Items Needed for a Child Passport

You will need to bring all the following documentation with you to the Acceptance Clerk. Please keep in mind that if you are applying for multiple minors at one time, you must include a photocopy of each parent or guardians ID document presented with each minor’s individual passport application.

• Proof of Citizenship – State issued Birth Certificate or certified copy. Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization papers. All these Documents must be originals and will be returned with your New Passport.
• Proof of Identification – Back and front copy of both parents state issued ID, driver’s license or passport.
• Proof of relationship to minor – Generally this will be the original Birth Certificate. However there are times where other forms are acceptable.
• Government Fee – Money order or check (not starter checks) for the total that is specified on the product service and fee page of your DS-11. Amount varies depending on which products you order as well as what service time you need.  The check should be made out to the US Department of State. Do NOT abbreviate this as it will cause delays in your service.
• Passport Photo – 1 passport photo. Must be 2×2 with white background.
• DS–11 Application – Completed application printed and unsigned.

DS–3053 form – if one parent cannot be present at the acceptance clerk, this the the form they can fill out and have notarized authorizing the passport. One original notarized form per child passport application. Please see “Proof of parental consent for a child passport” for more details

Once you have all your documentation together you are all ready to head to the Acceptance Clerk or local passport office. The Acceptance Agent will be the person that checks to make sure you have all the proper documents, goes over DS-11 application for completeness and then verifies your ID. They will then ask you to take an oath and sign your application. All the documents will be sealed in an envelope. From there they will either mail it out or if you are using an expediting company you will take it with you.

All Minors Age 16 and 17 Must:

• Appear in person at the time of application
• Have one parent or guardian present photo identification if the minor does not have identification of his or her own
• Provide a photocopy of the same ID document that will be presented at the time of application (applicant or parent/guardian).
• Establish parental consent by one parent

Proof of parental consent for a child passport

For all minors under the age of 16 both parents must give consent for a passport to be issued to the child. There are a few ways to comply with this regulation:

• Both Parents appear in person with the minor in front of the Acceptance Clerk when signing and submitting the passport application.
• One Parent appears in person with the minor in front of the Acceptance Clerk with a notarized parental consent DS-3053 Form from non-applying parent.
• One parent with sole custody Appear in person with the minor in front of an Acceptance Agent and Submit primary evidence of sole authority to apply for the child with one of the following:
  • Minor’s certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate listing only the applying parent
  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only the applying parent or (Form FS-545) – Certification of Birth issued by the Department of State.
  • Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child’s travel is restricted by that order)
  • Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent)
  • Court order specifically permitting applying parent’s or guardian’s travel with the child
  • Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent
  • Death certificate of non-applying parent

NOTE: If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent must submit Form DS-5525 stating why the non-applying parent/guardian’s consent cannot be obtained

*A third Party Can submit a notarized statement or affidavit from both parents or guardians authorizing a third-party to apply for a passport or if a statement of affidavit is from only one parent/guardian, the third-party must present evidence of sole custody of the authorizing parent/guardian.

Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program
The Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) is one of the Department of States most important tools for preventing international parental child abduction. The program allows parents to register their U.S. citizen children under the age of 18 in the Department’s Passport Lookout System. If a passport application is submitted for a child who is registered in CPIAP, the Department contacts and alerts the parent or parents.

Frequently Asked Questions about Child Passports