For parents old and new, applying for a child passport could often be a rigorous process, and making a mistake could cost you hundreds of dollars if you have a planned trip. How much does it cost? What forms do I need to fill out?
Luckily, we used this blog to break down every intricate step of this process that is sure to make applying for your child’s passport as straightforward and question free as possible.
Who is Eligible for a Child Passport?
Just because a minor is under 18, it does not mean they are eligible to apply for a Child Passport. Child passports may only apply to minors under the age of 16. A Child Passport is valid for five years.
What Form Should You Fill Out?
Minors under 16 are required to apply using a DS-11 form. Applicants cannot submit a DS-11 application through mail or online and must apply in person, with parent(s) or legal guardian(s) present.
If the applicant is 16 or 17, they will likely need to fill out a DS-11 form. The exception to this is if the applicant obtained a 10-year passport once they were eligible and needed a passport renewal. In this case, applicants must apply using a DS-82 form to apply for their passport renewal. Those applicants applying with a DS-82 form must renew their passports by mail.
How To Apply For Children Under 16
Now that you are aware of what you are applying for, you must gather important documents and follow these steps for a successful application process.
1. Fill Out a DS-11 Form
Necessary: You must sign the application when instructed to do so by an acceptance agent. This is because they will need to verify the applicant(s) identity in person before any documents are signed and finalized.
2. Provide Evidence of U.S Citizenship
You must provide an original or certified, physical copy of one of the following documents:
- Undamaged, Valid passport (passport may be expired)
- A U.S Birth Certificate
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth ( if you are unsure of this document, read about it here)
- Certificate of Citizenship
3. Provide a Photocopy of U.S Citizenship Evidence
You must submit a photocopy of the front and back of the physical evidence
Your photocopies must follow be legible, and printed on 8” X11” standard paper. The photocopy must be printed in black and white and must remain single-sided.
Note: If you plan on submitting a physical copy of a Birth certificate, it is important to remember that some states deem it illegal to make a photocopy of a birth certificate. If this is the case, you can submit a second certified copy of your physical evidence instead.
4. Show Parental Relationship
The documentation submitted must list the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the child applying for the passport. Parents or legal guardians must submit one or more of the following:
- U.S. birth certificate (also evidence of U.S. citizenship, must be )
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth (also evidence of U.S. citizenship)
- Foreign birth certificate
- Adoption decree
- Divorce/Custody decree
5.Present ID
Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must provide a form of identification to the acceptance agent. You can find all acceptable forms of identification on the U.S. Department of State website under the identification tab.
6.Submit a Photocopy of Your ID
The photocopy must present the front and back of your ID. It needs to be presented on standard paper and must remain single-sided. You may not decrease the size of the image, as it can alter legibility.
7.Show Parental Consent
This step may be the trickiest to complete only because both parents or legal guardians must be there in person with the applicant to show their consent. The U.S. Department of State is aware that this may take a lot of work to accomplish, considering the diversity of family dynamics that may be presented.
Although it is recommended that both parents or legal guardians attend their in-person appointment, here are your options if it is impossible.
If one parent cannot appear, the absent parent must fill out a DS-3053 Statement of Consent Form.
The parent that will be absent must sign and date their filled-out DS-3053 in the presence of a certified notary. In some states, the parent must have their statement of consent notarized at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
The parent must also submit a photocopy of the front and back of the ID they presented to the notary with their DS-3053 form.
If one parent cannot be located, the remaining parent must fill out a DS-5525 “Statement of Exigent/ Special Family Circumstances” form.
The remaining parent will be asked to provide evidence such as a custody order, an incarceration order, or a restraining order. Evidence must be provided in most cases to prevent a parent from abducting a child through international travel.
If only one parent has sole legal authority, they must provide evidence. A few examples are a court order, a birth certificate with only one parent’s name, and an adoption decree listing them as the only parent… Etc
If neither parent is able to appear, a third party must fill out a DS-3053, or a notarized statement from both parents. The third party must also provide a photocopy of the parent’s identification.
8. Provide a Valid Passport Photo
All of the requirements for submitting a passport photo may be found here.
For more great tips for getting the perfect passport photo, refer to our blog post, “Tips for a Great Passport Photo.”
Note: do not attach or staple your passport photo to any of your documents.
9. Cost
There are separate fees that the applicant must be aware of. There is a government fee and an acceptance facility fee.
For the government fee, the applicant must provide a check or money order paid to the order of the “ U.S. Department of State.”
The amount required to pay for a child passport book is currently $100, a passport card is currently $15, and both a passport and passport card total $115
The acceptance facility fee will be $35 and must be paid separately.
10. Submit Your Application
You must submit your application in person, at a Passport Acceptance Facility to verify the child’s and the parent’s identity.
A Passport Acceptance facility is usually a Courthouse, Clerk of Court, Post Office, Library, University, or other municipal building.
A passport acceptance facility search page is provided on the U.S Department of State website. The search engine lets you put in your zip code to find a place that does passports near you, it also has phone numbers, operating hours, how to get an appointment (or if walk-ins are acceptable), and it’ll let applicants know if photo services are available on-site.
Processing Time: When Can You Expect Your Passport to Arrive
The current processing time for a passport can range from 6 to 9 weeks. Remember that processing times begin the day your application was received by a center, not the day you applied.
If you have a trip planned with your child and waiting 6 to 9 weeks to receive their passport sounds like there are better options than this, The U.S. Department of State offers an expedited child passport service for an additional $60. However, the applicant must be within 14 days of international travel and be able to prove it. Additionally, this only expedited your child’s passport to about 3 to 5 weeks.
If that is still too long, consider applying for your expedited child passport with a private courier like The Passport Office!
We offer services to get your expedited child passport in Miami, Orlando, Hollywood, and Tampa as little as three days!
