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How to Get a Passport for a Child Under 16
Getting a passport for a child under 16 involves more steps than for adults - and there is no renewal process for minors. Each time your child needs a new passport, you must start from scratch with a full application.
What You'll Need to Apply
To apply for a child's passport (book or card), bring the following to a passport acceptance facility:
- Form DS-11 - completed but unsigned
- One passport photo - meets official requirements
- Proof of U.S. citizenship - e.g., birth certificate
- Proof of parental relationship - e.g., birth certificate naming both parents
- Parental IDs and payment - bring IDs and payment via check or money order
Important: Your child must appear in person with both parents or legal guardians. This is mandatory, even if you are reapplying after a recent expiration.
Key Differences from Adult Passport Applications
- No mail-in renewals for minors - Every application must be completed in person
- 5-year validity only - Child passports expire faster than adult passports
- Extra documentation may be required - e.g., proof of custody or consent in special cases
These additional steps help prevent child abduction and trafficking, as per the U.S. Department of State. While important, they make the process more complex-so it's best to start early and carefully prepare all documents.
Current Child Passport Fees
- Passport Book: $135
- Passport Card: $50
- Both Book and Card: $150
- Expedited Service (optional): Add $60
See the full passport fees guide for current rates and processing times.
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The 3 Steps to Get a Passport for a Minor Under 16
Complete Application Form DS-11
There are two ways to complete the application form:
Complete Form DS-11 Offline
After downloading and printing, you can fill in the application offline. Applicants should write legibly in black ink. If the agent has difficulty reading what you wrote, it can lead to errors in the new passport.
Complete Form DS-11 Online
Print the form once you have completed it online. Some applicants have complained of connection problems or the fact that the online form would not accept some of their answers. In such a case, use the link above to print the form and complete it offline.
There are only 22 questions on 2 pages. Personal information that is requested includes the full name, date and place of birth, sex, phone number, travel plans and emergency contact. While the estimated burden is 85 minutes, you will most likely complete the form more quickly.
NOTE: Whichever option you choose, the application should not be signed until an acceptance agent asks you to do so.
Gather Supporting Documents
The following documents must be presented at the time you submit the application at a passport office or send with the form to the passport processing center:
- child's evidence of U.S. citizenship
- parents' or guardians' proof of relationship to child
- photo ID of parents/guardians or child
- photocopy of identification documents
- one passport photo
The passport photo requirement is one of the main reasons a child's passport cannot be renewed. It is also one of the most common reasons a minor's passport application gets denied.
While passports for children are only valid for 5 years, a child's appearance changes drastically over that time. The face you see on your child's previous passport is likely very different from the one you see now.
The U.S. State Department does allow you to supply your own photo of your child (as long as it was taken within the last 6 months and meets the current passport photo requirements), but it is a better idea to leave it to the pros.
When you make an appointment to submit your passport application and identification documents, select a passport acceptance facility that offers passport photo services.
Evidence of U.S. Citizenship
Parents must be prepared to present evidence of their child's age, and citizenship status. The following documents are acceptable:
- Previously issued, undamaged U.S. Passport
- Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state (must be long form)
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
- Naturalization Certificate
- Certificate of Citizenship
A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate can be acquired at the registrar's office of the state where your child was born. Be sure to get the "long form" of the document. The Department of State will not accept a short form birth certificate when applying for a U.S. passport.
Evidence of Parental Relationship
You must be prepared to document your parental relationship to a minor applying for a passport. The following options are accepted:
- U.S. birth certificate
- Foreign birth certificate
- Adoption decree
- Divorce decree
- Court order establishing custody
- Court order establishing guardianship
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a United States Citizen (FS-240)
The parent(s) or guardian(s) who are applying for the child's passport must submit photo ID if the child does not have one.
Acceptable identification documents include an undamaged passport or valid driver's license. A photocopy of each identification document must be submitted as well. The copy must be on plain white paper that is 8 1/2 x 11" in size. Images can only be on one side of the paper.
Additional Documents for Special Circumstances
Every family is different. As such the U.S. Department of State has created specific application procedures for minors that reflect the variety of family situations people may face when preparing to travel abroad with a minor.
Minor Has Only One Parent/Guardian
Evidence of sole legal authority to apply for the minor must be submitted with the application in the form of a:
- U.S. or foreign birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or adoption decree, listing only the applying parent
- Court order granting sole legal custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order)
- Court order specifically permitting applying parent's travel with the child
- Judicial declaration of incompetence of the non-applying parent
- Death certificate of the non-applying parent
The same holds true for adopted children under age 16. A sole adopting parent can present the evidence outlined above if they have a court order establishing sole custody of an adopted child.
One Parent/Guardian Is Unable to Appear
A child's passport application must be accompanied by a signed, notarized Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent from the non-applying parent/guardian. This parental consent serves as a signed statement that a child's other parent and/or legal guardian is aware that a passport is being acquired, but a personal appearance was not possible.
One Parent/Guardian Is Absent and Cannot Be Located
The applying parent must submit Form DS-5525: Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances. The statement must explain in detail the non-applying parent's or guardian's unavailability and recent efforts made to contact the non-applying parent.
The applying parent also may be required to provide evidence (e.g., custody order, incarceration order, restraining order) to document his/her claim of exigent or special circumstances. To protect against international parental child abduction, the Passport Agency processing the application may ask for additional details if the statement is determined to be insufficient.
Both Parents/Guardians Are Unavailable
A third party may apply for a passport for the minor with a signed, notarized statement or affidavit from both parents or guardians authorizing a third party to apply for the minor. Each statement must be accompanied by a photocopy of the parents' or guardians' identification. When the statement of affidavit is from only one parent/guardian, the third party must present primary evidence of sole custody of the authorizing parent/guardian.
NOTE: The written consent from the non-applying parent that accompanies an application for a new passport must be less than three months old. New written consent from the non-applying parent must be obtained and submitted with any future passport application for the minor under age 16.
Parents Are Not U.S. Citizens
Children remain eligible for a U.S. passport even if the parents are not U.S. citizens. This guide explains the required documents, parental consent rules, and application procedures in the United States and abroad.
Visit Application Acceptance Facility
Once you have Form DS-11 completed and all the documents together, contact the nearest application acceptance facility. There are approximately 9,000 passport offices spread throughout the United States. Most of them are located in post offices.
Related Article: Applying for a passport at a post office.
Finally, you need to pay the child passport fees. There is an application fee and an execution fee. The first is paid to the Department of State and the second to the attending agent.
Applications that are submitted at a passport office take 4 to 6 weeks to process unless you request expedited service in which case it could arrive in 2 to 3 weeks.
For the fastest passport service, you need to apply at a US passport agency or, if this is not possible, through an reutable passport expediting service.
Have questions about getting a U.S. passport for a child? We've collected the questions we hear most often, based on two decades of conversations with readers of the U.S. Passport Service Guide. Each answer reflects current State Department rules and practical, real world tips. This section is organized into clear categories so you can find answers fast: general consent rules, custody and guardianship, renewals, special circumstances, travel consent letters, and safety and legal oversight. Click a question below to reveal the answer. Yes. For children under age 16, U.S. passport law requires consent from both parents or legal guardians. Typically both appear in person with the child. If one parent can't appear, the applying parent must submit a notarized Form DS-3053 from the non-applying parent, or proof of sole legal custody (e.g., court order, adoption decree, or a birth certificate listing only one parent). For ages 16-17, one parent's presence is usually enough, though evidence of parental awareness may be requested. Only if one of the following applies: (1) the applying parent has sole legal custody and can prove it; (2) the non-applying parent provides a notarized DS-3053; or (3) the applying parent submits Form DS-5525 (Exigent/Special Family Circumstances) explaining why the other parent can't be reached. DS-5525 is reviewed case by case-approval isn't guaranteed. If the parent is reachable but refuses, you generally need a court order authorizing passport issuance or compelling cooperation. Without legal authority, the application is likely to be denied. File DS-5525 detailing efforts to contact the parent (letters, calls, emails, legal filings) and attach any supporting documents (e.g., a court statement that the parent's whereabouts are unknown). Approval is discretionary. Yes. A sole legal custody order or a restraining order that removes decision-making rights can allow you to apply without the other parent. Submit certified copies with the application. Request your child's passport record to confirm how the passport was issued and what documents were used. Review your custody order; consult an attorney if you believe your rights were violated. Passport records do not include travel history. Submit a request for a passport record to confirm whether a passport exists, the issue date, and supporting documentation used. A fee and processing time apply. Yes. A parent can enroll the child in the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP). The State Department will notify the enrolling parent if an application is submitted, giving time to object before issuance. Once enrolled, the State Department alerts you when a passport application is filed for your child. You may need to provide custody documentation. If consent isn't established and there's no sole custody, issuance is typically denied. Enrollment is free; custody proof is required. Only with legal authority: a court order granting guardianship or custody, or a notarized authorization from both parents that explicitly permits the grandparents to apply. Without this, the application will be refused. Only if a court has granted legal guardianship. Submit certified orders proving authority plus ID and relationship evidence. Mere familial relationship is not sufficient. Temporary custody may be too limited unless the order explicitly authorizes passport issuance. If it doesn't, seek a court order that grants clear authority to apply. No. Passports issued under age 16 are valid for five years and cannot be renewed. A new in-person DS-11 application is required with consent documents. The replacement will still be a 5-year child passport. To get a 10-year passport, apply after the 16th birthday. It depends on travel plans. No upcoming international travel before 16? Waiting can save reapplying. Trip coming up? Apply now and accept the 5-year validity. Yes. Apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Both parents should appear with the child. If one can't, provide a notarized DS-3053 or proof of sole custody. Submit proof of sole custody or file DS-5525 (explaining why the other parent can't or won't sign). Approval is discretionary at post. Yes. The surviving parent must provide a certified death certificate to demonstrate sole authority. If only one parent is listed, that parent is presumed to have sole legal custody and may apply alone. Yes. Posts routinely process these applications. If a parent can't appear, submit a notarized DS-3053. Deployed parents can typically notarize via a U.S. military officer authorized to administer oaths. A compliant passport photo is still required. Consider specialized photographers, at-home photos adjusted to standards, and a doctor's note if strict compliance isn't possible. U.S. citizens should hold a valid U.S. passport even if they have another citizenship. Some countries require entry/exit on that country's passport-your child may need to travel with both. Temporary custody by itself may not suffice unless the order explicitly authorizes passport issuance. Otherwise, obtain a court order granting that authority. If the order doesn't clearly grant authority or specify sole legal custody, the application may be refused without the other parent's consent. Ask the court to clarify or issue a new order granting permission to apply. Often, yes. A U.S. passport proves citizenship, but many countries and airlines require a notarized Minor Travel Consent when a child travels with one parent or with non-parents. It helps avoid delays at borders and check-in. Closed-loop cruises (same U.S. port in/out) may not require a passport, but cruise lines often ask for a notarized consent letter if only one parent is traveling. International cruises generally require a passport and may also require consent documentation. Always confirm with the cruise line. The accompanying adult should carry the child's passport, a notarized Minor Travel Consent signed by both parents, and copies of parent IDs. Airlines or border officers may deny boarding/entry without it. Carry a notarized consent letter from the non-traveling parent. Include trip dates, destinations, the child's full details, and both parents' contact info, plus ID copies. It's recommended even where not strictly required. No. Children under 18 don't need ID or consent letters for domestic flights. Airlines may still ask for proof of age for discounted/lap-child tickets. Enroll your child in the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP). The State Department will notify you if a passport application is filed, letting you object before issuance if consent isn't established. First request the passport record. If issuance violated your custody rights, consult a family-law attorney and seek a court order clarifying/enforcing custody. The State Department won't revoke a valid passport without court direction. Enroll in CPIAP, contact the State Department's Office of Children's Issues, and if the child is already abroad, pursue remedies under the Hague Convention (if applicable). U.S. embassies and consulates can provide passport/citizenship services, local legal resources, and guidance-but they cannot enforce U.S. custody orders abroad or remove a child from the other parent. Local law governs.Child Passport FAQs
General Rules
Custody & Guardianship
Renewals
Special Circumstances
Travel & Consent
Safety & Legal Oversight
More Articles about Passports for Minors
Guide to unaccompanied minors traveling internationally
Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program
Minors' passports and child support issues
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