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Applying for a Passport
for Children
Under 16-years Old
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Applying for a passport for children under 16 years old
All passport applicants under 16 must apply in person using Form DS-11.
Passports for children under 16 are only valid for 5 years.
How to Apply
Task
Action steps
1
Fill Out Form DS-11
Please note:
Do not sign your child's application until instructed to do
so by the acceptance agent.
You must provide your child's Social Security number.
o If your child does not have a Social Security
number, you must submit a statement, signed and
dated, that includes the phrase, “I declare under
penalty of perjury under the laws of the United
States of America that the following is true and
correct: (Child's full name) has never been issued a
Social Security Number by the Social Security
Administration.”
You may request a larger passport book with 52 pages for
your child, at no additional cost, by checking the '52 page'
box at the top of the DS-11.
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Provide U.S. Citizenship Evidence
You must submit one of the following U.S. citizenship documents
for your child. Your evidence must be an original or certified copy.
Photocopies and notarized copies are not acceptable.
Fully-valid, undamaged U.S. passport (may be expired)
U.S. birth certificate that meets the following
requirements:
o Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
o Lists child's full name, date of birth, and place of
birth
o Lists the parent(s)' full names
o Has the date filed with registrar's office (must be
within one year of birth)
o Has the registrar's signature
o Has the seal of the issuing authority
Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
Certificate of Citizenship
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3
Bring a Photocopy of U.S. Citizenship Evidence
Submit a photocopy of the front (and back, if there is printed
information) of the U.S. citizenship evidence you’re submitting
from the above list.
Photocopies must be:
Legible
On white 8.5”x11” standard paper
Black and white
Single-sided
If you don't want to submit a photocopy of your citizenship
evidence, you may submit a second certified copy of your
citizenship evidence, which we will keep. If you don’t submit a
photocopy or a second certified copy of your citizenship evidence,
your passport processing could be delayed.
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Show Parental Relationship
You must submit documentation that lists the parent(s) or legal
guardian(s) of the child applying for a passport.
The following may be used to show parental relationship:
U.S. birth certificate (also evidence of U.S. citizenship)
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (also evidence of U.S.
citizenship)
Foreign birth certificate
Adoption decree
Divorce/Custody decree
Please note: Some documents, like a U.S. birth certificate,
show both U.S. citizenship and parental relationship. These
documents must be originals or certified copies (not photocopies).
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Present ID
The parents/guardians must present one of the following
identification documents (IDs) to the acceptance agent:
In-state, fully-valid driver's license
Valid or expired, undamaged, U.S. passport
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Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
Government employee ID (city, county, state or federal)
U.S. military ID or military dependent ID
Valid foreign passport
Matrícula Consular (Mexican Consular Identification,
commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child
applicant)
Please note: If you present out-of-state identification, you must
present an additional ID.
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Bring a Photocopy of ID
Submit a photocopy of the front and back of each ID that you
present to the acceptance agent.
Requirements:
Photocopy must be on plain white, 8 1/2 x 11" standard
paper.
Photocopy cannot be double-sided.
Do not decrease the image size (although you may enlarge
it).
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Show Parental Consent
Both parents/guardians must authorize the issuance of the child's
passport. The best way to do this is for both parents/guardians to
go with the child in person to apply for the passport.
What if both parents/guardians cannot appear in person?
If you have sole legal custody:
o You must submit evidence of this with the
application. Examples include:
Complete court order granting you sole
legal custody of the child, such as a
divorce decree or other custody order
Complete court order specifically
permitting you to apply for your child’s
passport (photocopy is acceptable)
Certified copy of the child's birth
certificate listing you as the only parent
Certified copy of an adoption decree
listing you as the only parent
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Certified copy of the judicial declaration
of incompetence of the parent that
cannot appear in person
Certified copy of the death certificate of
the parent that cannot appear in person
If one parent is unable to appear:
o If one parent/guardian cannot go with the child
to apply for the passport, they can give
permission by completing Form DS-3053
“Statement of Consent." You must submit the
completed form with the child's passport
application. The parent that cannot go with the
child must:
Sign and date Form DS-3053 in the
presence of a certified notary public,
and
Submit a photocopy of the front and
back side of the ID that they present to
the notary public with Form DS-3053.
If you cannot locate the other parent:
o You must submit Form DS-5525 “Statement of
Exigent/Special Family Circumstances."
o Please complete the form with as much detail
as possible.
o We may ask for additional information (e.g.,
custody order, incarceration order, restraining
order) to protect against international parental
child abduction.
If neither parent is able to appear:
o A third party may apply for the child's passport
with a notarized statement from both
parents/guardians giving that third party
permission to apply for the child.
o The statement must include a photocopy of the
parents/guardians' identification.
o When the statement is from only one
parent/guardian, the third party must present
evidence of sole custody of the consenting
parent/guardian.
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Provide a Photo
You must provide one photo of the child with the application.
Please note:
Do not attach your photo to the form before submitting it
to the acceptance agent.
Some passport acceptance facilities provide photo services
for an additional fee.
Tips for taking photos of infants and newborns:
Lay the child on its back on a white blanket or sheet to
ensure its head is supported without the aid of a hand.
Alternatively, cover a car seat with a plain white sheet and
take a picture of your child in the car seat.
Please make sure no other person is in the photo.
A photo with the child looking at the camera is preferred,
although not required.
To avoid processing delays, be sure the photo meets
all photo requirements. See FAQs.
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Calculate Fees
Child Applicants:
Product
Form
Application
Fee
Execution
Fee
Total
Passport
Book
DS-11
$80
$25
$105
Passport
Card
DS-11
$15
$25
$40
Passport
Book &
Card
DS-11
$95
$25
$120
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Submit Your Completed Application
Inside the United States:
You and your child must submit your completed
application, including citizenship evidence, photocopy of
ID, photo, and fees, in person at a passport acceptance
facility.
Your child may be eligible to apply in person at a passport
agency if you are traveling soon.
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If your child does not have a Social Security number, you must submit a statement,
signed and dated.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that
the following is true and correct:
___________________________________________, ______________________
Child's full name Date of Birth
has never been issued a Security Number by the Social Security Administration.
___________________________________________, ______________________
Name Date
___________________________________________
Signature
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