How to Get a Passport for You or Your Child

When traveling solo or as a family one thing that can be difficult to navigate and requires some planning ahead is applying for a passport. Although things have gotten easier in terms of information and tools the process is still a lengthy one. If you are applying for your child, things get even more complex depending on the age of the child. This guide aims to simplify the steps required for obtaining a passport for your child, teenager, or yourself. Much of the information provided here is sourced from the official U.S. Department of State's website on passport applications.

passport next to a laptop ready to be renewed

Solo application:

Step one Confirm you meet the requirements

If you respond "Yes" to at least one of the following statements you may apply for a passport in person:

I am applying for my first U.S. passport book or card.*
I am applying with my child who is under age 16.
My most recent U.S. passport was issued when I was under age 16.
My most recent U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged.
My most recent U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago.

If you could not respond "Yes" to at least one statement, go to the U.S. Department of State’s Website to Renew by Mail.

*You may not have to apply in person if you want to get your first passport card and already have a passport book, or vice versa.

2. Fill out the proper forms:

Passport Forms

Use their (the U.S. Department of State’s) Form Filler to fill out your form and print it. For the best experience, use a desktop or laptop computer. If you do not want to use the Form Filler, download the PDF and complete it by hand
- Reminders for Printing Your Application
  - Make sure the image of the application covers the entire page.
  - Use vertical, portrait format. Do not print your form horizontally. Doing so will cause delays with your application.
  - Print your form single-sided on 8.5 inch by 11 inch letter-sized paper. They do not accept double-sided forms. Make sure you double check before printing.
  - The only handwritten marks they will accept for the Form Filler are your original signature and date.
Check the information you entered if you did not get the form you expected (examples: date of birth and previous passport issuance date).
Go to the U.S. embassy or consulate page if you are applying in a foreign country.

Step Three Evidence of being a U.S. Citizen

Your evidence must be an original or replacement copy. The document must have the official seal or stamp of the office which issued it. You must submit one of the following documents:

U.S. birth certificate that meets the following requirements:
- Issued by the city, county, or state of birth
- Lists your full name, date of birth, and place of birth
- Lists your parent(s)' full names
- Has the date filed with registrar's office (must be within one year of birth)
- Has the registrar's signature
- Has the seal or stamp from the city, county, or state which issued it
Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
Full validity, undamaged U.S. passport
- Full validity means the document is or was valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16.

If you cannot submit one of these documents, go to the Citizenship Evidence page for more information.

Tips for making a photocopy:

Black and white (no color)
Use 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper
Use a single side of the paper

If you do not submit a photocopy, you must submit a second copy of your citizenship evidence. They (the U.S. Department of State’s) will keep this copy for their records.

Returning your document: They will return your citizenship document up to four weeks after you receive your passport.

Step Four Get a photo ID (and a photocopy)

Bring a photo ID and a copy of this same ID when applying. For your application to be successful you must provide at least one of these

Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card
In-state, fully valid driver's license or enhanced driver's license with photo
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
U.S. military or military dependent ID
Current (valid) foreign passport
Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs
Note: you may need to show another ID when presenting one of these documents:
- In-state, fully-valid learner's permit with photo,
- In-state, fully-valid non-driver ID with photo,
- Temporary driver's license with photo, or
- Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

Step Five Determine special circumstances

If you fall under one of these special circumstances, you may have to edit or change how you apply for a passport.

Your valid passport is lost or stolen (you must also submit Form DS-64)
Your valid passport is damaged (include the damaged passport, and a signed statement explaining the damage)
- Normal "wear and tear" such as folded pages or a small bend do not count as damage. Damage includes stains from a liquid, a significant tear, unofficial markings on the data page, missing visa pages (torn out), or a hole punch.
You are applying for a special issuance passport
Or other situations

Step Six Provide a passport photo

When you are applying make sure you bring a valid passport photo or else your application will be rejected. Some general rules to follow are stated as such

Do not attach or staple your photo to the form. The acceptance agent or passport employee will review the photo and staple it to your form.
You can get a photo at:
- Some passport acceptance facilities
- A company which offers photo services
- Home. Ask a friend or family member to take your photo. Print it on glossy or matte photo quality paper.

Step Seven Payment

When applying for a passport you will have to spend some money to apply for one. Although this can range in price as your preference of speed, which forms you want, and where you’re applying from.

See more about fees here

Step Eight Visit a passport acceptance facility

When you’ve completed all the previous steps it’s time to finally package up all your application documents and send it off. However, before you do that, you’ll need to go to a passport acceptance facility. You can find them here if you are traveling in more than three weeks. If you are traveling in less than three weeks then you can find a facility here.

Step Nine Track your application status

When all is said and done and you’ve sent off your application all that is left to do is wait. Well that is of course with tracking the process of your application. If you visit the passport status page here you can view the progress of your passport by filling out some of your personal information.

Applying for a Passport for a Child 16 and Under

Child Application (Under 16):

Applying for a passport for a child under the age of 16 involves additional steps due to stricter security measures. Here’s how to apply:

1. Fill out the appropriate form

Use Form DS-11 for all applicants under 16.
Use the Form Filler tool here to complete and print the form, or download the PDF to complete by hand.
- Reminders for Printing Your Application
  - Make sure the image of the application covers the entire page.
  - Use vertical, portrait format. Do not print your form horizontally. Doing so will cause delays with your application.
  - Print your form single-sided on 8.5 inch by 11 inch letter-sized paper. They do not accept double-sided forms. Make sure to check before you hit print
  - The only handwritten marks they accept for the Form Filler are your original signature and date.
Do not sign the form until instructed by an acceptance agent.
Step two: Provide evidence of U.S. citizenship
You must submit one of the following original documents:
U.S. birth certificate
Consular Report of Birth Abroad
Certificate of Citizenship
Previous U.S. passport (only if issued when the child was under 5 years old)

Show Parental Relationship

You must provide one of the following documents to prove the relationship between the child and the applying parent(s)/guardian(s):

U.S. birth certificate listing the parents’ names
Foreign birth certificate
Adoption decree
Divorce or custody decree
Court order establishing custody or guardianship

Certain documents, such as a U.S. birth certificate, can demonstrate both U.S. citizenship and the parental relationship. These documents must be original or certified copies (not photocopies).

It's acceptable for you and your child to have different last names, as long as the document proving your relationship lists your full name.

If your name has changed and differs from the one on the document showing your relationship to your child, you must provide proof of your legal name change.

two people holding up their passports in front of the roman colosseum

Get a photo ID (and a photocopy)

Both parents or guardians must bring a physical, photo ID and a photocopy of it. If your photo ID is from a different state than the state in which you are applying, bring a second photo ID.

You must show at least one of these photo IDs:

Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card
In-state, fully valid driver's license or enhanced driver's license with photo
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
U.S. military or military dependent ID
Current (valid) foreign passport
Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs

Note: you may need to show another ID when presenting one of these documents:

o In-state, fully-valid learner's permit with photo,

o In-state, fully-valid non-driver ID with photo,

o Temporary driver's license with photo, or

o Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

If you do not have one of these photo IDs, go to their Identification page for more information.

Tips for making a photocopy:

Black and white (no color)
Use 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper
Use a single side of the paper

Step Four Provide parental consent

Both parents or guardians must appear in person with the child.
If one parent or guardian cannot make it, they need to provide notarized consent using Form DS-3053. This form should be used if a parent is deployed in the military, one parent cant make it but both have custody, or neither parent is able to appear. If you cannot find the other parent use this form Statement of Special Family Circumstances: DS-5525. An example of when this would be used if there is a custody issue of the child or if there is an incarceration order.

Step Give Bring a Passport Photo

Ensure the child’s passport photo meets official requirements:

Photo must be in color, taken within the last six months.
Background should be plain white or off-white.
The child must face forward with a neutral expression.
No hats, glasses, or head coverings unless for religious or medical reasons.

Step Six Provide a Photocopy of parent(s) ID

Each applying parent or guardian must present a valid form of identification and include a photocopy in their application.

Step Seven Pay the required fees

Children under 16 have different (typically cheaper) fees than adults. See more about fees here

Step Eight Submit the Application at an Acceptance Facility

Visit a passport acceptance facility in person with all required documents. Facilities are often located in post offices, clerks of court, and libraries. You can use this tool here to easily find a facility near you.

Step Nine Track the Application Status

When all is said and done and you’ve sent off your child’s application all there is left to do is wait. Well, that is of course with tracking the process of your application. If you visit the passport status page here you can view the progress of your passport by filling out some of your personal information.

Applying for a 16 or 17-Year-Old’s Passport:

A 16 or 17-year-old follows a slightly different process, as they are considered close to legal adulthood but still require some parental involvement. See more.

By following these steps, you can have a smooth passport application process for your child, teenager, or yourself allowing for international travel in the future.

To help protect your upcoming trip abroad consider getting a travel protection quote from Generali Global Assistance to provide peace of mind.