U.S. Passports
Passport Application for Children
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As of February 1, 2008 the age requirement for two parent consent for minor passport applications will be raised from 14 to 16 years.
On November 19, 2007 a revision of 22 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 51 regarding passports was published in final in the Federal Register with an effective date of February 1, 2008.
Effective February 1, 2008, passport applicants who are U.S. citizen minors under the age of 16 must appear personally with their parents to establish identity, proof of citizenship and proof of relationship. Previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as proof of minor's relationship to the parent(s)/guardian(s) (but should be submitted with the application per 22 CFR 51.8).
1. You will need to submit one of the following to establish the parental relationship/guardianship:
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Certified U.S. Birth Certificate (with parents' names); or
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Certified Foreign Birth Certificate (with parents' names and translation, if necessary); or
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Report Of Birth Abroad (Form Fs-240) (with parents' names); or
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Certification Of Birth Abroad (Form Ds-1350) (with parents' names); or
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Adoption Decree (with adopting parents' names); or
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Court Order establishing custody; or
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Court Order establishing guardianship.
If the parent(s)'/guardian's name(s) is/are other than that on these documents, evidence of legal name change is required.
2. Each parent or guardian must submit one of the following:
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Valid Drivers License; or
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Valid Official U.S. Military ID; or
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Valid U.S. Government ID; or
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Valid U.S. or Foreign Passport with recognizable photo; or
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Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate from USCIS with recognizable photo; or
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Alien Resident Card from USCIS.
3. Both parents must appear together with the child or
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One parent may appear and sign if that parent submits the second parent's notarized statement of consent authorizing passport issuance for the child. The form of the consent may be either a notarized DS-3053 "Statement Of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor" or a notarized written statement with the same information on a sheet of paper from the non-appearing parent, or
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One parent may appear and sign if that parent also submits primary evidence of sole authority to apply, such as one of the following:
-- child's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate (with translation, if necessary) listing only applying parent; or
-- consular report of birth abroad (form FS-240) or certification of birth abroad (form ds-1350) listing only applying parent; or
-- a court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel or passport application is restricted by that order); or
-- an adoption decree (if applying parent is the sole adopting parent); or
-- a court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child or passport application; or
-- a judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent; or
-- a death certificate of the non-applying parent. -
If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent/guardian should submit a form DS-3053 Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor (being revised as noted above to reflect that this requirement pertains to minors under the age of 16).
4. A third-party in loco parentis applying on behalf of a minor under the age of 16 must submit a notarized written statement or affidavit from both parents or guardians authorizing a third-party to apply for a passport. When the statement or affidavit is from only one parent/guardian, the third-party must present evidence of sole custody of the authorizing parent/guardian.
For passport fees and passport photo information please review the appropriate section.
For further information, please go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/get_minors.html.