Passport Services
Special Requirements for Children Under Age 16
Minors under 16 must apply in person.
1. Provide Application Form DS-11: Forms can also be obtained from the U.S. Embassy.
NOTE: Please do NOT sign the DS-11 application form until the Passport Acceptance Agent instructs you to do so.
2. Submit Proof of U.S. Citizenship (for minors under age 16)
You may prove U.S. Citizenship with any one of the following :
Previous U.S. Passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports are not acceptable as evidence of U.S. citizenship)
Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state
NOTE: A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth
Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
Naturalization Certificate
Certificate of Citizenship
A Delayed Birth Certificate filed more than one year after your birth may be acceptable if it has listed the documentation used to create it and it is signed by the attending physician or midwife, or, lists an affidavit signed by the parents, or shows early public records
3. Present Evidence of Child's Relationship to Parents/Guardians (for minors under age 16)
Previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as proof of relationship to the applying parent(s)/guardian(s).
You will need to submit one of the following to establish proof of relationship:
Certified U.S. birth certificate (with parents' names); or
Certified Foreign Birth Certificate (with parents' names and translation, if necessary); or
Report of Birth Abroad (with parents' names); or
Certification of Birth Abroad (with parents' names); or
Adoption Decree (with adopting parents' names); or
Court Order Establishing Custody; or
Court Order Establishing Guardianship.
NOTE: If the parent(s)'/guardian's name(s) is/are other than that on these documents, evidence of legal name change is required.
4. Provide Parental Identification (for minors under age 16)
Each parent or guardian must submit at least one of the following:
Valid Drivers License
Valid Official U.S. Military ID
Valid U.S. Gov't ID
Valid U.S. or Foreign Passport with recognizable photo
Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate from BCIS with recognizable photo
Alien Resident Card from BCIS
If none of these are available , you will need:
Some signature documents, not acceptable alone as ID
(ex: a combination of documents, such as your Social Security card, credit card, bank card, library card, etc.) AND
A person who can vouch for you. He/she must:
Have known you for at least 2 years,
Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident,
Have valid ID, and
Fill out a Form
DS-71 in the presence of a passport agent.
NOTE: Your Social Security Card does NOT prove your identity .
5. Present Parental Application Permission Documentation (for minors under age 16)
Both parents must appear together and sign or
One parent appears, signs, and submits second parent's notarized statement of consent authorizing passport issuance for the child (
Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16, or a written statement with the same information on a sheet of paper from the non-appearing parent that includes the child's name and date of birth, as well as parent's identification information or a copy of his/her ID may be used for this purpose) or
One parent appears, signs, and 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 or Certification of Birth Abroad listing only applying parent; or
Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order); or
Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent); or
Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child; or
Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent; or
Death certificate of 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 Under Age 16 .
NOTE: 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.
6. Provide Two Passport Photos
7. Pay the Applicable Fee
Click here to see passport fees.
For Passport Application and Execution Fees we except cash, money orders and bank drafts. We do NOT except personal checks or credit cards.
8. Provide a Social Security Number
If you do not provide your Social Security Number, the Internal Revenue Service may impose a $500 penalty.
NOTE: If you travel extensively, you may request a larger, 48-page passport at no additional cost. To do so, please attach a signed request for a 48-page passport to your application.
General Information
Passport Services
