How to Get a U.S. Passport for a Child: A Parent’s Guide

Your child’s first international adventure begins with a photograph that probably won’t make the family album. There’s paperwork, too. But getting a U.S. passport for a child is manageable once you know what to bring, who needs to appear and how much time to allow.

Handle this before falling in love with a flight deal. The beach can wait; a missing consent form has a way of rearranging everyone’s plans.

Does a baby need a passport to travel internationally?

Yes. For international flights, plan on a separate passport book for every U.S. citizen child, including newborns and lap infants. Children cannot travel on a parent’s passport.

A passport card works for certain land and sea travel involving Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. It does not work for international flights. Some land crossings allow children to use birth certificates; check the rules for your route.

How do you apply for a child’s passport?

For children under 16, apply in person using Form DS-11. Your child must attend, even if they sleep through everything. Completing the form online does not submit the application. Print it single-sided and leave it unsigned until instructed.

For a typical application, bring:

• Citizenship evidence: An original or certified U.S. birth certificate, or another accepted document such as a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, plus a photocopy.
• Proof of your relationship: A birth certificate naming the parents often covers this; adoption or custody documents may be needed.
• Parents’ identification: Accepted photo IDs and photocopies of both sides.
• One passport photo, required consent documents and payment.

A hospital souvenir certificate will not suffice. Use single-sided, letter-size photocopies. If your name differs from the relationship document, bring legal name-change evidence.

Use the child’s Social Security number if one has been issued. If none has ever been issued, follow DS-11 instructions for entering zeros and supplying the required signed declaration.

Find a participating post office, library or government office through the acceptance facility locator; check appointment requirements. Applying abroad? Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Do both parents need to be present?

Usually, both parents or legal guardians attend with an under-16 child. If one cannot attend, they generally provide a notarized DS-3053 consent form and a copy of both sides of the ID shown to the notary. Submit that consent within 90 days.

A parent with sole legal authority must provide supporting evidence, such as a qualifying custody order or birth certificate listing only that parent. If the other parent cannot be located, DS-5525 may apply; approval is not automatic. Review the State Department’s family circumstances guidance before your appointment.

What are the baby passport photo requirements?

Submit a color, 2-by-2-inch photo taken within six months against a plain white or off-white background. No filters, digital alterations, visible supporting hands or other people.

For babies, try a plain white sheet beneath them, with their face visible and free of shadows. A baby’s eyes need not be entirely open. Older children must have their eyes open. Review the official photo examples before printing.

How much does a child’s passport cost?

Standard government fees for children under 16 are:

Expedited processing adds $60 per application. Photos and optional faster shipping cost extra. At an acceptance facility, pay the State Department by check or money order; pay the facility separately using its accepted methods.

How long does a child’s passport take?

As of November 9, 2026, routine processing takes 4–6 weeks; expedited service takes 2–3 weeks. Mailing can add up to two weeks each way.

Give yourself several months where possible. For international travel within 14 calendar days, seek an urgent passport agency appointment; availability is not guaranteed. Track submitted applications at passportstatus.state.gov.

How long is it valid, and can you renew it?

Passports issued before age 16 last five years and cannot be renewed by mail or online. Apply again in person.

Applicants ages 16 and 17 follow different rules: their first adult passport requires an in-person application and evidence that one parent or guardian is aware. Their passports normally last 10 years; a first passport book costs $165.

Tips for traveling internationally with a child

The passport is the beginning of the preparation. These details deserve space beside the packing list.

When it arrives, check the spelling and birth date. Keep secure digital copies separately from the originals, and enter the child’s name on airline reservations as it appears in the passport. Catching an error now beats discovering it at check-in.

1. Check entry requirements for everyone. Children may need their own visa or electronic travel authorization. Some destinations require months of remaining passport validity. Check your destination’s entry requirements before booking.
2. Pack relationship and consent documents. Carry a birth certificate copy, particularly when surnames differ. Some countries require notarized permission from an absent parent or proof of sole custody. Grandparents may need parental authorization, too. Passport application consent does not replace travel consent paperwork.
3. Sort out seating early. Confirm family seating, infant bookings and stroller policies directly with your airline. The FAA recommends an approved child restraint in a separate seat for children under two. Arrange an appropriate car seat for airport transfers, too.
4. Make a health plan. The CDC recommends a pretravel appointment at least a month ahead. Discuss vaccines and destination-specific precautions. Check insurance coverage abroad and identify somewhere to seek pediatric care.
5. Pack for the journey and its delays. Keep medications, feeding supplies, spare clothes and a familiar comfort item in your carry-on. Breast milk is exempt from the usual TSA liquid limit; declare it for separate screening. Check overseas airport rules for the return trip.

Then leave room in the itinerary. A playground, an unhurried lunch and an early bedtime can be a very successful first day abroad. Your child has years to collect passport stamps. There’s no need to collect them all this week.