Passport applications for minors

Passports for children under 16

Both parents or legal guardians must appear in person at the acceptance facility with the child. No exceptions apply unless you have a court order establishing sole custody, the other parent is deceased, or the absent parent provides a notarized Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent). This requirement exists because the State Department takes international parental child abduction seriously — the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) exists specifically to notify parents when someone tries to get a passport for their child without both parents' knowledge.

The child must be physically present. A parent cannot submit the application without the child present — the acceptance agent needs to verify the child's identity and appearance matches the photo submitted.

Passports for children under 16 are valid for 5 years, not 10. You cannot renew a child's passport by mail under any circumstances — every application requires an in-person appearance regardless of how old the child's current passport is.

When one parent cannot appear

The absent parent must complete Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent), have it notarized by a certified notary public, and provide a photocopy of the photo ID they showed the notary. DS-3053 must be submitted within 90 days of the date it was notarized — the State Department will reject an expired form at the counter.

DS-3053 only applies when both parents have joint legal custody. If custody is not joint, different documentation is required.

Sole custody, deceased parent, and absent parent situations

• Sole legal custody — Submit a court order granting sole custody, or a certified birth certificate or adoption decree listing you as the only parent or guardian. DS-3053 is not needed in a sole custody situation, but custody documentation is required.
• Other parent is deceased — Bring a certified copy of the death certificate.
• Other parent cannot be located — Submit Form DS-5525 (Statement of Special Family Circumstances) with supporting evidence. The State Department may request additional documentation such as a custody order or restraining order.
• Other parent is deployed military — The deployed parent should provide a notarized DS-3053 in most cases.
• Neither parent can appear — The person applying with the child (for example, a grandparent) must submit a notarized DS-3053 or notarized statement from both parents, plus photocopies of both parents' IDs, within 90 days of notarization.

Required documents for a child under 16

1. Form DS-11 — Completed but unsigned. Do not sign it before the appointment; the acceptance agent must witness the signature.
2. Proof of U.S. citizenship — A certified birth certificate with a raised or multicolored seal from a vital records office. Hospital-issued birth certificates are not accepted. Alternatives include a Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or a prior unexpired U.S. passport valid for the full 5-year term.
3. Proof of parental relationship — Usually the same birth certificate used for citizenship. If a U.S. birth certificate is not available, bring a foreign birth certificate, adoption decree, or court order listing the child's parents or guardians.
4. Photocopy of citizenship evidence — One copy on a single side of 8.5x11 paper. Bring the original as well.
5. Photo ID for each appearing parent or guardian — Valid driver's license, state ID, or other acceptable photo ID.
6. Photocopy of each parent's or guardian's photo ID — Front and back on a single side of 8.5x11 paper.
7. Passport photo of the child — 2x2 inches, color, white or off-white background, taken within the past 6 months. Do not attach it to the form.

Fees for children under 16

Pay the application fee by check or money order made out to "U.S. Department of State." Write the child's name and date of birth in the memo line. The $35 execution fee goes separately to the acceptance facility — confirm accepted payment methods before your appointment.

Passports for teenagers 16 and 17

A 16 or 17-year-old applying for their first passport uses Form DS-11 and applies in person — same as any first-time applicant. The key difference from children under 16: the State Department requires showing that one parent or legal guardian is aware of the application, not that both parents appear.

There are four ways to show a parent is aware of the application:

• A parent or guardian appears with the applicant, presents an acceptable photo ID, and co-signs DS-11 — the most straightforward approach
• A signed note from a parent or guardian with a photocopy of their ID submitted with the application
• A parent or guardian listed in the emergency contact section of DS-11
• A check for the application fee written on a parent or guardian's bank account

If the acceptance agent determines the evidence of parental awareness is not clear enough, they may request a notarized DS-3053. This is uncommon but possible.

Passports issued at age 16 or older are valid for 10 years — the same validity as an adult passport. A 16-year-old getting their first passport receives a 10-year document. The 5-year limit applies only to children under 16.

Required documents for ages 16-17

1. Form DS-11 — Completed but unsigned. Do not sign before the appointment.
2. Proof of U.S. citizenship — Certified birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, or a prior full-validity U.S. passport.
3. Photocopy of citizenship evidence — Single side of 8.5x11 paper. Bring the original.
4. Photo ID — The teen's own photo ID if available (driver's license, learner's permit, school ID). If the teen has no acceptable photo ID, a parent or guardian who presents acceptable ID must co-sign the application.
5. Photocopy of the photo ID presented — Front and back on one sheet.
6. Passport photo — 2x2 inches, color, white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months.

Fees for ages 16-17

DS-3053 — parental consent for absent parent

Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) allows an absent parent or guardian to authorize a child's passport application without appearing at the acceptance facility. The form must be notarized by a certified notary public — the acceptance agent at the facility cannot witness the signature. Electronically notarized statements are accepted if permitted under state law, but a printed copy must be submitted at the appointment.

The State Department requires DS-3053 to be submitted within 90 days of the date it was notarized. If you notarize the form and then delay your appointment, check the date before you go — an expired form will be rejected, and you will need a freshly notarized one.

DS-3053 applies specifically when both parents share legal custody. Sole custody situations require different documentation (see the sole custody section above). In countries where local notarization of DS-3053 is not recognized by the State Department, the absent parent must go to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to notarize the form.

The consenting parent should not appear at the facility. DS-3053 exists precisely to handle the situation where one parent cannot be present — submitting it while also appearing defeats the purpose and can cause confusion at the counter.

Renewing a passport for a minor

Children under 16 cannot renew by mail under any circumstances. Every application — whether first-time or renewal — requires an in-person appearance with Form DS-11, and both parents or guardians must appear or provide the required consent documentation. There is no exception to this rule based on how recently the previous passport was issued.

Teenagers 16 and 17 can renew by mail using Form DS-82 if all of the following are true: the previous passport was issued at age 16 or older, it was issued less than 15 years ago, it is not damaged, and it has not been reported lost or stolen. A passport issued at 16 meets those requirements for up to 15 years after issuance — so a 17-year-old who got their first passport at 16 could technically qualify, though most teens in that situation simply apply in person for a first renewal anyway.

There is no online passport renewal for anyone under 25. The State Department's online renewal pilot (launched in 2024) is available to adults 25 and older with a fully valid unexpired passport. Minors and young adults under 25 must use DS-82 by mail or apply in person with DS-11.

Because 5-year passports expire faster than most people expect, mark the expiration date on your calendar when the passport arrives. Many countries require a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the travel dates, which means a 5-year passport effectively has a useful life of about 4.5 years before it can restrict travel.

Traveling internationally with a child

Each child needs their own U.S. passport. Children cannot be added to a parent's passport — that practice ended in 2001. Every traveler, regardless of age, must have their own document.

When a child travels internationally with only one parent or with someone who is not a parent or legal guardian, some destination countries require a notarized letter of consent from the absent parent or from the parents. This is a separate requirement from the passport application — it applies at the border crossing of the destination country, not at the U.S. acceptance facility. Research the specific requirements for your destination country well before departure, as requirements vary and change.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends that parents traveling with children carry copies of birth certificates, custody orders, and consent letters when applicable. CBP agents may question a single parent traveling with a child who does not share the same surname, particularly when re-entering the United States. Having documentation of the relationship at hand avoids delays.

The State Department's Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) is a free service that notifies an enrolled parent whenever someone applies for a passport for their child. Any parent concerned about the other parent obtaining a passport for a child without consent can enroll through travel.state.gov.