Most countries now require children to have their own passport. Today I’m going to discuss the process for getting passports for children so the family can travel abroad. I should start by noting that all countries have their own requirements and I’m focusing on U.S. travelers only. For others, here are a few links to the info pages for citizens of other countries.
Age restrictions and fees
The U.S. State Department issues passports. Passports for people who are 16 and older are valid for 10 years. For those under 16, though, passports are only valid for 5 years.
On the bright side, passports for children cost less than those for adults. The fee for a child’s passport is $105, while a first-time adult application is $135.
Processing Time
It’s important to plan ahead. The typical processing time to receive passports for children is 6 weeks. Expedited processing, which costs extra, can still take 2-3 weeks.
Requirements
Children’s passports must be applied for:
- in person
- with proof of consent by both parents (easiest by having both present)
- using a form DS-11
- with proof of U.S. citizenship of the child (i.e. birth certificate)
- with proof of relationship of parents to child (i.e. birth certificate)
If the child already has a passport and you are renewing, bring the old passport when you apply. You can look up where to apply in person using this State Department site. You will frequently need to make an appointment in advance.
The best place to start the process is at the State Department website, which covers all of the requirements and has detailed answers to FAQ.