How To Apply For A Passport For Your Baby Or Toddler

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With the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiate ("WHTI") coming fully online June 1, 2009, United States citizens will need certain documentation to travel abroad. The most common document used is, of course, a passport. However, many travelers do not realize that all minors under the age of 16, including newborns and infants, must have their own passport.

Things You Will Need

1. Your child's social security number;

2. Evidence of your child's U.S. Citizenship;

3. Proof of Evidence of your child's relationship to you;

4. Proper identification for both parent(s)/guardian(s);

5. Passport photos; and

6. The proper application fee.

Step 1

Download Form DS-11: Application For A U.S. Passport. Your minor is required to submit Form DS-11 if any of the following statements are true if they: (1) are under sixteen years of age; OR (2) have never been issued a U.S. Passport; OR (3) had their most recent U.S. passport lost or stolen.

Step 2

Complete Form DS-11. The minor must apply in person accompanied by both parent(s)/guardian(s). Many times you can find a location in your community where you can make an appointment. I am sure you will agree that appointments are tremendously convenient. However, even with an appointment the process is not immediate. Accordingly, if you are getting a passport for a newborn or infant, make sure you bring the necessities (i.e., food, favorite toys, something to prevent you from pulling your hair out, etc.).

Additionally, there are additional documents that are required by Form DS-11. [See steps below]. Do not forget these documents as they are not negotiable with the kind people at the passport office.

If your minor is able to sign the application, the application should not be signed until instructed to do so by the passport agent.

Step 3

Bring Evidence of U.S. Citizenship. While this evidence will need to be submitted with the application form, it will be returned to you with your newly issued U.S. Passport or in a separate mailing. The primary evidence of U.S. citizenship consists of one of the following: (a) previously issued U.S. Passport (note: it must be undamaged); (b) consular report of birth abroad or certification of birth; (c) naturalization certificate; (d) certificate of citizenship; or (e) certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state.

Step 4

Bring Evidence of Your Relationship To The Minor. This evidence must also be submitted with the passport application form. It, too, will be returned to you with the newly issued passport or by separate mailing. Evidence of your relationship consists of one of the following: (a) minor's certified U.S. birth certificate containing both parents' names; (b) minor's certified foreign birth certificate with both parents' names (should also by accompanied by an official English translation if written in a language other than English); (c) minor's report of birth abroad with both parents' names; (d) adoption decree with adopting parent(s)' name(s); (e) court order establishing custody; or (f) court order establishing guardianship.

Step 5

Bring Identification of Parent(s)/Guardian(s). Both parent(s)/guardian(s) must present proper identification at the time of the application. Acceptable primary identification consists of: (a) previously issued U.S. passport (undamaged); (b) valid driver's license; (c) current government employee identification (city, state or federal); (d) naturalization certificate; and (e) current military identification (military and dependents).

Step 6

Parental Consent Is Required. For a minor under the age of 16, both parents must provide consent in order for a passport to be issued to them. If both parents will be attending the application appointment, the process is easy: simply appear in person with the minor, and sign the Form DS-11 in front of the passport agent.

If only one parent will be accompanying the minor, the person attending the application appointment will need to bring the second parent's notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053).

Where there is only one parent with sole legal custody, that person must accompany the minor and submit one of the following: (a) certified birth certificate (U.S. or foreign issued) listing only the applying parent; (b) consular report of birth abroad listing only the applying parent; (c) court order granting sole custody to applying parent; (d) adoption decree (where applying parent is the sole adopting parent); (e) court order expressing permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the minor; (f) judicial declaration of incompetence on non-applying parent; or (g) death certificate of non-applying parent.

A third party, applying on behalf of a minor, must submit a notarized written statement or affidavit from each of the parent(s)/ guardian(s) expressly authorizing the third-party to apply for the passport. If the statement or affidavit is given by only one parent/guardian, the third-party must also present evidence of the sole custody of the parent/guardian authorizing the application.

Step 7

Pay The Application Fee. The fees and methods of payment are subject to change. However, here is a current list of fees and acceptable payment methods.

Step 8

Bring Two Passport Photographs. Many passport application locations will actually take the photos for you. Call ahead to make sure.

In any event, there are several photograph requirements that you will want to pay attention to. First, the photos must be 2 X 2 inches in side, in color and identical. They must have been taken with the past six month and showing the minor's current appearance. The photograph must be a "full face" view with a plain or off-white background. Hats or other headgear that obscured the hair, hairline or ears is not acceptable. Finally, the photo should be take with normal daily attire.

While the processing time varies (and can be expedited by paying an additional fee), you should get the minor's passport and the supporting documents back in around a month. As the passport is not valid until signed, do not forget that last step. If the minor is too young to sign, a parent should sign and place his or her relationship to the minor in parentheses.

Tips & Warnings

A certified birth certificate, which must be issued within one year of the minor's birth, will contain a registrar's seal (it can be raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored, depending on the location), registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office. There are abstract (short) versions of birth certificates available in some states; however, such versions may not be acceptable to submit with the passport application.