Download a PDF to complete your child's form on a computer and print it on single-sided paper. We do not accept double-sided forms.

• Do not sign your child's application until asked to do so by a passport acceptance agent. 
• You can apply for a passport book, a passport card, or both.
• If your child travels internationally several times a year, you can request a passport book with extra visa pages by checking the 'large book' box at the top of the application.

Your child's evidence of U.S. citizenship must have the official seal or stamp of the government office which issued it. You must submit one of the following documents for your child:

• U.S. birth certificate that meets the following requirements: 

Requirements include: Shows the seal or stamp from the city, county, or state of birth which issued it; the applicant’s full name, date of birth, place of birth; your parent(s)' full names; the date filed with registrar's office (must be within one year of birth); and the registrar's signature.

Or

• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or any birth document issued by the U.S. Department of State
• Certificate of Citizenship
• Undamaged valid or expired U.S. passport
  • The passport must be fully valid which means it is or was valid for 5 years for children under 16. 

If you cannot submit one of these documents, go to our Citizenship Evidence page for more information.

Paper only: You cannot submit digital evidence of U.S. citizenship such as a mobile or electronic birth certificate. You must submit physical evidence of U.S. citizenship and a photocopy of the document. 

We must verify the legal relationship between every child and parent or guardian.

If you are not submitting a U.S. birth certificate which shows both your child’s U.S. citizenship and relationship to you, you must submit a document that shows the parent(s) or the legal guardian(s) of the child. 

Examples include:

• Foreign birth certificate
• Adoption decree
• Divorce or custody decree
• A court order

If your name is different than the one on the document showing your relationship to your child, submit proof of your legal name change. Examples include a name change decree, or marriage certificate.

Both parents or guardians must bring a physical, photo ID to apply for a child’s passport. 

The most common photo ID we accept is a: 

• Fully-valid driver's license or enhanced driver's license with photo 

If your photo ID is from a different state than the state in which you are applying, bring a second photo ID. 

Go to our Identification page for a full list of other acceptable photo IDs.

You must provide a:

• photocopy of your child’s citizenship evidence (along with the original or replacement version that has the seal or stamp), and
• photocopy of the front and back of the parent(s)/guardian(s) photo ID(s)

Photocopy requirements:

• Use 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper
• Use a single side of the paper
• Black and white (no color)

Both parents or guardians must give approval we can issue a passport to their child and be present with the child to apply in person.

If one or both parents or guardians cannot apply in person with their child, you will need to show more documents.

• You must submit Form DS-3053 and other notarized statements within three months after they are signed or notarized.
• We accept electronically notarized statements of consent if it is allowed under state law. You must provide a printed copy when applying for the child’s passport. If you have questions about these services, contact a notary public in your state.
• If a parent or guardian is outside the United States, you may need to notarize Form DS-3053 at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Please see the frequently asked questions below for more details.

You must also provide more documents if:

• Your child’s current valid passport is lost or stolen:
  • Complete and submit Form DS-64.
• Your child’s valid passport is damaged:
  • Provide a signed statement explaining the damage and submit the damaged passport.
  • Examples of passport damage include water damage, mold, stains, a significant tear, unofficial markings, or missing pages. Normal wear such as folded pages or a small bend does not count as a damaged passport.

You must provide one photo with your child's application. Go to our Passport Photo page for photo requirements and to see examples of photos. 

• Do not attach or staple your child's photo to the form. The acceptance agent or passport employee will review the photo and staple it to your form.

When you apply for your child's passport using Form DS-11, you will need to pay two fees: one to the U.S. Department of State and one to the facility where you submit your child's application.

Child Applicants (Under Age 16):

How to pay the passport application fee:

• Use a check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State."
• Write the child's name and date of birth in the memo section.
• We prefer that each child has a separate check or money order.
  • If a family applying together only has one check or money order, we will accept it. Please include the names and dates of birth of each applicant, and the number of applications in the memo section.

Optional fees:

• Add $60 to your application fee if you want faster expedited service.
• Add $22.05 to your application fee if you want your child's new passport shipped in 1-2 days after we issue it.

How to pay the $35 facility acceptance fee:

• Find an acceptance facility to learn what payment methods they accept. 

For more information on how to pay and a full list of fees, go to our Passport Fees page.

You must submit your child’s passport application, documents, and fees at an authorized passport acceptance facility. The passport agent will verify your ID, give you an oath, and have you sign your child’s application. 

Where you apply depends on your travel plans. Current processing times are: 

• 4-6 weeks for routine service
• 2-3 weeks for expedite service (extra $60) 

Our processing times do not include mailing times.

• Consider the total time it will take to receive your passport when you are booking travel. 
• It may take two weeks for your application to get to us, and two weeks for you to get your passport after we mail it. 

In the United States:

• Traveling in more than 3 weeks? Go to a passport acceptance facility such as a post office, library, or local government office. Check with the facility to see if you need to make an appointment. 
• Traveling in less than 3 weeks? Make an appointment to apply at a passport agency or center once you're within 14 days of international travel. 

In another country:

• Contact your U.S. embassy or consulate.

After you sign and submit your child’s passport application, the facility will mail it to the U.S. Department of State for processing, which may take up to two weeks. 

We will send status updates to the email address you provided on your child’s application. You will know we are processing the application when you get an email update of “In Process.”  You can also check the status of the application online.

If you did not receive application status updates, want to change the email receiving status updates, or learn more about each status update, please visit the application status page.

Passport Book: Your child's new passport book and citizenship evidence arrive in two separate envelopes:

1. New passport arrives via a trackable delivery service. 
2. Citizenship evidence arrives up to four weeks later via First Class Mail.

Passport Card: Your child's new passport card and citizenship evidence arrive in two separate envelopes: 

1. New passport card arrives via First Class Mail. We only send the passport card via First Class Mail. We do not send cards using 1-2 day delivery services.
2. Citizenship evidence arrives up to four weeks later via First Class Mail. 

Both a Passport Book and Card: Your child's new passport book, passport card, and citizenship evidence arrive in three separate envelopes:

1. New passport book arrives first via a trackable delivery service. 
2. New passport card arrives via First Class Mail. We only send the passport card via First Class Mail. We do not send cards using 1-2 day delivery services 
3. Citizenship evidence arrives up to four weeks later via First Class Mail. 

Check your application status to ensure we mailed your child's documents. If you have been waiting more than four weeks for your child's documents, call us at 1-877-487-2778 to report that you have not received your documents. 

If you want us to reimburse you for a lost supporting document, you must contact us within 90 days of the date which we mailed your child's passport. You will also need to provide a receipt to show the cost of replacing the document.