Get a U.S. passport for a child under 16 (Form DS-11)

Who must come to the appointment

Both parents or guardians must appear in person with a child under 16. If one cannot, that parent signs Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) before a notary, and it must be submitted within 90 days with a copy of the ID shown to the notary.⁵

Your child comes too. If a parent cannot give consent in person, the State Department lists these other options.

If you have sole custody

If you cannot find the other parent

If you cannot find the other parent but both still have custody, submit Form DS-5525 (Statement of Special Family Circumstances); more evidence may be requested.⁷

Every family is different. If your situation is not covered here, check the official source before the appointment. Passmere does not give an opinion on custody or on any individual case.

Child passports can't be renewed

A passport issued to a child under 16 cannot be renewed; the child applies in person again, and child passports are valid for 5 years.⁸

So an expired child passport is replaced with the same in-person steps as a first passport. Check the expiration date well before any trip.

What to bring

For a child, the proof of citizenship and the photo are the child's. A child's application can need more than this list, for example to show who the parents are, so check the official source for the full list before you go.

Bring one photo of the child but do not attach or staple it; the acceptance agent reviews and staples it.¹⁰ Do not sign Form DS-11 until the acceptance agent asks you to; the agent gives you an oath and watches you sign.¹¹

For the photo rules, see Passport photo requirements.

Step by step

Checklist

What to bring for your child

Print checklist

• Your child, in person
• Form DS-11, filled in and printed single-sided, not signed
• Your child's original proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate
• Photocopy of that document, one side only
• Photo ID of each parent or guardian who comes, with a front-and-back photocopy
• Form DS-3053 signed in front of a notary, with a copy of the ID shown to the notary, if one parent cannot come
• Sole custody document or Form DS-5525, if one of them applies to you
• One photo of your child, not stapled
• Check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State", with your child's name and date of birth on it
• Separate payment for the acceptance fee

Do and don't

Do

• Bring your child to the appointment.
• If a parent signs Form DS-3053, hand it in before the deadline in the rule above.
• Check your child's passport expiration date well before any trip.
• Ask for the book and the card at the same visit if you want both. The same forms are used for both; asking for the book and card together saves one $35 acceptance fee compared with applying separately.¹²

Don't

• Don't staple or glue the photo to the form.
• Don't sign Form DS-11 before the agent asks you to.
• Don't try to renew a child passport by mail with Form DS-82.
• Don't plan to pay the application fee in cash; it is paid by check or money order.

Fees

These are government fees. The application fee is paid to the U.S. Department of State and the acceptance fee to the facility. Neither one is paid to Passmere.

By mail or at an acceptance facility, pay the application fee with a check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of State", with the applicant's name and date of birth in the memo. The acceptance fee is paid separately to the facility. Online renewals are paid by credit or debit card.¹⁷ The application fee and the acceptance fee are not refunded, even if no passport is issued. Only the $60 expedite fee can be refunded when expedited service was not delivered on time.¹⁸

Where to apply

You apply at an acceptance facility, often a post office, a library or a local government office. Find one near you with the official search tool: iafdb.travel.state.gov¹⁹.

The facility sends your child's application to the State Department; you do not mail Form DS-11 yourself.

How long it takes

• Routine processing: 4–6 weeks³.
• Expedited processing: 2–3 weeks²⁰.
• Mailing can add up to 2 weeks²¹ each way.
• Your child's proof of citizenship comes back up to 4 weeks²² after the new passport.

Traveling soon? Read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.

Frequently asked questions