Passports for Minors Under Age 16

All children under the age of 16 are required to appear at the Embassy with both parents for all passport services. Children under the age of 16 should complete form DS-11. If only one parent is able to attend with the child, please see "Application by One Parent" below.

In addition to the requirements for the child's specific passport service, you will be required to submit the following:

Parents' photo identification: Parents accompanying their child to the Embassy must submit their valid U.S. or foreign passports. These will be returned to you at your appointment.  

• Proof of parentage
  Certified U.S. state birth certificate (either vital statistics or Department of Health) with parents' names; OR
• Certified foreign birth certificate (with parents' names and translation, if necessary); OR
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (form FS-240) (with parents' names); OR
• Certification of Birth Abroad (form DS-1350) (with parents' names);
• Adoption decree (with adopting parents' names); OR
• Court Order establishing custody; OR
• Court Order establishing guardianship.

Note: If your name is not the same as your child's last name or the name listed on your proof of parentage, you must submit documentation that will link your names or link you to the child (marriage/divorce certificate, court order).

Application by One Parent

If only one parent is able to appear, one of the following will be required in addition to the above requirements:

Form DS-3053 (PDF 157 KB) (Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16) completed by the absent parent must be notarized before a U.S. Notary Public. U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad can also notarize form DS-3053.  

• In addition to the form DS-3053, the absent parent will be required to submit one of the following:
  Valid U.S. or foreign passport or a good notarized photocopy of the identity and signature pages; OR
• Valid driver's license; OR
• Valid military ID; OR
• Valid U.S. government ID; OR
• Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services with photograph;OR 
• Alien Resident Card from USCIS (I-551). OR

Evidence of the appearing parent's sole authority to apply for the passport in the form of one of the following:  

• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (form DS-1350) listing only the applying parent;OR
• Child's birth certificate listing only the applying parent; OR
• Adoption decree (if the applying parent is the sole adopting parent); OR
• Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (i.e. the absent parent has no access to the child. Child's travel must not be restricted by that order); OR
• Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent;OR
• Death certificate of non-applying parent.

Once we process the complete passport application, it takes seven to ten days to receive your new passport.

For more information see Important Notice: All Minors Must Appear in Person and Special Requirements for Children Under Age 16 Applying for Passports.