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Children Under 16
All passport applicants under 16 must apply in person using Form DS-11.
Please note: Passports for children under 16 are only valid for 5 years.
FAQs
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Can I mail in my child's application or apply online?
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No, children applicants under 16 are not eligible to mail in their passport applications. Additionally, the Department of State does not currently have the option to submit passport applications online.
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Do I have to make an appointment to apply at an acceptance facility?
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Some acceptance facilities require appointments and others do not. We recommend calling the acceptance facility ahead of time to verify their hours, acceptable forms of payment, and appointment requirements. Find your acceptance facility.
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Will my and my child's passports be mailed back together?
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No, your passports will be mailed back separately. In addition, your citizenship evidence generally will be mailed back separately from your new passport.
Newly-issued passport books are delivered using Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation, unless you pay for Priority Express return service when you apply.
All passport cards are mailed using First Class Mail. Passport cards cannot be delivered using Priority Express.
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Can I pay for my and my child's passports with one payment?
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Families may write one check or money order to the U.S. Department of State for their passport application fees if they are applying in person at the same time. The check or money order must include the name and date of birth of each applicant.
All other applicants must submit individual checks or money orders to the U.S. Department of State for their passport application fees. Please include the applicant's name and date of birth on the check or money order.
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What if my child and I have different last names?
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You and your child may have different last names, as long as the parental relationship document lists your full name. If your name has changed from that on the parental relationship document, please submit proof of your legal name change (e.g. marriage certificate or court order).
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What is the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP)?
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Parents may enroll their U.S. citizen children under the age of 18 in the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP), one of the Department of State’s most important tools for preventing international parental child abduction. If a passport application is submitted for a child who is enrolled in CPIAP, we attempt to alert the parent(s) to verify whether the they approve passport issuance.
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It states on my child's U.S. birth certificate that is it illegal to make a copy. What should I do?
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If you choose not to submit a photocopy, you may submit a second certified copy of your child's birth certificate. We will keep this second certified copy for our records.
Forms
DS-3053: Statement of Consent - Issuing a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16
DS-5525: Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances - Issuing a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16
Processing Times
Routine 6 Weeks
Expedited 2-3 Weeks
Applying for your child’s U.S. passport? Watch this video!