16-Year-Old Passport Requirements: Documents, Fees, and Processing

At 16 or 17, you apply for a U.S. passport the same way an adult does: in person, using Form DS-11, with proof of citizenship, a photo ID, a passport photo, and the required fees. The one requirement that sets 16 year old passport applicants apart from adults is that you must show at least one parent or legal guardian knows you’re applying.¹ Your passport will be valid for 10 years, not the 5-year term issued to children under 16.²

One thing to know up front: even if you already hold a valid child passport, you can’t renew it by mail. The State Department treats your application as a first-time adult passport, so you have to appear in person.¹

Documents You Need to Bring

Form DS-11

Fill out DS-11 using the State Department’s online Form Filler, then print it single-sided. Do not sign it at home. You’ll sign under oath in front of the acceptance agent at your appointment.³ If you fill the form out by hand, use black ink.

Proof of U.S. Citizenship

Bring one original document with the issuing government office’s seal or stamp. Any of these work:⁴

A U.S. birth certificate issued by a city, county, or state, showing your full name, date and place of birth, parents’ names, the registrar’s signature, and a filing date within one year of your birth.
A previously issued U.S. passport that was full validity (10 years for adults, 5 years for children). It can be expired.
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad, if you were born outside the U.S. to American parents.
A Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship.

Also bring a photocopy of the citizenship document on standard 8.5-by-11-inch paper, single-sided. The photocopy stays with your application; your original comes back by mail with the new passport.¹

Photo Identification

You need to present a physical photo ID. A fully valid driver’s license is the most common. A learner’s permit is accepted, but you may be asked for a second form of ID. If your photo ID was issued in a different state from where you’re applying, bring a second photo ID as well.¹ Bring a photocopy of the front and back of whatever ID you use.

Don’t have any acceptable photo ID? A parent or legal guardian with acceptable ID can appear with you and co-sign the application.

Passport Photo

You need one recent color photo, 2 by 2 inches, taken within the last six months against a plain white or off-white background, showing a full-face view. You can’t wear eyeglasses.⁵ Don’t attach or staple it to the form. Pharmacies and shipping stores typically charge around $15 to $22 for passport photos, and some acceptance facilities offer the service too.

Showing That a Parent Knows You’re Applying

This is the piece unique to 16- and 17-year-olds. Unlike children under 16, you don’t need both parents to consent, but you do have to demonstrate that at least one parent or legal guardian knows you’re applying. The State Department accepts any of three methods:¹

A parent or guardian comes to the appointment with you and signs Form DS-11. Bring a photocopy of that parent’s ID.
A parent writes and signs a note saying they know you’re applying. Bring the note plus a photocopy of the parent’s ID.
A parent pays the fees using a check or money order printed with the parent’s name on it.

If none of those methods clearly establishes parental awareness, you may be asked for a notarized statement from your parent on Form DS-3053 along with a photocopy of the parent’s ID. Electronic or remote notarization is fine as long as it complies with the notarizing state’s law.

Fees

A first-time adult passport book costs $165, split into two payments:⁶

A $130 application fee paid to the U.S. Department of State.
A $35 acceptance (execution) fee paid to the facility where you apply.

The two payments often require different methods. Many facilities only take a check or money order for the $130 federal fee and may accept cash or card for the $35. Make the check payable to “U.S. Department of State” and confirm how the facility takes the acceptance fee. If a parent is paying the application fee to satisfy the parental awareness requirement, the check or money order must have the parent’s name on it.

Expedited processing adds $60. If you also want faster return shipping, 1-to-2-day delivery is an additional $19.53.⁷

A passport card is a separate option that costs $30 plus the $35 acceptance fee, but the card can’t be used for international air travel. You can apply for the book and card together on the same DS-11 if you want both.⁸

Where to Apply and What Happens at the Appointment

Passport acceptance facilities are located at post offices, clerks of court, public libraries, and other local government offices. Use the search tool at iafdb.travel.state.gov to find the closest one by ZIP code.⁹ Many require appointments, so check before you go.

At the appointment, the acceptance agent reviews your documents, puts you under oath, and has you sign DS-11. The agent then takes your citizenship document, application, photo, photocopies, and fees and sends the packet to the State Department for processing. Your original citizenship document is returned separately by mail.

Processing Times and Tracking

Routine processing currently runs 4 to 6 weeks, and expedited processing runs 2 to 3 weeks. Neither figure includes mailing time, which can add up to 2 weeks in each direction.⁷ If you have a travel date, count backward and add a buffer. Processing tends to slow during peak season in spring and early summer.

Track your application at passportstatus.state.gov using your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. The system updates through each processing stage and shows when your passport has been mailed.

If You Need a Passport Fast

If you have international travel booked within 14 calendar days, or you need a foreign visa within 28 days, you can schedule an appointment at a regional passport agency instead of a regular acceptance facility.¹⁰ Agencies are located in major cities and serve customers by appointment only.

If you haven’t applied yet, schedule through the State Department’s Online Passport Appointment System. You’ll enter travel details to confirm eligibility, then provide an email address and phone number for verification codes. If you already submitted an application through an acceptance facility and your travel date moved up, call 1-877-487-2778 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern; weekends 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) to request an agency appointment. Bring proof of your upcoming travel, such as a flight itinerary or hotel booking.

1
U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Passport as a 16-17 Year Old
2
eCFR. 22 CFR 51.4 – Validity of Passports
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U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport
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U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport
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U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
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U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities
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U.S. Department of State. How to Get my U.S. Passport Fast
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U.S. Department of State. Compare a Passport Card and Book
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U.S. Department of State. Where to Apply for a U.S. Passport
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U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency or Center