There’s no minimum age at which a baby can get a passport in the United States. A newborn is eligible the moment they’re born; the only thing standing between your child and an application is the certified birth certificate, which most states issue within one to two weeks. Once that’s in hand, you can walk into a passport acceptance facility the same day and apply. Every child, including infants, needs their own passport for international air travel.
Why the Birth Certificate Sets the Timeline
The State Department imposes no waiting period after birth. Eligibility starts at day one. The real clock is the vital records office in the state where your baby was born. Certified copies of a birth certificate typically become available five to ten business days after birth, though some states run longer, especially for mailed requests. Until you have that certified copy, you can’t submit an application.
If international travel is likely in your baby’s first months, call your state’s vital records office before the due date. Ask about turnaround, whether expedited issuance is available, and whether you can pick up in person to save days. Paying for expedited birth certificate processing, where offered, can meaningfully shorten the timeline.
What You Need to Bring
Everything has to be an original. Photocopies and notarized copies aren’t accepted as primary evidence of citizenship or identity.
Proof of Citizenship
The certified birth certificate is the standard document. It has to list the child’s full name, date of birth, place of birth, and both parents’ full names, and it has to show the filing date (within one year of birth), the registrar’s signature, and the seal of the issuing authority. For a baby born abroad to U.S. citizen parents, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or a Certificate of Citizenship takes the birth certificate’s place.1U.S. Embassy & Consulates. DS-11 for Minors
Proof That You’re the Parent
In most cases the birth certificate covers this too. If you adopted, bring a certified copy of the adoption decree. If either parent’s name has changed since the birth certificate was issued, bring the document showing the change, such as a marriage certificate.
Parent ID
Each parent at the appointment needs a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver’s license or passport works. Bring a photocopy of the front and back of each ID; the acceptance agent keeps the copies.
Social Security Number
Federal law requires the child’s Social Security number on the application. If your newborn doesn’t have one yet, include a signed and dated statement declaring under penalty of perjury that the Social Security Administration has never issued the child a number. Leaving this off can delay the application and trigger a $500 IRS penalty under 26 U.S.C. § 6039E.2Travel.State.Gov. Frequently Asked Questions About Passport Services
Both Parents Have to Show Up
Both parents or legal guardians must appear in person with the child.3Travel.State.Gov. Apply for a Childs Passport Under 16 The rule exists to prevent international child abduction, and it’s enforced strictly. If both of you can’t be there, plan for one of these routes well before your appointment:
- One parent consents but can’t attend. The absent parent signs Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent, in front of a notary. It’s valid for 90 days from the notary’s signature date, and you’ll need a photocopy of the ID that parent showed the notary.4U.S. Department of State. Statement of Consent – U.S. Passport Issuance to a Child
- The other parent can’t be located. Submit Form DS-5525, Statement of Special Family Circumstances, explaining the situation.3Travel.State.Gov. Apply for a Childs Passport Under 16
- You have sole legal custody. Bring a certified copy of the court order. The other parent’s consent isn’t required.
- Neither parent can appear. Each parent submits a DS-3053 or notarized consent authorizing a third party, such as a grandparent, to apply with the child.3Travel.State.Gov. Apply for a Childs Passport Under 16
Consent is where infant passport applications most often stall. If there’s any doubt about getting both parents to the appointment, get the DS-3053 handled early.
The Photo
The passport photo has to be 2 x 2 inches, in color, taken within the last six months, against a plain white or off-white background. The baby’s head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 1 and 1⅜ inches.5Travel.State.Gov. U.S. Passport Photos
This is the step most parents find hardest, but the rules give some room for infants. A baby’s eyes don’t have to be fully open, though older children’s do. Expression should be neutral; laughing or crying gets the photo rejected. Nothing else in the frame: no pacifier, toy, hand, hat, or other person.
The easiest setup is to lay the baby on a plain white sheet on a flat surface and shoot straight down from above. A white sheet draped over a car seat works too. Keep the lighting even and watch for shadows on the face. Take several shots. You’ll want the options.5Travel.State.Gov. U.S. Passport Photos
Fees and Where to Apply
Fill out Form DS-11 using the online Form Filler, print it single-sided, and don’t sign it. The acceptance agent has to witness your signature.3Travel.State.Gov. Apply for a Childs Passport Under 16 Book an appointment at a passport acceptance facility, often a post office, library, or clerk of court. Bring the unsigned DS-11, the originals, photocopies of the citizenship document and parental IDs, the photo, and everyone required at the appointment, baby included.
You pay two fees: an application fee to the State Department and an acceptance fee to the facility. For a child under 16:6Travel.State.Gov. Passport Fees
- Passport book: $100 application + $35 acceptance = $135
- Passport card only: $15 application + $35 acceptance = $50
- Book and card together: $115 application + $35 acceptance = $150
For international flights you need the book. The passport card only covers land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, and can’t be used for international air travel at all.7Travel.State.Gov. U.S. Passports and REAL ID
How Long It Takes
Routine processing runs four to six weeks from the date the State Department receives the application. Expedited service costs an additional $60 and cuts it to two to three weeks.8Travel.State.Gov. Processing Times for U.S. Passports6Travel.State.Gov. Passport Fees You can track status online after submitting.
If your trip is sooner, regional passport agencies see travelers departing internationally within 14 calendar days or needing a foreign visa within 28 calendar days. Appointments are limited and go quickly. Call 1-877-487-2778 to schedule.9U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency
Because you’re already waiting on the birth certificate before you can even file, start the passport process the day it arrives if travel is on the calendar.
How Long the Passport Lasts
A passport for a child under 16 is valid for five years, half the adult term.3Travel.State.Gov. Apply for a Childs Passport Under 16 There’s no mail-in renewal for children. When it expires, you do the whole in-person DS-11 process again, with both parents present and the same supporting documents, fees, and photo standards.