At What Age Can a Child Get a Passport: Under 16 and 16-17

A child can get a U.S. passport at any age, including a newborn just days old — there is no minimum age. What changes is how the application works. The State Department splits child applicants into two groups: those under 16 and those who are 16 or 17. The younger group gets a five-year passport and needs both parents involved; the older group gets a ten-year passport and applies much like an adult.

Children Under 16

A child under 16 cannot apply on their own. Both parents or legal guardians must appear in person with the child at an acceptance facility, provide consent, and sign the application.¹ The passport issued is valid for five years, and it cannot be renewed by mail. When it expires, you start the in-person process over with a new application, new documents, and a new photo.²

The five-year window reflects how quickly a young child’s appearance changes. It also means most families end up applying more than once during childhood.

Applicants Ages 16 and 17

A 16- or 17-year-old uses the same Form DS-11 as younger children, but the rules loosen. Only one parent needs to demonstrate awareness of the application, rather than both parents providing formal consent. If the teen has acceptable photo ID such as a driver’s license or learner’s permit, they can appear at the acceptance facility alone. If they do not have photo ID, a parent must attend and sign the form with them.³

A parent can show awareness by appearing in person and signing, by submitting a signed note, or by paying the fees with a check or money order in the parent’s name. The passport issued is valid for 10 years, the same as any adult passport.³

If your child is close to turning 16 and you know international travel is coming, waiting can pay off. A 16-year-old’s passport costs a bit more upfront but lasts twice as long.

What to Bring for Any Child’s Application

Every child’s application uses Form DS-11. You can fill it out and print it online, but do not sign it until the acceptance agent tells you to.⁴ You’ll also need:

Proof of the child’s U.S. citizenship. A U.S. birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state of birth is the usual document, and it must show the child’s full name, date and place of birth, both parents’ names, the registrar’s signature, and the issuing seal. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a previous undamaged U.S. passport also works. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.⁴
Proof of the parental relationship. A birth certificate listing the parents usually covers both citizenship and this requirement. An adoption decree or a court order establishing legal guardianship also qualifies.
Parent identification. Each parent who appears must present a valid, physical, government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or U.S. military ID. Digital IDs are not accepted. Bring a single-sided photocopy of the front and back of each ID on white paper.⁴
The child’s Social Security number. Federal law requires it on the application. Leaving it off can delay the passport, and the IRS may impose a $500 penalty for failing to include it. If your child has never been issued one, include a signed and dated statement declaring that under penalty of perjury.⁵⁶
A passport photo that meets the State Department’s specifications.

When Both Parents Cannot Appear Together

The two-parent requirement is the part of this process that stops the most families cold. There are three main ways around it, depending on your situation.

One Parent Cannot Attend

If both parents share custody but one cannot come to the appointment, the absent parent completes Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) in front of a certified notary public. The form must be signed and notarized on the same day, and you submit it with a photocopy of the ID the absent parent showed the notary.¹

You Have Sole Custody

A parent with sole legal custody can apply without the other parent’s involvement by submitting one of the following:

A court order granting sole custody or exclusive authority to apply for the child’s passport
A certified copy of the other parent’s death certificate
A certified copy of a birth certificate or adoption decree listing only one parent or guardian
A certified copy of a judicial declaration of incompetence for the other parent

You Cannot Locate the Other Parent

If you share custody but genuinely cannot find or reach the other parent, submit Form DS-5525 (Statement of Special Family Circumstances). You’ll have to describe in detail the steps you’ve taken to contact them, including attempts by mail, phone, email, and social media. The State Department may ask for a custody order, an incarceration order, or a restraining order.¹ The form exists to prevent international parental child abduction, so expect a thorough review.

Where to Apply and What It Costs

Every child’s application, and every first-time application, has to be submitted in person at an acceptance facility. There are more than 7,500 of them nationwide, including post offices, clerks of court, and public libraries.⁷ Schedule an appointment ahead of time; walk-ins may not be accommodated. The acceptance agent will administer an oath and have you sign the form on the spot.

You pay two separate fees on every application: an application fee to the State Department and a $35 execution fee to the acceptance facility. As of 2026, the totals for a child under 16 come out to:

Passport book only: $100 application fee plus $35 execution fee, or $135 total
Passport card only: $15 application fee plus $35 execution fee, or $50 total
Passport book and card together: $115 application fee plus $35 execution fee, or $150 total

⁸

The passport card costs far less but only works for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. It cannot be used for international air travel. If flying abroad is even a possibility, get the book.

Applicants aged 16 and 17 pay adult rates: $130 for the book plus the $35 execution fee, or $165 total.³

Passport Photos for Babies and Young Children

The photo must be 2 by 2 inches, taken within the last six months, on a plain white or off-white background with no shadows or patterns. The child’s head should measure between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches from chin to crown.⁹

Getting an infant to cooperate is the hardest part of applying for a baby’s passport. The State Department gives some leeway. A newborn’s eyes can be partially or completely closed, and some head tilt is acceptable. The easiest method is to lay the baby on a plain white sheet, or cover a car seat with one, and photograph from above.¹⁰ A parent’s hand can support the baby’s head, but no part of your face or body can appear in the frame.⁹

Most post offices, pharmacies, and shipping stores take passport photos for $15 to $18.

How Long It Takes

As of early 2026, routine processing runs four to six weeks and expedited processing runs two to three weeks. Those windows cover only the time the application spends at a passport agency. Mailing time in each direction is on top of that.¹¹

Expedited processing adds $60. You can also pay $22.05 for 1-to-3-day return delivery of the finished passport.⁸

If an immediate family member abroad has died, is dying, or has a life-threatening illness or injury, you can schedule an in-person appointment at a passport agency for service within days. Immediate family here means a parent, child, spouse, sibling, or grandparent, not aunts, uncles, or cousins. You’ll need documentation of the emergency such as a hospital letter on official letterhead signed by a doctor, plus proof of international travel within the next two weeks.¹² Call 1-877-487-2778 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, to schedule.

A Passport Is Not the Same as Travel Permission

Having the passport in hand is one thing. Crossing a foreign border with the child can require something else. The United States does not require a permission letter for a child leaving the country with one parent, but many destination countries do.¹³

If your child is traveling with only one parent, bring a signed and notarized letter from the other parent authorizing the trip. If the child is traveling with a grandparent, other relative, or group leader, both parents should provide a notarized letter granting permission. Carry a copy of the child’s birth certificate or another document showing your legal relationship as well.¹³

1
U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16
2
USAGov. Get a Passport for a Minor Under 18 – Section: Children Under 16
3
U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Passport as a 16-17 Year Old
4
U.S. Department of State. DS-11 – Wizard Results
5
Travel.State.Gov. Frequently Asked Questions About Passport Services
6
eCFR. 26 CFR 301.6039E-1 – Information Reporting by Passport Applicants
7
U.S. Department of State. Where to Apply for a U.S. Passport – Section: Where to Apply
8
U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities
9
U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
10
Foreign Affairs Manual. 8 FAM 402.1 Passport Photographs
11
U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports
12
Travel.State.Gov. Get a Passport if You Have a Life-or-Death Emergency
13
U.S. Department of State. Travel With Minors