To fill out a child’s passport application, you use Form DS-11, leave it unsigned, and bring it in person to a passport acceptance facility along with the child, both parents or legal guardians, the child’s citizenship evidence, a passport photo, and payment. The application fee is $100 for a passport book plus a $35 acceptance facility fee, routine processing runs four to six weeks after the application reaches a passport agency, and the resulting passport is valid for five years.
Gather Everything Before You Touch the Form
Missing one document means a wasted appointment, and acceptance facilities aren’t always easy to rebook. Pull these together first.
Proof of U.S. citizenship. The usual document is the child’s U.S. birth certificate, and it must be an original or certified copy issued by the city, county, or state, with the registrar’s signature and an official seal or stamp. Hospital certificates and birth announcements don’t qualify. If a U.S. birth certificate isn’t available, you can substitute an undamaged U.S. passport (even expired), a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a Certificate of Citizenship.1United States Department of State. DS-11 for Minors You also need a single-sided photocopy on white 8.5-by-11-inch paper.2Travel.State.Gov. Citizenship Evidence Requirements
Proof of parental relationship. If the birth certificate lists both parents, it does double duty. If it doesn’t, bring a separate document that establishes the relationship, such as a foreign birth certificate, an adoption decree, a divorce or custody decree, or a court order naming the parent or guardian.3U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16
Parental ID. Every parent or guardian appearing at the appointment brings a valid government-issued photo ID plus a single-sided photocopy of the front and back, printed at full size on white paper.1United States Department of State. DS-11 for Minors
One passport photo. Color, 2 by 2 inches, taken within the last six months against a plain white or off-white background, with even lighting. The child’s head should measure between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches from chin to crown. Infants can have their eyes partly closed; older children need both eyes open and a neutral expression. For a baby, the simplest setup is laying them on a plain white sheet and shooting from directly above with no shadows across the face.4U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
Social Security number. You need to know the child’s SSN for the form. The physical card isn’t required. If your child doesn’t have a number yet, apply for one first; applications submitted without an SSN face delays.
Book, Card, or Both
The first box on Form DS-11 asks which document you want. A passport book works for every kind of international travel, including flights. A passport card is a wallet-sized plastic card usable only at land border crossings and sea ports of entry from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean countries, and it cannot be used for international air travel at all.5U.S. Department of State. Get a Passport Card
For most families the book is the right pick. If you live near the Canadian or Mexican border and your child crosses frequently by car, adding the card for $15 is a cheap convenience. The card by itself leaves your child grounded.
Filling Out Form DS-11
Download DS-11 from the State Department’s website and either type into the PDF using the online form filler or print it and complete it by hand in black ink. Do not sign it at home. The acceptance agent will have you sign in person under oath.6U.S. Department of State. Passport Forms
Enter the child’s full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and sex exactly as they appear on the birth certificate. If the child was born abroad, the place-of-birth field takes the country name in place of a state. The form asks for the child’s Social Security number in this section.
The mailing address controls where the finished passport is delivered. A useful move: put “In Care Of” and a parent’s name on the second address line so the postal carrier knows who should receive it.
The parent and guardian sections ask for full names, dates of birth, places of birth, sex, and U.S. citizenship status for both parents. If the mother has changed her name since birth, the form asks for her birth name. Fill in both parents’ information even if a parent is deceased or absent. An emergency contact section asks for someone who is not traveling with the child.
If the child has held a previous U.S. passport, a separate section asks for those details, and you submit the old passport with the application. The State Department cancels it and returns it separately.
Both Parents Must Consent
This is the requirement that catches the most families. Federal regulations require both parents or all legal guardians to appear in person at the acceptance facility with the child and sign the application.7eCFR. 22 CFR 51.28 – Minors The child appears too, and that isn’t optional even for infants.
If One Parent Cannot Attend
The absent parent completes Form DS-3053, a notarized statement of consent, and includes a photocopy of the front and back of their government-issued ID. The notarized consent is valid for 90 days, so don’t get it signed months before the appointment.8U.S. Department of State. Statement of Consent – DS-3053
If Only One Parent Has Legal Authority
Several situations let one parent apply alone with documentary proof:
- A court order granting sole legal custody, with no travel restrictions that would block passport issuance.
- A certified death certificate for the non-applying parent.
- A birth certificate listing only the applying parent.
- A court order terminating the other parent’s rights or declaring them legally incompetent.
The acceptance agent needs to see originals, not copies.7eCFR. 22 CFR 51.28 – Minors
If You Cannot Locate the Other Parent
Form DS-5525 covers exigent or special family circumstances. It asks for a detailed explanation of why the other parent’s consent cannot be obtained, every attempt you have made to locate and contact them (dates, methods, outcomes), and the other parent’s last known address, phone number, and place of employment.9U.S. Department of State. Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor Under Age 16 The State Department reviews these case by case. A time-sensitive emergency affecting the child’s health or welfare qualifies as exigent; a family situation that makes two-parent consent impossible qualifies as special. Neither approval is automatic, so document your efforts thoroughly.
The Appointment
Bring everything to a designated passport acceptance facility. These are usually post offices, clerks of court, and public libraries, and you can find one on the State Department’s locator.10Travel.State.Gov. Where to Apply for a U.S. Passport Book in advance. Walk-in slots depend on the location, and during peak season many facilities are full weeks out.
Your checklist:
- Completed, unsigned DS-11
- Original citizenship evidence plus photocopy
- Proof of parental relationship if the birth certificate doesn’t show it
- Both parents’ government-issued photo IDs plus photocopies
- DS-3053 or DS-5525 if a parent isn’t attending
- One passport photo
- Payment for both the application fee and the facility fee
- The child
At the counter, the acceptance agent reviews your documents, has you sign the form under oath, and seals the package for mailing to the State Department. Original documents travel with the application and come back to you separately after processing.
Fees
Two separate fees. The application fee goes to the State Department; the acceptance fee goes to the facility.
- Passport book, under 16: $100 application fee + $35 facility fee
- Passport card, under 16: $15 application fee + $35 facility fee
- Book and card together: $115 application fee + $35 facility fee
Pay the application fee by check or money order to “U.S. Department of State.” Credit and debit cards are not accepted for this fee at acceptance facilities. The $35 facility fee is paid separately, and the methods it accepts vary by location, so call ahead if you need to know.11Travel.State.Gov. Passport Fees
Processing Time and Expedited Options
Routine processing currently runs four to six weeks, measured from when the application reaches a passport agency, not from when you leave the acceptance facility. Mailing time in each direction can add up to two more weeks, so build six to ten weeks from your appointment into your plans.12U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports
Two ways to move faster:
- Expedited processing adds $60 to the application fee and drops processing to two to three weeks, plus mailing time. You can also pay for overnight return delivery.11Travel.State.Gov. Passport Fees
- An urgent travel appointment at a regional passport agency, available if you are traveling internationally within 14 calendar days (or 28 days if you also need a foreign visa). Appointments are limited and fill quickly.13Travel.State.Gov. How to Get my U.S. Passport Fast
You can track the application on the State Department’s website. If you paid for expedited service and didn’t receive it, you can request a refund of the $60.
Two Boundaries Worth Knowing
A child’s passport is valid for five years, not ten, and children cannot renew by mail. When the passport expires, you repeat the full DS-11 process, including in-person appearance and two-parent consent.3U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16 A passport issued to a newborn expires before kindergarten.
The rules change at 16. A 16- or 17-year-old still uses DS-11 for a first passport, but the two-parent consent requirement drops away. One parent or guardian needs to demonstrate awareness of the application by appearing at the appointment and signing, providing a signed written note with a photocopy of their ID, or paying the fees with a check or money order in the parent’s name. The resulting passport is valid for ten years.14U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Passport as a 16-17 Year Old If your child’s under-16 passport expires at 15 and travel isn’t imminent, waiting until they turn 16 saves you from paying for another five-year book.