A U.S. passport issued to a child under 16 is valid for five years from the date of issue, whether the child was an infant or nearly a teenager when it was printed.1U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16 That’s half the ten-year lifespan of an adult passport.2U.S. Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions about Passport Services The five-year rule applies to both the passport book and the passport card.
Why “Valid” and “Usable” Aren’t the Same
A child’s passport can be technically valid and still get the family turned away at the gate. Many countries require that a traveler’s passport remain valid for at least six months beyond the planned travel dates. Countries enforcing this six-month rule include popular destinations across Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe and Africa. If the passport falls inside that six-month window, airlines can deny boarding and foreign border officials can refuse entry.3U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Six-Month Passport Validity Update
For planning purposes, treat the six-month mark as the real expiration date. Check the entry requirements for your specific destination before booking. A passport issued when your child was ten can become functionally unusable for certain countries well before it prints as “expired.”
There Is No Renewal for Children Under 16
When a child’s passport expires, you cannot renew it by mail. Form DS-82, the mail-in renewal form adults use, is not available for children under 16.2U.S. Department of State. Frequently Asked Questions about Passport Services Every five years you start over: a fresh application on Form DS-11, submitted in person, with both parents or legal guardians and the child present at a passport acceptance facility.1U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16
Because the process is a new application rather than a renewal, the full fee schedule recurs each cycle until the child turns 16.
What It Costs
Every child’s application involves two payments: a Department of State application fee and a $35 facility acceptance fee paid where you submit the paperwork.
- Passport book: $100 application fee plus $35 facility fee, for $135 total.
- Passport card: $15 application fee plus $35 facility fee, for $50 total.
- Both book and card: $115 application fee plus $35 facility fee, for $150 total.
Expedited processing adds $60 per application.4Travel.State.Gov. Passport Fees For an extra $22.05 you can add 1-to-2-day delivery of the finished book to a U.S. address; that option isn’t available for passport cards.5U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees Budget another $8 to $17 for a passport photo at a retail location.
What to Bring
At the acceptance facility, you’ll need:
- Form DS-11, filled out but unsigned. The acceptance agent administers an oath before you sign.6Travel.State.Gov. Passport Forms
- Proof of the child’s U.S. citizenship: an original or certified birth certificate, a previous U.S. passport, or a Certificate of Citizenship.
- Proof of parental relationship, typically the birth certificate listing both parents.
- Photo ID for both parents: driver’s license, state ID, or passport.
- A current passport photo of the child.
- The child’s previous passport, if one was issued.
How Long Processing Takes
Routine processing currently runs four to six weeks. Expedited processing runs two to three weeks.7Travel.State.Gov. Processing Times for U.S. Passports Neither estimate includes mailing time in either direction, so add days on both ends.
When One Parent Can’t Be at the Appointment
If one parent cannot appear, they need to complete Form DS-3053, the Statement of Consent, and have it notarized. A photocopy of that parent’s ID goes with the form.6Travel.State.Gov. Passport Forms
When the other parent genuinely cannot be located, is deceased, or the applying parent has sole custody, use Form DS-5525, the Statement of Special Family Circumstances, instead.6Travel.State.Gov. Passport Forms
If the Passport Is Lost or Stolen
Report a lost or stolen child’s passport promptly by filing Form DS-64, then apply for a new one in person using Form DS-11.6Travel.State.Gov. Passport Forms The same in-person and parental consent rules apply. Reporting the loss invalidates the old passport in the system, so if it later turns up, it’s no longer usable.
What Happens at Age 16
At 16, your child becomes eligible for an adult passport valid for ten years.8U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Passport as a 16-17 Year Old The timing is worth thinking through. A passport issued at 14 expires at 19; a passport issued at 16 lasts until 26. Depending on upcoming travel, applying for the adult passport early can be the better call rather than running out the child passport.
The application still uses Form DS-11 and still requires an in-person visit, but the two-parent rule eases. A 16 or 17-year-old only needs to show that one parent or guardian is aware of the application, which can be shown three ways:
- The parent appears with the applicant and signs the form, with a photocopy of their ID.
- The parent provides a signed note along with a photocopy of their ID.
- The parent pays the fees with a check or money order in their name.
The application fee at this age is $130, plus the $35 facility fee, for $165 total for a passport book.8U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Passport as a 16-17 Year Old Spread over ten years instead of five, the per-year cost drops. At 18, the parental awareness requirement goes away entirely.