You cannot renew a passport for a minor under 16 by mail. To renew a passport for a minor, you file a brand-new application in person on Form DS-11, the same form used for a first-time passport, and you do this every five years while the child is under 16.1U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s U.S. Passport Both parents or legal guardians normally have to appear with the child, and the minimum cost is $135 for a passport book.
Why There’s No Mail-In Renewal for Children
The mail-in renewal option on Form DS-82 is for adults only. Federal regulations require both parents or legal guardians to appear and consent in person before a child’s passport is issued, and that consent cannot happen through the mail.2USAGov. Get a Passport for a Minor Under 18 The rule also acts as a safeguard against one parent obtaining travel documents without the other’s knowledge.
Every five years, then, you go through the full process again: new form, new photo, new appointment, new fees. Whether the current passport is still in hand, expired years ago, or lost, the procedure is identical.
What to Bring to the Appointment
Start with Form DS-11 from the State Department’s online Form Filler. Print it single-sided, use black ink for anything handwritten, and do not sign it at home. The acceptance agent has to witness the signature, and a pre-signed form will be rejected.3U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport
Bring the following:
- Proof of the child’s U.S. citizenship. An original or certified U.S. birth certificate is the most common choice. It must show the child’s full name, date and place of birth, both parents’ names, the registrar’s signature, and a seal. A previous undamaged U.S. passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Citizenship also works.4U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport
- Proof of your relationship to the child. A birth certificate listing both parents covers this and citizenship at once. Otherwise, a foreign birth certificate, adoption decree, or custody order can establish the relationship.
- Photo ID for both parents or guardians, plus a photocopy of the front and back of each ID.
- A photocopy of the citizenship evidence, to leave with the application.
- One 2-by-2-inch passport photo taken within the last six months.
The Photo
The photo must be 2 by 2 inches 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.5U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos Glasses come off. Hats and head coverings are out unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons, in which case you include a signed statement or doctor’s note and the full face still has to be visible.
Photographing a baby or toddler against white is famously awkward. A common workaround is to lay the child on a white sheet and shoot from above. Do not reuse a photo older than six months, even if your child looks the same to you.
Social Security Number
DS-11 asks for the child’s Social Security number, and providing it is mandatory if one has been assigned. Leaving it blank can delay or lead to denial of the application, and the IRS can impose a $500 penalty for failing to provide it.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 6039E – Information Concerning Resident Status If your child has never been assigned one, include a signed statement saying so under penalty of perjury.7Travel.State.Gov. Frequently Asked Questions
Two-Parent Consent
Both parents or all legal guardians must appear in person with the child and sign the application. This rule comes from 22 CFR 51.28, and the State Department enforces it strictly.8eCFR. 22 CFR 51.28 – Minors
When One Parent Can’t Come
The absent parent completes Form DS-3053, the Statement of Consent, and has it notarized. Attach a photocopy of the front and back of that parent’s government-issued photo ID. The notarized consent is valid for 90 days, so don’t get it signed too far ahead.9U.S. Department of State. Statement of Consent – U.S. Passport Issuance to a Child
When One Parent Has Sole Authority
If you have sole legal authority, you skip the consent form and instead provide proof: a birth certificate listing only one parent, a death certificate for the other parent, an adoption decree naming only you, or a court order granting sole legal custody with no travel restrictions that would conflict with passport issuance.8eCFR. 22 CFR 51.28 – Minors
When the Other Parent Is Unreachable or Incarcerated
If the other parent cannot be found and no court order addresses custody, submit Form DS-5525, the Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances. You’ll need to explain in detail why the other parent is unreachable and document your attempts to contact them by mail, phone, email, and social media, with approximate dates and results for each.10U.S. Department of State. Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances
Incarceration usually doesn’t trigger DS-5525. The standard approach is to have the incarcerated parent sign a notarized DS-3053 from within the facility. DS-5525 applies only in narrow cases where that parent truly cannot be reached, such as being held overseas without access to a notary. If you go that route, include evidence of the incarceration, such as a printout of an inmate locator page or a letter from the court.
Third-Party Applicants
Both parents can authorize a specific third party to apply on the child’s behalf. Each parent completes and notarizes a separate DS-3053 naming that person. The third party brings both notarized forms plus photocopies of both parents’ IDs to the appointment.9U.S. Department of State. Statement of Consent – U.S. Passport Issuance to a Child
Where You Apply
You submit at a passport acceptance facility, typically a post office, public library, or clerk of court office. The State Department’s locator at iafdb.travel.state.gov lets you search by ZIP code.11U.S. Department of State. Passport Acceptance Facility Search Page Most locations require an appointment. Post offices book through the USPS Retail Customer Appointment Scheduler online or at a lobby kiosk; some have limited walk-in hours, but nothing is guaranteed.12United States Postal Service. Passport Application and Passport Renewal
The child has to be physically present, infants included. At the appointment, the acceptance agent reviews the originals and photocopies, administers the oath, and witnesses the parents’ signatures on DS-11. Everything gets sealed into a packet and mailed to the State Department.
Fees
You pay two separate amounts: an application fee to the U.S. Department of State and a $35 execution fee to the acceptance facility.13U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
- Passport book: $100 application fee plus $35 execution fee, $135 total.
- Passport card: $15 application fee plus $35 execution fee, $50 total.
- Book and card together: $115 application fee plus $35 execution fee, $150 total.
Pay the application fee by check or money order made out to “U.S. Department of State,” with the child’s name and date of birth in the memo line. Payment methods for the $35 execution fee vary by facility, so check ahead. Two optional add-ons speed things up: a $60 expedited processing fee and a $22.05 fee for 1-to-3-day return delivery of the finished book to a U.S. address.14U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities
How Long It Takes
Routine processing currently runs 4 to 6 weeks; expedited runs 2 to 3 weeks.15U.S. Department of State. Get Your Processing Time Those windows cover time at the passport agency only, not mailing time on either end. The State Department suggests adding up to 2 weeks of mailing time when planning around a trip.
For travel within 14 calendar days, you can request an appointment at a regional passport agency, which is different from a regular acceptance facility. These slots are limited and require proof of upcoming travel, such as a flight itinerary.16U.S. Department of State. How to Get My U.S. Passport Fast Life-or-death emergencies involving an immediate family member abroad get the fastest turnaround; call 1-877-487-2778 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern) or 202-647-4000 after hours, weekends, and federal holidays, with documentation of the emergency ready.
If Your Child Is 16 or 17
Everything above applies to children under 16. A 16- or 17-year-old still applies in person on Form DS-11, but it’s treated as a first adult passport rather than a minor’s renewal.17U.S. Department of State. Apply for Your Passport as a 16-17 Year Old The passport is valid for 10 years instead of 5, the fees are higher, and two-parent consent is not required. If your 15-year-old’s passport expires soon and travel plans allow, waiting until 16 gets you the longer validity.