What to Bring to a Child’s Passport Appointment

What to bring to a child’s passport appointment: the child in person, original proof of U.S. citizenship, one compliant passport photo, both parents or legal guardians with valid photo ID, a completed but unsigned Form DS-11 that includes the child’s Social Security Number, and two separate payments for the application and acceptance fees. Every item on that list is a common reason appointments get rescheduled, so it is worth going through each one before you leave the house.

Proof of the Child’s Citizenship

The main document is the child’s original birth certificate, issued by the city, county, or state of birth. It must show the child’s full name, date and place of birth, both parents’ full names, and the registrar’s signature, and it must have been filed with the registrar within one year of the birth and carry a raised seal or stamp.¹ Photocopies will not be accepted. Bring the original.

If a birth certificate isn’t available, the State Department also accepts a previous undamaged U.S. passport, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a Certificate of Citizenship.¹ You get the document back; the State Department mails original citizenship documents separately from the new passport, typically up to four weeks after the passport itself ships.²

You also need to prove the legal relationship between the child and each parent or guardian. A birth certificate that lists both parents usually does this on its own. If it doesn’t, bring an adoption decree, custody order, or another court document that establishes the relationship.³

One Passport Photo

Bring one recent color photo taken within the last six months. It must be 2 by 2 inches, shot against a plain white or off-white background with no shadows or lines, and show the child’s full face looking straight at the camera. Measured from chin to the top of the hair, the head should be between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches in the frame.⁴

Infants get a small allowance: it’s fine if a baby’s eyes aren’t fully open. Every other child must have their eyes open. For babies and toddlers who can’t sit up on their own, the State Department suggests laying the child on a plain white sheet, or draping one over a car seat, and shooting from above.⁴ No other people or objects can appear in the frame. Retail pharmacies and shipping stores offer passport photo services, generally around $15.

The Child’s Social Security Number

Federal law requires a Social Security Number on every passport application, and this catches parents of newborns off guard when the SSN card hasn’t arrived yet. Skipping the field or writing it in wrong will delay the application, may cause it to be denied, and can trigger a $500 IRS penalty.²

If the child has never been issued an SSN, you don’t have to wait. Write and sign a statement declaring under penalty of perjury that the Social Security Administration has never issued the child a number, and bring it with the application.²

Both Parents in Person, With Photo ID

Both parents or legal guardians must appear at the acceptance facility with the child, each carrying a valid photo ID. A driver’s license is the most common choice, though a state-issued ID card or a valid U.S. passport also works.³

If One Parent Can’t Attend

The two-parent rule is the single biggest reason appointments fall apart. When both parents share custody but one can’t be there, the absent parent must sign Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) in front of a notary. Bring the notarized form along with a photocopy of the front and back of that parent’s photo ID.³

If you can’t locate the other parent, or they’re incarcerated and unable to consent, submit Form DS-5525 (Statement of Special Family Circumstances) instead, explaining why consent can’t be obtained. Supporting evidence such as an incarceration order, restraining order, or other court documentation may also be required.⁵

When only one parent has legal authority over the child, no consent from the other parent is needed. You can show sole authority with a court order granting sole legal custody, the other parent’s death certificate, or a birth certificate that lists only one parent.⁶

Form DS-11, Completed but Not Signed

Every child under 16 applying for the first time uses Form DS-11, “Application for a U.S. Passport.” Fill it out online through the State Department’s website and print it, or pick up a blank copy at the acceptance facility. Complete every field, including the child’s SSN, but do not sign the form at home. The acceptance agent has to witness your signature in person.⁷

Decide before the appointment whether you want a passport book, a passport card, or both, because that choice goes on the same DS-11. The book works for all international travel. The card is cheaper and wallet-sized, but it’s only valid for land and sea crossings between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, and cannot be used for international air travel.⁸

Two Separate Payments

You pay two fees to two different parties at the appointment, and mixing them up will slow you down.

The application fee goes to the U.S. Department of State 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.⁹ As of February 2026:

Passport book only: $100 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee, $135 total
Passport card only: $15 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee, $50 total
Both book and card: $115 application fee plus $35 acceptance fee, $150 total

The $35 acceptance fee goes directly to the facility where you apply. Payment methods vary by location; some take credit cards, others accept only checks or money orders, so call ahead and confirm. If you need the passport faster than standard processing allows, expedited service adds $60.⁹

And the Child

Bring the child. This isn’t optional. Every minor applicant must appear in person at the acceptance facility.¹⁰ The acceptance agent will review the citizenship evidence, check both parents’ photo IDs, examine the DS-11, place you under oath, and have you sign in their presence.³ You’ll leave with a receipt; keep it, because you’ll use it to track the application later.

1
U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport
2
Travel.State.Gov. Frequently Asked Questions about Passport Services
3
U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16
4
U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
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U.S. Department of State. Form DS-5525
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U.S. Department of State. Form DS-3053
7
U.S. Department of State. Passport Forms
8
U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passports and REAL ID
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Travel.State.Gov. Passport Fees
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Department of State. 8 Steps to Apply for a Child’s Passport Handout ENG 2025