Passports for Minors under age 16

Special Requirements for Minor Children under Age 16

Important Note: As of February 1st, 2008, the two-parent signature requirement has been extended to all children under age 16, whereas previously this was only required for children under age 14.

Each minor child must appear in person and provide the required documentation.  Both parents’ consent and signatures are mandatory for passport issuance for minors under 16.  Either both parents accompany the child, or one parent accompanies the child, and the non-applying parent submits a notarized statement of consent for passport issuance (See item 6 below).

Step-by-step instructions are available to obtain a first time or renewal passport for your child.

Step 1: Set up an appointment.

Clicking on the link below will take you to another website where you can choose a date and time slot of your choice. You can bring up to four applying children on a single appointment. When you have set up your appointment proceed with the following steps. 

• Make your appointment

Step 2: Download, print, complete and bring Application Form DS-11.

Do NOT SIGN the application form. You will sign it at the Consulate when the consular officer requests you to do so.

Step 3: Bring your Child(ren)

As directed by Regulation 22 CFR 51.21 and 51.27 each minor child applying for a passport must appear before a Consular Officer.

Step 4: Bring Proof of your Child's U.S. Citizenship

When renewing a currently valid or recently expired U.S. passport, the current passport must be submitted. If replacing a lost or stolen passport or applying for a first-time passport, the following documentation is required:

• Certified U.S. birth certificate; or
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240 issued for a child born overseas); or
• Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization from USCIS (formerly INS).

Step 5: Bring Evidence of your Relationship to your child

As you will be signing on behalf of your minor child you must show that you are the parent(s) or legal guardian. Documents demonstrating a child's relationship to parents or guardians, include:

• Certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate with parents' names; or
• Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) with parents' names; or
• Adoption Decree with adopting parents' names; or
• Court order establishing custody or guardianship (original or certified copy).

If the parents' names are other than that on these documents, evidence of legal name change is required.

Please note: previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as proof of relationship to the applying parent(s) or guardian(s).

Important: You must bring this proof of parentage/guardianship even if it is a second or third passport for your minor child.

Step 6: Provide Parental Identification

Each parent or guardian must submit one of the following:

• Valid U.S. or foreign passport or alien resident card with recognizable photo.
• Valid drivers license, U.S. military identification, or U.S. government identification with recognizable photo.
• Naturalization/Citizenship certificate from USCIS with recognizable photo. 

Step 7: Present Parental Application Permission Documentation

In most cases, both parents must appear and sign the passport application form before a Consular Officer. In the event that one parent cannot appear before a Consular Officer, a notarized Statement of Consent (click to download form DS-3053) must be signed and submitted with the passport application. One-parent signatures are also acceptable when submitting the following primary evidence of sole authority to apply:

• Child's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate listing only applying parent; or
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) listing only applying parent; or
• Court order granting sole custody to applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by order); or
• Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adoptive parent); or
• Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child; or
• Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent; or
• Death certificate of non-applying parent.

A third-party in loco parentis may not apply on behalf of a child under 16 except in exigent circumstances.

Step 8: Provide a U.S. Format Passport Photo

The passport photo must meet the State Department requirements and should be 2" x 2" (approx. 5cm x 5xm) on a white background.   Click here for detailed passport photo guidance.

Step 9: Fee

See our Consular Fees page for the appropriate passport services fee. Fees can be paid in cash, euro or dollars, or by credit card. PIN payments cannot be processed. When paying in cash, please try to bring exact change.

Step 10: Processing Time

Passports are printed in the United States with a secure photo-digitized image of the bearer. You should allow for up to 10 to 15 working days for your application to be processed.

Passports for a baby born in The Netherlands

When applying for a first-time passport for a baby born in The Netherlands, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and the passport can be applied for simultaneously. Click here to read how to do this.