Child Passport

Fill out the DS-11 form online

Handwritten forms aren’t accepted. The DS-11 must be completed online.

• Fill out the form, then print two copies, single-sided
• Don’t sign it yet: the parents sign in front of a Passport Acceptance Agent (step “Get your application authorized”)

Gather proof of your child’s US citizenship

Provide one original document proving your child’s US citizenship:

• Certified US birth certificate (order one from VitalChek)
• Expired US passport
• Original Certificate of Naturalization

Photocopies aren’t accepted.

Get two identical passport photos of your child

• Taken within the last 6 months and showing current appearance
• About 2″ x 2″, in color, with a plain, light background
• Facing the camera directly
• No hats, glasses or anything covering the face

Homemade digital photos aren’t accepted. Costco, Walgreens and CVS all take passport photos.

Bring each parent’s photo ID

Each parent or guardian who attends brings one of these:

• State-issued driver’s license with photo (issued at least 6 months ago)
• Military ID with photo

Don’t have either? See other accepted IDs.

Parental consent

Both parents should go to the Passport Acceptance Facility to sign the child’s application.

If only one parent can go, that parent must bring one of these:

• Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) signed by the other parent in front of a notary
• A notarized written statement of consent from the other parent, with the child’s full name and date of birth and the parent’s ID details or a copy of their ID

Or, if one parent has sole authority, bring proof such as:

• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (DS-1350) listing only the applying parent
• The child’s certified US or foreign birth certificate (with translation if needed) listing only the applying parent
• A court order giving sole custody to the applying parent (unless it restricts the child’s travel)
• An adoption decree, if the applying parent is the sole adopting parent
• A court order specifically allowing the applying parent to apply
• A judicial declaration of incompetence of the other parent
• The other parent’s death certificate

Proof of departure (if you have it)

Include one of these if you have it:

• A copy of your airline ticket
• A copy of your travel itinerary from the airline or travel agent

No ticket yet? See other ways to show proof of departure.

Print the authorization letter

Fill out and print three copies of the letter that lets us submit and collect the passport for you. Choose the letter for your child’s birth month:

Choose your processing speed and prepare the fees

Our processing and service fee, by processing speed:

Place your order

Fill out our order form with your personal information, order details and payment. Submit the order, then print and sign your order form.

Get your application authorized

New passport applications must be authorized in person by a Passport Acceptance Agent at a Passport Acceptance Facility, such as a post office or courthouse.

• Bring everything listed above to the facility
• Tell the agent you’re using an expediting service to “hand carry” your application

The agent seals these in an envelope:

• The DS-11 form
• Two passport photos
• Proof of citizenship
• Parental consent documents (step 5)
• Two copies of the authorization letter
• Proof of departure
• Your check or money order to “U.S. Department of State”

The parents sign the DS-11 in front of the agent. The agent gives the sealed envelope back to you.

Ship your documents

Send everything in a FedEx or UPS Express envelope to:

What to send:

• The sealed envelope from the Acceptance Agent
• Your printed, signed order form
• One copy of the authorization letter (the other two are inside the sealed envelope)

We take your application to the Passport Agency and send the new passport back to you by tracked shipping.