Every U.S. citizen must now own a passport in order to board a plane. The State Department has streamlined the process, so it's now easier than ever to obtain a passport, visa, or other travel requirements online. Here are a few frequently asked questions that will ease the application process so that you can focus on another travel headache: the airport.
At what age does my child need a passport?
Gone are the days of adding children to adult passports as amendments. All children, including newborns and infants, must hold an individual passport for travel by air outside of the U.S. As of January 31, 2008, children traveling by land or sea to the U.S. are required to provide proof of citizenship (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or passport).
How long is a child's passport valid?
Passports for children ages 0 to 15 are valid for five years, and 10 years for children ages 16 and up. Renew all passports nine months before expiration, as some countries require that a passport be valid for six months beyond the dates of travel.
Where do I apply for my child's first passport?
Children under the age of 16 must appear in person with both parents at a passport acceptance facility (a post office, library or court house). Visit http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/ or call 1-800-275-8777 to find a facility near you and assemble paperwork in advance. If only one parent can appear, the other must bring a signed and notarized statement of consent, giving his or her authorization for the child to be issued a passport.
What do I need to do to get my child's first passport?
Learn about special requirements for children under age 16 and start by neatly filling out a DS-11 form in black ink. Do not sign it, as you need to do this in front of an acceptance agent. You will also need to provide proof of both your child's citizenship and your relationship to the child (a certified U.S. birth certificate or consular report of birth abroad work well), your ID (driver's license, passport, or alien resident card), two identical two-inch-by-two-inch color photos (get these done professionally), the application fee, as well as expedite and overnight-return fees, if necessary. Bring exact cash, personal checks or money orders only.
How do I get my child's passport expedited?
There are 14 regional passport agencies, which are designed to help those traveling within 14 days. Call the National Passport Information Center (1-877-487-2778) to make an appointment to appear in person with all documents and a confirmed airline-generated trip itinerary or your airline tickets. The agency can turn the passport around the next day, if necessary, for an additional fee. If you want to skip the hassle, enlist the services of an expeditor such as A Briggs, American Passport Express, or It's Easy (they also have a drop-off location at JFK's terminal 4 that's open 24/7). The process is essentially the same—apply at an acceptance facility, sign forms, and make payment in front of the agent. (You also need an expeditor form to inform the agent that they will be sending through the expeditor.) You will then send your sealed materials—including extra handling fees—to the expeditor via FedEx. Expeditors allow you to track your application online and also offer live customer support. All documents, including your child's new passport, will be sent to you via overnight delivery or registered mail.
What is the easiest way to renew a passport?
All children's passport renewals must also be done in person. In addition to standard forms and identification, the child will also have to surrender the first passport (it will be returned with the new one so all of those hard-won stamps aren't gone forever).
At what age does the child sign his or her own passport?
If your child can write legibly, then encourage him or her to sign the passport. If your child can't sign, print their name, sign your own name, and add "mother" or "father" in parentheses next to it.
If my child is 16 years or older, can he/she apply for a passport solo?
New passport applicants ages 16 and 17 are required to appear in person with at least one parent or legal guardian before the acceptance agent.
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