Why You Should Get It Before You Need It
The single biggest mistake families make with kids' passports is waiting until a trip is already booked. Standard processing times for a U.S. passport currently run 6 to 8 weeks, and during busy seasons they can stretch longer. Expedited service cuts that down, but it costs extra and still requires 2 to 3 weeks. If you find yourself booking a trip with a departure date less than a month away, you're in for a stressful scramble.
The better approach: get the passport when you don't need it yet. Apply at any point before there's a trip on the horizon, and the process is completely relaxed. You have the document, it's valid for 5 years (for children under 16), and you can say yes to any opportunity that presents itself.
The Requirements: What You'll Actually Need
U.S. passport applications for children under 16 have some specific requirements that catch parents off guard. Here's a clean checklist:
- Form DS-11. This is the standard passport application form. It must be completed but not signed before you arrive at the acceptance facility.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship. A certified birth certificate (the original, not a photocopy) is the most common form. Hospital-issued certificates don't count.
- Proof of parental relationship. Usually satisfied by the same birth certificate.
- Parental identification. One parent must appear in person and present a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Both parents present or documented consent. This is where a lot of families run into delays. If only one parent can appear, the other must provide a notarized DS-3053 form. If one parent has sole custody or a parent is deceased, supporting documentation is required.
- One recent passport photo. This must meet specific size and background requirements. Many post offices and pharmacies offer passport photo services.
- Passport fees. As of 2025, the application fee for a minor is $135. Expedited processing adds an additional $60.
Where to Apply
Children's passports cannot be renewed by mail. Every new passport for a child under 16 requires an in-person appearance at a passport acceptance facility with both parents (or one parent with the appropriate documentation). Acceptance facilities include most post offices, many libraries, and some government offices. You can search for locations at the U.S. State Department website.
For true emergencies (travel within 72 hours), regional passport agencies can sometimes issue same-day or next-day passports, but these appointments are limited and require proof of imminent international travel.
A Note on Minor Passports and Solo Travel
Children's passports are valid for 5 years (adults get 10). This means a passport issued at age 8 expires when the child is 13. Build renewal into your planning calendar so you're not caught short before a big family trip. Most countries also require that passports be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned travel dates, so check requirements well in advance.
If your child will ever be traveling internationally with only one parent, or with another adult entirely (a grandparent, coach, or school group), have a notarized letter of consent from the non-traveling parent ready. Some countries at entry may request it, and many airlines require it. It takes 20 minutes to prepare and can save hours of complications at a border.
One More Thing: Start the Conversation Early
Getting a passport can be a meaningful moment for kids, not just a bureaucratic hurdle. The first time we took our kids to apply for their passports, we made a small event of it: talked about where the passports might take them, looked at a map together, and let them pick a destination they wanted to visit someday. That piece of paper became something they cared about, not just something that sat in a drawer.
Travel is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. The passport is just the beginning.
A child who has a passport and the experience of the world has something that goes with them everywhere. The passport expires. The curiosity doesn't.
Planning Your First International Family Trip?
Once the passports are in hand, the world opens up. We'd love to help you plan a family trip that fits your timeline, budget, and the ages of your kids. Let's talk.
