Summer is approaching and it’s the perfect time for a vacation—maybe even an international one! But don’t allow delays in getting your child a passport to delay your travel plans.
Navigating and obtaining a passport for your child can be overwhelming. We found this helpful infograph online, but we’ve also spelled out all the steps you’ll need to do in order to get your child a passport—plus some helpful notes—before you can travel the world.
Make an Appointment
- Click here or here to find a location and make an appointment for your child’s passport near you.
- Both parents will need to attend this appointment
- You typically can’t schedule an appointment more than four weeks in advance
- On the USPS website, they only show two months of availability at a time
Documents
- Print/fill out the DS-11 form, however, do not sign it
- Gather other necessary documents: your child’s birth certificate or other evidence of US citizenship as well as parental relationship; both parents’ IDs
- Make photocopies of the front and back of the birth certificate/evidence of citizenship and the parents’ IDs
- Some, not all, passport appointment locations take passport photos. If your location does not, you’ll need to click here to find a place where your child can take their photo, then bring that photo to your appointment
At the Appointment
- Bring the DS-11 form and photocopied documents to the appointment
- Bring your checkbook with so you can pay the necessary fees
- Bring your child’s passport photo if your appointment is at a facility that does not take passport photos, but do not staple it to any forms
- After your appointment, you can track your child’s passport status
- Once your child has their passport, remember: for all children under the age of 16, passports are only good for five years
Happy traveling!
