All children and infants age 15 and under must have a valid U.S. passport to travel overseas. Child passports are good for 5 years, cannot be renewed, and are only issued with the full consent of parents or legal guardians.
Airlines will not board any passenger without a valid passport, including children and infants. Parents should obtain passports for their children prior to the trip. If you need a child passport fast, let us know right away. We can help.
A few things to know about child passports:
Child (or minor) passport applications usually take 4 to 6 weeks for standard processing. As an authorized passport expediter, with the Department of State, Without the Stress can help clients get child passports in less than a week-- even one or two days, if needed.
All child passport applications start with form DS-11, from the US Department of State. Even though you can get paper forms at many post offices, you cannot use that version to apply for an expedited passport.
Child passports require proof of citizenship and identity. Parents prove their child's identity by presenting the child's long form birth certificate and their own valid driver's licenses or state IDs. If you do not have a valid state ID, or you do not yet have an official birth certificate, it can be very difficult or impossible to get a passport for your baby.
U.S. law requires that both parents listed on the birth certificate apply in person to give consent. If one parent simply cannot be there, a special notarized affidavit is required. If one or both parents listed on the birth certificate no longer have legal custody, or are deceased, you must provide court documents as evidence.
Every child passport begins with approval at a local acceptance facility, which is most often a post office or local government office. Once the packet is approved and sealed, it is sent to the main processing center, or it can be sent to us for expedited handling.
How to get a child passport:
If the passport is needed in less than two weeks, get started by clicking on the First Step box to the right. We'll book your spot immediately, and provide specific instructions when you check out. Then we'll call you to ensure the job goes smoothly.
To complete, download and print the DS-11 form click here.
To find a local acceptance facility where you can take your child to have your documents approved and sealed, click here.
In addition to having the DS-11 complete and accurate, you will also need:
The acceptance agent will review everything, and if all is well, seal your documents inside an official US postal envelope.
Once you have the sealed envelope in hand, deliver or ship it to the address we provide in your instructions, and we’ll do the rest!
If you’re ready to get started, click on the "First Step" box to the right. *Do not send us any documents without first booking our service.*
Some additional information about getting a child passport:
The U.S. Department of State issues passports through it's Passport Services Directorate, and is the sole authority in determining who is permitted to receive a U.S. passport. No one can push an application through, or otherwise influence their decision. Even new born babies are entitled to a passport, so long as the application process is followed correctly.
Besides the use of improper forms or insufficient documentation, the most common reasons for child passports to be delayed or rejected are:
Passports are required for all Americans to travel abroad, but they do not guarantee entry to a foreign country. They are really an official request to be given the right to travel or reside temporarily within another government's territory, and to gain access to U.S Consular services while overseas.
Travelers should always check as to whether they will also need a visa to enter their destination country, and if there are any special requirements for children.
Please Select which type of passport you need: