How To Get A Kids Passport

by garrett on September 5, 2011

If you are planning a holiday or a trip abroad soon, you will have to make sure that your whole family has their passports. Every member of the family will have to have their own travel document, no matter what age they are. There are some important things you should know when applying for a kids US passport.

Age Requirements

A child passport will be issued to anybody who is under sixteen years old at the time of application. The application form should be filled out with their details and the parent or guardian will be responsible for giving consent. Sometimes, it can be a little confusing figuring out exactly who is supposed to give consent but you can narrow down the options easily.

Parents Must Be Present

In order for the application to go ahead and a passport to be processed, both the child and the parents must visit an acceptance agent. They will witness the signing of the forms. If possible, both parents should be present. If this is not possible, the absent parent should send in a notarized “Statement of Consent”. Should it be a one-parent family, the single parent will be required to provide proof of a custody agreement or the death certificate of the missing parent. There is a seperate form for expedited damaged passport renewal.

In the case of a child who is away from home and staying with guardians, the guardians will need to be present to give consent along with an affidavit or written statement from both parents. As before, if there is only one parent, proof will need to be provided to back this up. Any documents used instead of a parent’s presence should be under three months old.

US Citizenship

Every applicant, regardless of age, will be required to prove their United States Citizenship. There are a number of documents that can be used to do this. The best ones are what are called “Primary Identification”. One such form of identification is the birth certificate of the child. It could also be a certificate showing that they have become citizens. If none of these items are available, you will need to check the secondary ID requirements to see which of those you can meet.

Birth Certificate

Along with the identification of the child, it is also necessary to prove the relationship between the parents and the child. Again, a birth certificate is a good option or a document stating they were born abroad as these show both parents names clearly. If the child in question is adopted, you could use an “Adoption Decree” or if one or neither parent is present, you will need to provide a court order that states custody or guardianship.

Alternatives

Depending on the location you will be travelling to, it is not always necessary to get a passport issued. If you are only travelling to countries that have a border the United States like Canada, you only need to show a primary form of identification, for example a birth certificate or, for Canadians, a “Canadian Citizenship Card” can be produced.

Your children will not be able to travel without a kids passport. They are relatively quick and simple to get and once you have it, opportunities to travel can be easily enjoyed. Don’t wait until a trip is planned. Be sure to get a passport for every family member as soon as possible. There are also expedited damaged passport renewal services.

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