Traveling with children is hard enough. Add in the travel planning before you go and it can be overwhelming. But we make the child passport process easy to understand. Do you need a passport for your upcoming international trip? Do children and minors need a passport?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 YES. Any United States citizen, no matter what age, traveling outside of the United States by air requires a passport<\/a>. Confusion arises when a minor is traveling by land or sea to Canada or Mexico. It may be permissible for minors to travel to Canada and Mexico to use their birth certificate. However, the U.S. Department of State recommends all international travelers hold a valid passport book. If there is an emergency, you will not be able to fly home if you do not have a valid passport book. Here are the requirements<\/a> in order to get a child passport.<\/p>\n You must fill out Passport Application Form DS11<\/a>.\u00a0You may download it in advance or obtain it from the passport office. Do not sign the application until you are asked to do so in the presence of an Acceptance Agent.<\/p>\n The passport application requires a Social Security Number.\u00a0 If you have one, enter this information and bring your child\u2019s Social Security card (and a photo copy) with you to the passport office. If you don\u2019t have one, call the specific passport office you will be visiting in advance to be certain they will accept your application without one. If your newborn baby has not yet been issued a social security number, you may enter all zeros on the passport application.<\/p>\n If you plan to travel within the first few months after a child is born, it is wise to put a rush on their birth certificate. Speak to the staff at the hospital or to your midwife (for a home birth) about how to do so. Once your birth certificate is filed and you are awaiting your copy, it is important to call the Registrar of Vital Statistics (the office that issues birth certificates) and additionally let them know that you will need to expedite the issuance of the birth certificate. You will need to submit the original birth certificate with the raised seal. All original documents will be returned with the new child passport.<\/p>\n A 2×2 inch color photo must with a white background within the past 6 months must be submitted along with their application.<\/p>\n Have both originals and copies of:<\/p>\n Don\u2019t leave your child at home! He or she must be present at the time of application. The acceptance agent will need to verify the identity of the application and the parents\/guardians. Click here to find a Passport Acceptance Facility near you.<\/a><\/p>\n By law, both parents must be present at the time of application, along with the applicant. \u00a0If only one parent has sole legal custody of the minor, then they must provide proof of this, such as: being the only parent named on the child\u2019s birth certificate or an official court order granting sole custody to that parent (original document and photo copy). If a parent or guardian is unable to give consent, there are parental consent forms available that will be required.<\/p>\n To see what fees are associated with obtaining your child\u2019s passport, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\nPassport Application<\/h3>\n
Social Security Card<\/h3>\n
Birth Certificate<\/h3>\n
Child Passport Photo<\/h3>\n
Make Your Own Copies<\/h3>\n
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Minors Must Apply In Person<\/h3>\n
Both Parents<\/h3>\n
Application Fees<\/h3>\n
Do Babies Need Passports?<\/h3>\n