Passport

New Passport Requirements for Minors (children under age 14):

Checklist: For a checklist of materials needed for passport the application, please click here.

Signature of Both Parents or Notarized Consent is Needed: The law requires that both parents appear and sign the passport application of children under age 14. As of November 1, 2004, if only one parent executes the application, that parent must establish sole authority to execute the application or possess the other parent's notarized, written consent in English to the application. The child must also appear in person.

The law requires that both parents appear and sign the passport application of children under age 14. As of November 1, 2004, if only one parent executes the application, that parent must establish sole authority to execute the application or possess the other parent's notarized, written consent in English to the application. The child must also appear in person. The law requires that both parents appear and sign the passport application of children under age 14. As of November 1, 2004, if only one parent executes the application, that parent must establish sole authority to execute the application or possess the other parent's notarized, written consent in English to the application. The child must also appear in person.

All Minors Applying for Passports Must Appear in Person: Effective immediately, all minors must appear in person at a passport agency, embassy, or consulate when applying for a passport. In cases where this requirement would cause a severe and unusual hardship, such as a health risk to the minor, the parents may request a waiver. Please see the full text of the announcement from the Bureau of Consular Affairs below:

• To enhance the accurate identification of passport applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking, the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has begun requiring the personal appearance of all minors applying for U.S. passports.
  
• This applies to all regular, official and diplomatic passports for children under the age of 14, even if the child has previously been issued a passport. Prior to the introduction of this requirement, parents were not routinely required to bring a child under the age of 14 with them when they applied on the child’s behalf. Now, when applying for a passport on behalf of a minor under the age of 14, parents are required to have their child present and submit documentation of parental relationship and consent, as well as comply with all other documentation requirements for the issuance of a passport. The personal appearance requirement for all minors is a further step towards ensuring the integrity of the passport application process. This change will help to verify the identity of minor applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking.