Learn How To Apply For A Minor Passport For Children Under 16
When applying for a US passport, children and adults have the same set of basic requirements. This includes the form they fill in and some of the documents they submit. However, child passport applications have slightly different requirements apart from the basic ones. These requirements are needed in order to establish the identity of the parents or guardians of the minor, plus the relationship between the minor and the parent/guardian.
When talking about special requirements for minors, there are different requirements for those under 16 than for those who are 16-17 years old. In this article, we’ll be dealing with the special requirements of those who are under 16. This category includes newborns and infants.
The DS-11 is the most basic requirement that applicants need to accomplish. This is the form that is required to be filled in by everyone applying for a passport for the first time. When filling in this application form, the parents or guardians of the applicant should assist the applicant to ensure everything is filled in correctly.
Applicants must also establish their citizenship when applying for a passport for a minor. There are several documents they can use for this requirement. When submitting their passport applications, they can submit any of the following US-issued documents: their birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, naturalization certificate, or if they were born abroad, the consular report about their birth.
Then, of course, there’s another basic requirement: two recent color photos. These will then be attached on the appropriate portion on the DS-11. Before having their pictures taken, the parents or guardians should ensure that they are familiar with the specifications of the photos. Otherwise, they can easily visit the US State Department’s website for more information. Alternatively, they could also get in touch with the passport office nearest them.
Those three – the DS-11, the proof of citizenship, as well as the color photographs – are the basic requirements when applying for passports. And, since we’re discussing passport application for minors, there are special requirements on top of these already mentioned. Once again, they are required to establish the identity of the parents or guardians, as well as prove the relationship between the parent/guardian and the applicant.
First of these special requirements is the written parental consent. Make sure, however, you check out the specific requirements regarding this before proceeding. The parent or the guardian should also present an ID when submitting all these documents to the passport office. Plus, the ID should be photocopied and attached with the other requirements. Then finally, the parent or the guardian should also show proof of their relationship with the applicant. Once all of these basic and special requirements are accomplished, the fees for processing the passport can already be made.
All in all, the steps on passport for children applications are very straightforward and easy enough to follow. What’s important is that the parent or guardian try to find out beforehand what the specific requirements are. This saves them a lot of time and ensures that they will have a hassle-free passport application.
