Passport For Babies – Getting A US Passport Is Simple

Family vacations, particularly those that require travel out of the country all require one thing, passports. This includes Mom, Dad and all the children, whatever age they may be. Mom and Dad normally already have theirs but the children are usually another story completely. It is not that difficult to get a passport for minors under the age of 16 and will simply take a bit of time and some preparation.

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Every child will need to possess their very own passport, whether they are 6 months old or 16 years. The application for these passports must be presented in person by the minor along with either their parents or guardians in attendance. Both of the parents will need to provide identification proving that they are related to the child and proof of U.S. citizenship for the child. A parental consent form will also be necessary at this point along with photocopies of all identification documentation.

Minors age 16 and 17 also must appear in person with a parent/guardian present in order to apply for a U.S. Passport. The offices accepting in-person applications are a U.S. Regional Passport Agency, Passport Acceptance Facility, or a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The minor must present the passport application and evidence of U.S. citizenship. The minor must also present his/her photo identification or a parent may present his/her own photo identification if the minor does not have photo identification. A photocopy of the identification document being used must also be presented. If the parent’s consent is not stated on the minor’s application, the parent may be asked to provide separate written consent.

There is a fee for processing the application and issuing a passport but this is substantially less than that for an adult passport. The total amount will include the actual processing charge along with an issuance fee that covers the entire cost of the passport process. The payment methods may vary from location to location and this should be researched before arriving to ensure that the proper form of payment is ready.

Occasionally, the need arises for an expedited passport and there are several ways to make this happen. The standard government time frame for expediting is 2 to 3 weeks for an additional charge, whereas the private services providers can make this happen in one to two business days if needed. This comes with an additional fee above what the government charges for the passport to be issued.

Two photographs will be needed in order to complete the passport application process and these should be in color and identical. These really should be done by a photographer that understands the exact requirements from the government for these types of pictures. There are normally local options such as some smaller photographers and even nearby pharmacies that can make this happen for a nominal fee.

For renewals, any minor that was under the age of 16 at the time the passport was first issued will need to reappear at a local office in order to get it renewed. If the child was 16 at the time of issue, then it is possible for them to renew by mail rather than have to go into a local passport agency. They will need to have their old passport handy as it is turned in with new photos and a completed renewal application. If the expedited service in necessary, then they can either choose the government wait time of two to three weeks or one of the online services that can shorten that wait time greatly.

A passport for children must be obtained in person if the minor is age 17 or under. Minors whose initial passport was issued when they were at least age 16 may renew their American passport expedited online. In order to have a passport expedited, applicants may pay and additional fee in excess of the standard passport fee. Independent expediting services offer the fastest turnaround time for processing of new and renewal passports.