Most children must appear in person at a passport acceptance facility to apply for a passport. The cost will vary depending on the child's age.
Processing times change throughout the year.All children under 16 must appear in person to apply. A parent (preferably both) must be present and must sign the passport application.
Follow the step-by-step process for children under 16 from the State Department to ensure you have the proper forms and documents. One step will help you determine the passport fee.
Passports for children ages 16 and under are valid for 5 years. You cannot renew your child's passport. If your child is under 16 and their passport has expired or will expire soon, you must submit a new application in person.
Children ages 16-17 can apply for passports alone if they have their identification documents. A parent will need to either:
Follow the step-by-step process from the State Department to ensure you have the proper forms. One step will help you determine the passport fee.
Passports issued to children ages 16-17 are valid for 10 years. Your child cannot renew their passport if it was issued before they turned 16. Instead, they would need to submit an application in person for a new passport.
Depending on when and why your child is traveling, you may need to use the expedited process. The time it takes varies throughout the year, and there may be additional fees. Use the fee calculator or chart.