Getting a US passport for a child under 16

Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Courtesy of US Department of State. Public domain (US government work); use does not imply endorsement by US Department of State.

Getting a US passport for a child under 16

Summary

Children under 16 must apply in person, and both parents or guardians must consent, usually by appearing together. If one cannot come, they sign a notarized Form DS-3053, used within 90 days.

Draft. License: public domain (US government work). Sources: [S1] US Department of State, "Apply for a Child's Passport Under 16"; [S2] US Department of State, "Steps to Apply for a Child's Passport (PDF)"; [S3] US Department of State, "Form DS-3053 Statement of Consent".

Facts

id: F1 claim: A child under 16 cannot apply alone; both parents or guardians must authorize the passport. confidence: high date: 2026-11-02 sources: [S1, S2] license: public domain (US government work) checked_on: 2026-11-02
id: F2 claim: The simplest route is for both parents or guardians to appear in person with the child. confidence: high date: 2026-11-02 sources: [S1, S2] license: public domain (US government work) checked_on: 2026-11-02
id: F3 claim: A parent who cannot appear can consent on Form DS-3053, signed in front of a notary, with a photocopy of the front and back of the ID shown to the notary. confidence: high date: 2026-11-02 sources: [S2, S3] license: public domain (US government work) checked_on: 2026-11-02
id: F4 claim: The DS-3053 must be submitted within 90 days after it is signed or notarized. confidence: high date: 2026-11-02 sources: [S1, S3] license: public domain (US government work) checked_on: 2026-11-02
id: F5 claim: Electronically notarized consent is accepted where state law allows, as a printed copy. confidence: medium date: 2026-11-02 sources: [S1] license: public domain (US government work) checked_on: 2026-11-02
id: F6 claim: If the other parent has died or a court gave one parent sole authority, bring that evidence instead; a DS-5525 covers exceptional circumstances. confidence: medium date: 2026-11-02 sources: [S2] license: public domain (US government work) checked_on: 2026-11-02

Source: https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/child/under-16.html · License: public-domain · Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Courtesy of US Department of State. Public domain (US government work); use does not imply endorsement by US Department of State.

Cite this

Permanent ID: iil:note:n9gtkbb5

iinventedlight Library. 2026. "Getting a US passport for a child under 16." iinventedlight Library, iil:note:n9gtkbb5, version of 2026-11-02. https://iinventedlight.com/library/reference/us-gov/child-passport-under-16/. License: public-domain. Summary of https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/child/under-16.html.

@misc{iil_note_n9gtkbb5,
  author = {{iinventedlight Library}},
  title = {{Getting a US passport for a child under 16}},
  howpublished = {iinventedlight Library},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-11-02},
  url = {https://iinventedlight.com/library/reference/us-gov/child-passport-under-16/},
  note = {Permanent ID iil:note:n9gtkbb5. License: public-domain. Summary of https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/child/under-16.html.},
}

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