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Traveling With Children Is Hectic Enough – Get Your Child’s American Passport Application Taken Care Of Easily

By RomanticHeart | February 6, 2010

When it comes to passport applications, adults and minors (children below 18 years old) need to submit the same basic requirements. In the case of minors, however, there are special requirements they will also need to fulfill. These special requirements mostly deal with establishing the minors’ relationship with their parents or guardians. Let us tell you more about everything you need to know about getting a child’s passport applications in this article.

We mentioned earlier that adults and minors need to fulfill the same basic requirements. These requirements include the Form DS-11. This is a form that first time passport applicants need to complete. This would, of course, apply to minors who haven’t had a passport before. They will also need to fill out the DS-11. It is also worth noting that this form shouldn’t be signed until the applicant or the guardian is told to do so at the passport office.

Another requirement for passport applicants is the establishment of their citizenship. Passport applicants need to provide documents that will prove this. If you are applying for a US passport, you can use any of the following documents: your birth certificate, your certificate of citizenship, your naturalization certificate, or if you were born abroad, a consular report about it. The document you submit will be returned to you by mail, along with your US passport. It may be mailed separately as well.

In addition to the DS-11, and the proof of citizenship, applicants are also required to submit two color passport photos. Take note that the State Department has very strict guidelines regarding this. Therefore, you need to verify these guidelines before having your photo taken.

Those three items are basically what you need to submit if you are applying for a passport for the first time. Now let’s move on to the special requirements for passports for a child. Minors will be required to submit a written parental consent, to be submitted along with the previously mentioned documents. It is worth noting that there are different procedures for writing a parental consent if you’re a single parent, a guardian, etc. Check the procedure that fits your current status before writing a parental consent.

Parents or guardians must also submit a proof of their relationship with the applicant. Also, they will need to submit a photocopy of the ID of the parents. This ID should be the same one that the parent or guardian will present at the passport office.

If you are the parent or a guardian of a child passport applicant, make sure that you are aware of the guidelines, and know the requirements needed to apply for one. Doing this will help you save a lot of time. This is especially important if you are going to submit the documents in person. You’ll save time as you’ll do everything right the first time. If, however, you are unsure about the requirements, give the passport office a call to confirm or inquire.

All in all, it’s not complicated to deal with passport for an infant applications. What’s important is that you know what the basic requirements are, as well as the special requirements for minors, the things that we discussed above. Being familiar with these will help you make your application faster and simpler.