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Passport for minors (under 16) - Instructions

Children under the age of 16 must be signed for by both birth parents or by legal guardians appointed by the court. In certain situations, only one birth parent may attend the signing.

All children must appear at the time of the signing .

Applications for a first time or renewal of a passport for children under 16 years of age must be witnessed and sealed by an authorized passport acceptance agent at the post office or county clerks office before our office can submit the child's paperwork to the US Passport Office for processing.

Not all post offices or county clerk offices have passport acceptance agents. Please call your local branch to see if they have a passport acceptance agent.

Sealed envelope procedure is as follows:

You will need to submit the following documents for processing:

• Proof of US citizenship
  • A certified birth certificate - from the department of health in the state where the child was born with raised seal (must have file date and file number)
    or
  • Original naturalization papers - (citizenship papers)
    If renewing passport:
  • Child's expired United States Passport as well
• Birth Parents or Court Appointed Legal Guardians Identification
  • A valid passport (if foreign passport, also valid green card/visa)
    or
  • Valid US photo drivers license if you are a US citizen
    In addition:
  • Certified custody agreement (if birth parent has sole custody)
  • Death Certificate (if one birth parent is deceased)
• 2 Regulation Passport Photographs
  • Required size is 2x2 inches
  • You must face forward, no profiles are accepted
  • Photo background must be light or white
  • You cannot cover your head unless for religious purposes
  • If glasses are worn they cannot have a dark tint
  • Infants eyes must be open
• Passport Application Form
  • Form DS-3053 - download this form by clicking here
  • This form will allow only one parent to appear for signing
  • This form must be notarized
  • Form DS-11 - download this form by clicking here
  • You may fill out lines 1-20 in the white boxes only, but DO NOT sign until an agent instructs you to do so
  • Form DS-64 - download this form by clicking here
• Government Fee
  • You will need to submit payment to the passport acceptance agent
  • Please bring 2 checks or cash with you (most acceptance agents accept checks)
  • Government fee will be paid with separate checks
• Passport Plus Authorization
  • This letter will authorize a representative of Passport Plus to submit your paperwork
  • Download our Passport Plus Authorization by clicking here
• Proof of Departure
  • The Passport Office requires proof of international travel within the next 14 days.
    One of the following are acceptable :
    • Copy of airline ticket - (cannot be an open ticket)
    • Itinerary from travel agent
    • E-ticket
    • Printed confirmation from airline ticket office
    • Original company letter - you can download an outline for the company letter by clicking here
    • Faxed itinerary must come directly from the airline or travel agent and must have their name printed at the top of the fax
    • IN ADDITION, please bring with you a photocopy of one of the above proofs of departure

When all items are in order you will proceed to a passport acceptance agent and present your documents. You will then sign the passport application form in the presence of the passport acceptance agent who will witness your signature.

After being sealed by the agent the envelope will be given back to you for forwarding to our office.

The processing times and service fees are as follows:

SERVICE TIME FRAME DOES NOT INCLUDE MAILING TIME BACK TO YOU.

Click here for mailing instruction