Application to Expedite a Child U.S. Passport
There is a general misconception that children may not require a passport to travel abroad or only until your child reaches a certain age should they require a passport. Parents who are traveling out of the country may not realize until the last minute that they need a passport for a child. When it comes to documentation for traveling internationally, infants are not overlooked. Any child under the age of 16 will be required to have a valid passport for children before they can enter other countries.
An application for a child passport could take a little longer compared to an application for an adult passport. This is due to additional documents required and the completion of extra forms. It may seem like a hassle, however, this is for the safety of your children. The government takes extra precautions in order to fight child abduction and trafficking through this measure. Having to go through this hassle is definitely worth it if it concerns the safety of your children.
We can help to expedite a child’s Passport so that you can be prepared to leave the country with your kids in tow. With 24 Hours Passport and Visas, this application process will be as normal as other applications. It is important for you to contact us to verify that you want to use our quick Child Passport Services and are requesting a passport for children who will be traveling with you and of which you have legal custody.
The best way to prepare for your trip is to examine your passport and also to apply for passports for any of your children that will be traveling. When the realization comes late, the only step you can take is to have us expedite your children’s U.S. passport so that you can obtain it in as little as 72 hours. Even though planning in advance is always the best and most secure option, our child passport services make it faster and easier to get the passports you require for all of your family members.
Step 1: Complete DS-11 application form
For this application process, you will be required to complete a DS-11 passport application form. The form must be completed online and printed off. When filling in the details make sure that you provide accurate information and not make any errors. Make sure that you do not sign the form. The form will later be signed when asked by an acceptance agent.
NOTE: For children under 16 years old, both parents and children need to be present at the post office or county clerk when executing your children’s rush passport application. If only one parent can be present, the un-accompanied parent needs to complete a DS-3053 application form and have it notarized.
Step 2: Gather all required documents
- Completed DS-11 passport application form. Completed DS-3053 application form if applicable (Read Step 1 for information on the DS-3053 application form).
- Two passport photos (2″ x 2″ with a white background). A photo service is available at our office.
- Original or certified copy of the Birth certificate or Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) (with parents’ names). A certified birth certificate has a registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office, which must be within 1 year of your birth or Adoption Decree (with adopting parents’ names); or Court Order Establishing Custody; or Court Order Establishing Guardianship.
- Check to the US Department of State for $160.00
- Letter of Authorization. Please call.
- Travel itinerary.
- Provide Parental Identification (for minors under age 16)
Note: Each parent or guardian must submit one of the following:
- Valid Driver’s License
- Valid Official U.S. Military ID
- Valid U.S. Government ID
- Valid U.S. or Foreign Passport with recognizable photo
- Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate from BCIS with recognizable photo
- Alien Resident Card from BCIS
Step 3: Getting the U.S. Child Passport requirement documents authorized.
For the completion of this step, you will be required to locate the nearest Acceptance Agent office. The Acceptance Agent will conduct a document authorization procedure. The following consist of the Acceptance Agent’s authorization procedure:
- The Agent will act as a witness to the signing of the application form DS-11 which was left unsigned in Step 1
- The Agent will collect $35.00 execution fee and check the applicant’s ID
- The Agent will verify the documents that you have submitted
- The Agent will then seal the documents into an envelope. The Acceptance Agent should write the applicant’s name, departure date, and date of birth on the outside of the sealed envelope.
- The Acceptance Agent will then return the sealed envelope to you. Do not open the envelope. FedEx or bring the sealed envelope and the rest of the documents to our office for processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
This depends on the service you have chosen. If you have decided to apply through a routine passport service via the post office, the processing time can be 12-16 weeks depending on the volume of applications. There is an increase in passport application submissions during peak travel times and that may cause additional delays when applying through the post office. This peak travel time is usually when the holiday season approaches and people plan for vacations. If you need your passport faster than this you have to expedite your application process.
If an expedited passport agency service such as 24 Hour Passport and Visas has been used, the processing time is under 2 weeks and in some cases, it can be expedited within 72 hours.
An additional fee is charged in order to speed up the processing of your application. Check 24 Hour Passport and Visas pricing here.
Below lists the passport fees for each service that the US Department of State and the Acceptance facility will charge.
- New Passport (Adult): $190.00 (Passport Book Application)* + $35.00 (Post Office Execution Fee) + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
- New Passport (Child Under 16): $160.00 (Passport Book Application)* + $35.00 (Post Office Execution Fee) + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
- US Passport Renewal (Adult): $190.00 (Passport Book Application)* + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
- US Passport Renewal (Child Under 16): $160.00 (Passport Book Application)* + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
- Replacing Lost/Stolen Passport: $190.00 (Passport Book Application)* + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
- Passport Name Change (Adult) : $190.00 (Passport Book Application)* + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
- Passport Name Change (Child) : $160.00 (Passport Book Application)* + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
- Second Passport (Adult) : $190.00 (Passport Book Application)* + $35.00 (Post Office Execution Fee) + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
- Second Passport (Child) : $160.00 (Passport Book Application)* + $35.00 (Post Office Execution Fee) + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
- Passport Cards (Adult): $30.00 (Passport Card Application) + $35.00 (Post Office Execution Fee) + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
- Passport Cards (Child): $15.00 (Passport Card Application) + $35.00 (Post Office Execution Fee) + $19.53 (Mailing Fee Charged by the Gov’t)**
** Check or Money order payable to “U.S. Department of State” for $19.53 (mailing fee to ship your passport back to you)
24 Hours Passport & Visas Agency Fees for Expedited Passports:
There are fees associated with expediting your passport in addition to the government fees. 24 Hour Passport and Visas offers to expedite the process of your passport or visa as fast as 72 hours, this means you will get your travel document quicker then through any other way and you can be sure you will have the documents you need for your next travel in time. To know the price for expedited passport services, click here.
Step 1: Complete DS-11 application form
For this application process, you will be required to complete a DS-11 passport application form. The form must be completed online and printed off. When filling in the details make sure that you provide accurate information and not make any errors. Make sure that you do not sign the form. The form will later be signed when asked by an acceptance agent.
Step 2: Gather all required documents
Two passport photos
Original or certified copy of the Birth certificate or Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) (with parents’ names)
Check to the US Department of State for $160.00
Letter of Authorization
Travel itinerary
Provide Parental Identification (for minors under age 16)
Step 3: Getting the U.S. Child Passport requirement documents authorized.
For the completion of this step, you will be required to locate the nearest Acceptance Agent office. The Acceptance Agent will conduct a document authorization procedure.
NOTE: For children under 16 years old, both parents and children need to be present at the post office or county clerk when executing your children’s rush passport application. If only one parent can be present, the un-accompanied parent needs to complete a DS-3053 application form and have it notarized.
The child has to sign the passport upon receiving. However, if the child is too young to sign, a parent or a legal guardian is permitted to sign the passport. They must print the child’s name and sign their own name in the space provided for the signature. Along with this, you will also be required to state your relationship to the child in parenthesis next to the signature.