Overview of Passport for baby
A child passport, also known as a baby passport, is a passport for children younger than 16 years old in the United States.
If a child is traveling with their parents, they must bring their passport to prove their identity in another country.
Children under 11 years old cannot travel alone to the U.S.
Your child will be considered a young adult when they reach the age of 12 or 15 on certain airlines. However, you must request and pay the unaccompanied minor fee.
Notify the airline if these procedures aren't followed. They will not be held responsible for any inappropriate behavior of your child.
A child's age determines whether they can travel in the US alone or with an adult. The table below will help you determine if your child is allowed to travel alone or with an adult.
|
Age |
Restrictions |
Unaccompanied travel Procedure |
|
Under 5 |
Cannot travel alone |
N/A |
|
5 through 7 |
Can travel alone on nonstop and through flights |
Mandatory |
|
8 through 11 (8 through 14 on some airlines) |
Can usually travel alone on any flight |
Mandatory |
|
Domestic flights 12 through 17 (15 through 17 on some airlines) |
Can travel alone on any domestic flight without restrictions |
Only on request |
|
International flights: 12 through 17 (15 through 17 on some airlines) |
Can travel alone , but most carriers require one to follow unaccompanied minor procedures |
Required by most carriers. Please check with your airline before booking |
These are age requirements that airlines set, but you as parents are best able to decide if your child is ready for solo travel.
Answers to frequently asked questions
These are some of the most common questions regarding the U.S. passport for babies.
1. Can babies travel with no passport?
A passport is required for babies to travel. No matter your age, you must have a valid passport to travel to other countries.
A passport card is essential for any baby who wants to travel within a country's borders, even if it's only for domestic travel.
2. What is the cost of a passport for children?
The cost of a baby passport to the U.S. will total around $90. $35 is an execution fee.
You can also apply for a card or a book of passports ($80 for passport books & $15 per card), depending on your preference, and without the execution fee.
3. To apply for a passport for children, you will need to provide the following documents
It is easy to apply for a U.S. baby passport. All you need are the following documents
- A birth certificate for your child should include the following information: the baby's full and partial name, the parent's full names, the date and place of birth, as well as the location where the certificate was issued.
- Consular report on American birth abroad
- The parents of the baby must submit proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a citizenship certificate.
- A pair of passport photos for your child.
Notable: Digital evidence of your child cannot be submitted as proof of U.S citizenship, such as an electronic birth record.
You will need to provide physical proof of U.S. citizenship as well as a photocopy.
4.Can I take baby passport photo myself?
You can also take a passport picture of your child by yourself. But, make sure that you fulfil all the requirements of a baby passport photo. You can get baby passport photo from our website (https://aipassportphoto.com/)
5. A baby passport is valid for 5 years
The U.S. baby passport is only valid for five years. To travel abroad, you will need to renew your passport if the passport becomes lost or expired.
6. Online application for a baby passport.
The DS-11 application form can be downloaded or you can apply online for a children's passport online by filling out the DS-11 online form at travel.state.gov.
However, you should take your children with you to the passport office in order to submit and verify their document.
How to apply for a passport in the United States for a child?
We have now clarified all details about the baby passport. Here is the step-by-step process to apply for a children passport in the U.S.
This is the step-by-step process.
Step 1: Fill out the DS-11 form downloading, or online at travel.state.gov.
Step 2: Submit evidence of U.S citizenship by providing the required documents, such as a birth certificate for your child and a certificate of citizenship. Also, provide a photocopy these certificates to government.
Step 3: Present the evidence of parental relationship that lists the parents or legal guardian of the child. You can also use a birth certificate to prove the parent relationship.
Step 4: The parents/guardians must agree to the issuance the child's passport. This can be done by both parents/guardians applying in person for the passport.
Step 5: Along with your application, you must submit one passport image of your child.
Notice: Your passport photo must not exceed 6 months old. You should also follow the guidelines of the government.
Step 6: Pay for passport application fees
Step 7: Send your completed application to the office.
Step 8: Once you have applied for the passport for your child, you can track the application within 7-10 business days.