Your evidence must be an original or replacement copy. The document must have the official seal or stamp of the office which issued it. You must submit one of the following documents for your child:
Please note you must also provide a document, such as a birth certificate, that lists the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the child. Full validity means the document is or was valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16.
If you cannot submit one of these documents, go to our Citizenship Evidence page for more information.
Paper only: You cannot submit digital evidence of U.S. citizenship such as a mobile or electronic birth certificate. You must submit physical evidence of U.S. citizenship and a photocopy of the document.
Returning your child's document: We will return your child's document in a separate mailing up to four weeks after you receive the new passport.
Tips for making a photocopy:
Black and white (no color)
Use 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper
Use a single side of the paper
If you do not submit a photocopy, you must submit a second copy of your citizenship evidence. We will keep this copy for our records.
An image of the sample features of a U.S. birth certificate
You must submit a document that lists the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the child. Examples include:
U.S. birth certificate (also evidence of U.S. citizenship)
Foreign birth certificate
Adoption decree
Divorce or custody decree
A court order
Some documents, like a U.S. birth certificate, show both U.S. citizenship and parental relationship. These documents must be originals or certified copies (not photocopies).
You and your child may have different last names, as long as the document showing your relationship to your child lists your full name.
If your name is different than the one on the document showing your relationship to your child, submit proof of your legal name change.
Both parents or guardians must bring a physical, photo ID and a photocopy of it. If your photo ID is from a different state than the state in which you are applying, bring a second photo ID.
You must show at least one of these photo IDs:
Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card
In-state, fully valid driver's license or enhanced driver's license with photo
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
U.S. military or military dependent ID
Current (valid) foreign passport
Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs
Note: you may need to show another ID when presenting one of these documents:
In-state, fully-valid learner's permit with photo,
In-state, fully-valid non-driver ID with photo,
Temporary driver's license with photo, or
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
If you do not have one of these photo IDs, go to our Identification page for more information.
We may ask you for more evidence such as a custody order, an incarceration order, or a restraining order to protect against international parental child abduction.
If the non-applying parent is deployed by the military, that parent should provide a notarized Form DS-3053 in most cases.
Neither parent able to appear
Submit a Statement of Consent: Form DS-3053 or a notarized statement from both parents or guardians giving that person (example: grandparent) permission to apply for the child.
Include a photocopy of the photo IDs for both parents or guardians.
If the statement is from only one parent or guardian, you must also show proof that that parent or guardian has sole custody of the child.
Submit Form DS-3053 and other notarized statements within three months of signing them.
Some U.S. states allow you to get your statement notarized electronically or remotely. We can accept a statement notarized electronically under state law. You should also provide a printed copy when applying for a passport. If you have questions about these services, contact a notary public in your state.
In some countries, you may need to get Form DS-3053 notarized at the U.S. embassy or consulate. Go to the frequently asked questions section on this page to get the list of countries.
When applying using Form DS-11, you will pay two separate fees - an application fee and an execution (acceptance) fee. You will pay the application fee to the U.S. Department of State, and the execution (acceptance) fee to the facility which takes your application.
For more information on how to pay and a full list of fees, go to our Passport Fees page.
*How to fill out your check and pay the application fee to the U.S. Department of State. Please note you must pay a separate execution (acceptance) fee.
We prefer that each applicant has a separate check or money order.
If a family only has one check or money order, we will accept it.
Include the dates of birth of each applicant, and the number of applications in the memo section (example: four applications).
Traveling in more than 3 weeks? Go to a passport acceptance facility such as a post office, library, or local government office. Check with the facility to see if you need to make an appointment.
Traveling in less than 3 weeks?Make an appointment to apply at a passport agency or center.
You will get multiple mailings. The number of mailings depends on what document(s) you asked for.
Passport Book: You may get your new passport and citizenship documents in two mailings. You may wait four weeks after getting your passport before you get a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We will return the passport book using a trackable delivery service.
Passport Card: You may get your new passport card and your citizenship documents in two mailings. You may wait four weeks after getting your passport before you get a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We only send the passport card via First Class Mail. We do not send cards using 1-2 day delivery services.
Both a Passport Book and Card: You may get three separate mailings:
New passport book
New passport card
Citizenship documents
Contacting Us: If you have been waiting more than four weeks for your documents, call us at 1-877-487-2778 to report that you have not received your documents.
If you want us to reimburse you for a lost supporting document, you must contact us within 90 days of the date which we mailed your passport. You will also need to provide a receipt to show the cost of replacing the document.
Yes. You may choose one or both of the following shipment options:
Delivering application to us: Pay for Priority Mail Express for faster shipping. The price for this service varies depending on the area of the country.
Returning the passport to you: Pay $21.36 for 1-2 day delivery. This means you will receive your passport1-2 days after we send it. Include this fee with your check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State. Do not submit a return envelope to us with postage pre-paid.
You may receive your passport and supporting documents in separate mailings. If you are renewing a passport card, we will send it to you via First Class Mail. We do not use 1-2 day delivery services if you only applied for a passport card.
In certain countries, a DS-3053 must be notarized at a U.S. embassy or consulate and cannot be notarized by a local notary public. Currently, these countries include:
We're holding special passport fairs all across the United States to help you get your passport more easily. New events are added to our site every week.
Most events are for first-time applicants and children, (who use Form DS-11). If you can use Form DS-82, you can renew by mail at your convenience!
Processing Times
Routine: 4-6 weeks*
Expedited: 2-3 weeks and an extra $60*
*Consider the total time it will take to get a passport when you are booking travel. Processing times only include the time your application is at a passport agency or center.
It may take up to 2 weeks for applications to arrive at a passport agency or center. It may take up to 2 weeks for you to receive a completed passport after we print it.
Processing times + mailing times = total time to get a passport
This video will help you learn how to apply in person for your child's U.S. passport!
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