How to Get A U.S. Passport for Your Infant

Are you planning a trip abroad with your newborn and need help navigating the process of getting their first passport? You may be a new parent or a seasoned parent tackling a new adventure, either way getting an infant passport can be an intimidating task for many parents. But there’s no need to fret – we’re here to guide you through this important milestone in your baby’s life! Having all the necessary documents, like the birth certificate and picture identification, prepared is essential if you want to get a U.S. Passport quickly and effortlessly for your child. In this blog post, we’ll break down the different steps involved while taking into account some helpful tips that are often overlooked when applying for a baby or toddler’s passport!

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Does a Baby Need a Passport

If you’re planning on traveling abroad, the answer is yes! Even infants need their own passport. It may seem like a hassle, but it’s a necessary part of international travel. You’ll have to fill out an application, provide documentation, and even take a photo of your little baby. But don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. And think about all the adventures your family will have together! From exploring new cultures to making memories that will last a lifetime, having an infant passport means your little one can join in on the fun too.

Preparing for Travel with a Baby:

What You Need to Apply

So, you’ve decided to apply for your infant’s passport. Exciting stuff! But where do you start? Here below I walk through the passport application process as well as everything you need to bring to the passport acceptance facility when applying for your child’s first passport. This post covers most common situations and an American passport, any special circumstances that require more detailed information, I recommend looking on the state department’s website.

Step 1:

First things first, you’ll need to make a passport appointment at your local passport agency or post office. To do this you simply have to visit the USPS website, find a post office or other facility near you that offers passport appointments and then find an open time slot.

The reason I recommend doing this first is that the time slots can, and do, fill up. So you may be booking an appointment as far out as a few weeks. By booking the appointment first you secure a time slot as early as needed while still leaving you enough time to gather the necessary documents in the meantime. This is especially important if you are on a time crunch.

If you are traveling within 14 days of applying it is recommended you make an appointment at a passport agency or passport center by calling l 1-877-487-2778 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, Mondays through Fridays.

Step 2:

Then, you’ll need to download and fill out form DS-11. This application form can be found on the U.S. Department of State website where it can be filled out using a form filler or printed and filled out by hand.

If you used the form filler, make sure you print it out after you fill out the form to bring to your appointment.

Step 3:

Next, when getting an infant’s passport you will need to bring along proof of u.s. citizenship such as your child’s birth certificate. It needs to be the original document, so for a newborn you will have to order or pick up an original birth certificate before your application appointment. Additionally you need to bring a photo copy of the document.

Acceptable Proof of U.S. Citizenship:

U.S. Birth Certificate
Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
Certificate of Citizenship

Step 4:

For children under the age of 16, both parents or legal guardians need to be present at the appointment to apply for the passport. If one parent cannot be there for any reason such as sole custody or an absent parent then additional forms or evidence will need to be produced depending on the specific circumstance.

Check the website to see what your specific circumstance needs.

Additionally, parents must show their relationship to their child. If the birth certificate states the parents’ names then this counts as both proof of parental relationship and U.S. citizenship. Otherwise you can also use an adoption decree or a divorce/custody decree.

Step 5:

Both parents need to bring along a form of ID as well as a photo copy of your ID, both front and back.

Examples of accepted forms of ID:

Driver’s License
Valid or Expired U.S. Passport
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
Government employee ID
U.S. military or military dependent ID
Current (valid) foreign passport

Step 6:

You will need to bring a 2×2 print of the baby’s passport photo.

If you would like you can try your hand at taking your child’s photo yourself! I have a full guide on how to take a baby passport photo at home. I feel it is the best way to get a nice picture of your child because you can more fully control their environment.

Alternatively if you are still worried about the photo meeting all the passport photo requirements it may be a good idea to go to stores like CVS or Walgreens to get a picture taken. Some passport application spots will even take a picture for you for an additional $15 fee.

Step 7:

Finally, don’t forget to bring a checkbook with you to pay the application fee. You can also pay by money order which can be purchased at the post office using a debit card. You cannot pay the passport fee or the expedited fee using a credit card unfortunately. However the acceptance fee requires a separate payment and can be paid using a credit card.

The current application fees for a U.S. passport are:

$100 passport fee
$35 acceptance fee paid to the post office
$60 for expedited service

You can also pay an additional fee to have the new passport book shipped back to you with expedited shipping (1-2 days). This may be worth it if you are on a very tight time table. Finally with everything in tow and your fees paid, you’ll be one step closer to going on your dream international getaway as a family!

Tips for Traveling with a Baby:

No Social Security Number Yet

If you’ve recently welcomed a new bundle of joy into the world, congratulations! As exciting as this time is, if you need to get your little one’s passport quickly it can be a little stressful. If your baby doesn’t have a social security number yet, you may be wondering if it is even possible to get a passport yet.

Well, the good news is that an infant passport can still be obtained without a social security number. You’ll just need to fill out a form stating that you do not have a social security number yet. The official statement says “If you do not have a Social Security number, you must enter zeros in this field and submit a statement, signed, and dated, that includes the phrase, “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: I have never been issued a Social Security Number by the Social Security Administration.”

With a little patience and organization, you’ll be on your way to planning your first international family vacation in no time!

How Long Does it take to get Your Passport

Unfortunately, wait times to get a passport are long currently, so if you have upcoming travels you will want to get on obtaining a passport as quickly as possible. Generally, it takes about 10-13 weeks to receive your passport from the time you submit your application. Even expedited service takes around 7-9 weeks currently.

If your travels are supposed to happen sooner than this, you can talk to the post office staff about alternative options to getting your passport even faster such as reaching out to your congress person or going in person. That being said, it’s always best to plan ahead and apply for your passport as early as possible to avoid any unnecessary stress. If you’re applying for a baby’s first passport, make sure to double-check all of the requirements and needed documents and soon you’ll have your child’s passport in hand and be ready for your next adventure.

US passport application process for an infant

How Long is a Child’s Passport Valid?

Are you planning a trip with your little one and wondering how long their passport is valid for? Well, I’ve got some good news for you. A child’s passport is valid for 5 years! That means your little travel buddy will be able to join you on any adventures you have planned for a few years before needing a new passport. So even if you are welcoming a sweet new baby to your family this year, go ahead and start planning that family vacation.

How to Get an Infant Passport in the U.S.

Getting a passport for a young baby or toddler isn’t as hard as it may seem at first glance. It can take some time to get the documents you need and gather the information required, but once you have all that in order, the process is quite simple. Just remember to apply early and follow the steps in this guide when applying for your infant’s passport.

As long as you have all the necessary paperwork prepared and filled out correctly, obtaining your toddler’s first passport won’t be an issue. I know how important it is to feel as confident as possible when tackling something new with your children. So if you ever find yourself overwhelmed with questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out for help! Are there any other concerns you have when getting your infant’s passport? Let me know—I’ll do my best to answer any other questions you may have!

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