Passport For Kids - It’s Easy To Apply For A US Passport Today
Family vacations, particularly those that require travel out of the country all require one thing, passports. This includes Mom, Dad and all the children, whatever age they may be. Mom and Dad normally already have theirs but the children are usually another story completely. It is not that difficult to get a passport for minors under the age of 16 and will simply take a bit of time and some preparation.
All of the children within the family, no matter their age, must have their own passport and this even includes the infants. The application process must be completed in person with both of the parents or guardians present. This is a requirement for any minor 16 years of age or younger, without exception. The parents or guardians must show proof of their relationship to the minor along with providing a copy of their own identification to submit with the minor’s application.
There are a wide variety of locations that take in-person application for minor passports and they are a Passport Acceptance Facility, a U.S. Regional Passport Office or any U.S. Embassy or Consulate office. The child will need some form of photo identification if they possess it and if not the parent or guardian will be required to provide theirs in person. It is a good idea when applying in person to have photocopies of any identification and a written parental consent form on hand.
All passports require that the minor applicant pay a fee in order to obtain a passport book and/or card. The fee, comprised of a passport charge and an execution charge, is less for minors than for adults. The acceptable methods of payment vary depending on where the minor will be submitting the passport application.
Occasionally, the need arises for an expedited passport and there are several ways to make this happen. The standard government time frame for expediting is 2 to 3 weeks for an additional charge, whereas the private services providers can make this happen in one to two business days if needed. This comes with an additional fee above what the government charges for the passport to be issued.
Two photographs will be needed in order to complete the passport application process and these should be in color and identical. These really should be done by a photographer that understands the exact requirements from the government for these types of pictures. There are normally local options such as some smaller photographers and even nearby pharmacies that can make this happen for a nominal fee.
For renewals, any minor that was under the age of 16 at the time the passport was first issued will need to reappear at a local office in order to get it renewed. If the child was 16 at the time of issue, then it is possible for them to renew by mail rather than have to go into a local passport agency. They will need to have their old passport handy as it is turned in with new photos and a completed renewal application. If the expedited service in necessary, then they can either choose the government wait time of two to three weeks or one of the online services that can shorten that wait time greatly.
To recap, a passport for babies must be applied for in person, no matter what age they are. If the minor is over the age of 16 and the passport was issued earlier in their life, then they have the option to renew either by mail or online. The USA passport expedited services, if necessary, can be accessed via the Internet and are considered to be the fastest method for getting a renewed passports returned to the individual.