Renewing a passport that was issued to a child age 15 or younger
is different from getting a passport that was issued to an applicant age
16 or older renewed. Passports issued to individuals who are older than
age 15 are valid for 10 years and can be renewed by mail as long as
they are not damaged. A child or a person who was issued a passport when
a child must apply as if for the first time. This article will detail
the steps required to renew a child's passport.
What You Need
Several
items are required in order to get a child's passport renewed. First of
all, you need to complete the application form DS-11. The form can be
completed online at the Department of State website, downloaded and
completed offline or filled in at an application acceptance facility.
The application should not be signed until an authorized Acceptance
Agent asks you to do so.
Supporting documents that must be
submitted along with the application form include evidence of U.S.
citizenship, evidence of relationship between the parents or guardians
and the minor and identification of the parents or guardians.
Photocopies of identification documents are also required. Only one
passport photo is necessary.
When only one parent takes the child
to get a passport renewed, evidence of sole legal custody or notarized
consent from the non-applying parent must accompany the other documents.
The consent form cannot be more than 90 days old.
Where to Go
The
application and supporting documents must be presented to an authorized
agent at either an application acceptance facility or a regional
agency. Acceptance facilities are located in post offices, public
libraries, clerks of court, and other state, county, township, and
municipal government offices.
There are 25 passport agencies located in
major cites of the United States such as Boston, New York, Miami,
Houston Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
It is important to
understand that both parents or legal guardians must appear with the
minor. When only one parent or legal guardian appears, that person must
also submit notarized consent from the non-applying parent or guardian
or evidence of sole legal custody in order to renew the child's
passport.
How Long It Takes
Renewing a child's
passport takes up to 6 weeks if you apply at an application acceptance
facility and do not request expedited service. You can get the passport
expedited in 2 to 3 weeks when applying at these locations if you pay
the additional fee. It only takes a few days to a little as a few hours
when you apply at a regional agency. Of course, you must show evidence
of travel within 2 weeks or within 4 weeks if you also need to obtain a
visa.
Those who need to get their children's passports quickly but
are unable to visit a regional agency can utilize the services of a
registered expediter. They can get passports renewed the same day but
there will be additional fees for this.
Visit U.S. Passport Service Guide, the experts in expedited passport services, for latest requirements, instructions and applications for renewing a child's passport.
