There is no better way to show your children the world than by
traveling. In order to go on these international trips, your child will
need a passport. Some questions concerning children's passports are
frequent, and armed with some answers, you can be comfortable and
confident when traveling abroad with your children.
Everyone, from
the youngest child to the oldest grandmother, needs a passport. If the
child is under 16, he or she will need to replace their passport every
five years. Once they get beyond this age, they won't need to replace
their passport for ten years. Damaged passports are also required to be
replaced.
If the only thing you need is additional passport pages, a
passport agency can do this, and you won't need to get an entirely new
passport.
In February 2008, the rules changed a little bit. Now a
passport application requires the consent of both parents or legal
guardians. While this consent isn't required for applications for
children between the ages of 16 and 18, it may be requested by the
passport agent. Also, if your child is under the age of 18, he or she is
required to be present in front of the AA, or the acceptance agent.
Both parents will need to show valid identification when applying for
the child.
You will need proof of US citizen ship if you applying
for a passport for your minor. This can be done in a variety of ways.
You can either use an undamaged, previously-issued passport, a certified
birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship, a naturalization
certificate, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of
Birth. Next, you will be required to prove your relationship to the
child. In order to do this, you will need a certified birth certificate
featuring both parents' names, a court order directing guardianship or
custody, or an adoption decree. This birth certificate can be of a
foreign country, you will just need another form of identification.
After this, the parents or guardians will then have to prove their own
identity. This requirement can be met with valid driver's licenses,
previously issued passports, government IDs, military IDs, or
naturalization certificates. Photocopies will then be made, and the
process concluded with the consent of both parents, payment for the
passports, and submission of passport photos.
If you and your
spouse happen to give birth to a child while overseas, and you both are
American citizens, you will need to report the birth to the local US
embassy or consulate. The Consular Report of Birth of a Citizen of the
United States of America, simply a basic citizenship document, will be
issued, meaning your child will be a valid United States citizen.
Tons of revolutionary new internet services make applying for new passports
and replacing old passports much more convenient. With the ease of
these services, you and your children can discover the world together.
The world becomes more open, and opportunities present themselves in
ways that are truly unique. Simply knowing how to get a children's passport
saves you time and trouble when you're trying to prepare for a trip.
Allowing your children to see the cultures and sites of the world
first-hand is the sort of experience that isn't easily forgotten. And
all you need is a passport.
