Last Updated on May 19, 2020 by Natalie
You want to travel and you want to take the kids. But just how do you get a US passport for kids?
Getting a passport was something I avoided for a long time, because I am a procrastinator. Also, before the late 2000s, Americans didn’t need to them to visit Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. I visited Grand Cayman without a passport in 2004. Passports are required to go outside the US nowadays. So, if you and your kids don’t have one, today is a great day to get yours!
Here are step-by-step instructions for Americans to apply for a passport for your child or children.
How To Get A US Passport for Kids
Updated: April 22, 2018
Why get a passport? Here’s one reason: this beautiful beach is in Jamaica!
Do Both Parents Need to be at the Passport Appointment?
If tboth parents listed on the birth certificate, then both parents have to be there in person. If this isn’t possible, there are additional forms to fill out. We were able to go together on a Saturday morning in order to avoid additional paperwork. Most post offices that do passport applications should have some flexibility so both parents can attend.
Click here for information about how to take a baby passport photo.
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Instructions for Getting a passport for your child (under 16)
This was our process for children under 16, who haven’t had a passport or passport card before.
- The first thing I did was to take them to a local place to get their passport photos. Start your search at CVS or Walgreens and go from there. It took us barely 10 minutes and that included waiting for their pictures to print.
- Make an appointment with your most conveniently located post office that does passport services. Visit the usps.com site for local information.
- Measure and weigh your child(ren). You will need to know their height and weight for the form.
- Fill out the form in advance of your appointment. Have their SSN ready for reference.
- Take the completed form, pictures, their birth certificate, and your ID. Remember, if two parents are listed on the child’s birth certificate, both parents must be at this appointment. If that isn’t possible, additional forms will have to be filled out. They also made the copies of our IDs for us (best practice is to bring those copies with you).
- Your children must be with you, as the post office employee does compare them to their pictures.
- Bring your checkbook, as a large portion of the fee isn’t payable by credit card. We had to write separate checks for each child. Also, part of the fee is paid separately. In 2018, both the book and card are $95 by check and $35 payable by credit, debit, cash (whatever your post office takes) for children under 16.
2020 Passport Prices For Children Under 16
Buying the passport book and passport card at the same time saves you a little bit of money. We prefer to have both. Prices are subject to change without warning.
For new applicants who are age 16 and up, the passport book and card are $140 application fee, $35 execution fee (paid separately, as mentioned in the section above). Passport alone is $110, plus the $35 execution fee.
For children under 16, the passport book and card are $95 application fee, $35 execution fee (paid separately, as mentioned in the section above). Passport alone is $80, plus the $35 execution fee.
Please see the US travel official website for instructions for children and adults ages 16 and up.
Approximate Time & Expediting Fees (Currently Suspended)
It is easy and only a minor time inconvenience! Keep in mind that passports for children are only valid for 5 years. It’s important to strike a good balance between leaving enough time for the passport to show up before a scheduled trip and getting a passport for “eventually.” Regular processing time takes anywhere between 2-10 weeks. At the appointment, we were told it would be 4-6 weeks and I did see that time frame given on one section of the website. Of course, I also saw 2-10 weeks on one of the websites, so I want you to be aware that it can take awhile!
Expedited service takes 3 weeks and additional $60. One-two day mail service will run you $17.13 more.
Post Office Appointments & Walk-ins
There are post offices that will take walk-ins for passports. Ours requires appointments for a child’s passport, though it seemed pretty informal once we arrived. The nice thing about having the appointment was not having to wait in line. That’s invaluable with young children.
Helpful websites:
Official information for children under 16 – for information on what documents to bring if parents are unable to go in person together, on a situation by situation basis.
United States Postal Service – helpful for making appointments and what the post office requires additionally.
Cliff diver in Jamaica.
Why now?
We don’t have an international trip currently scheduled. Why did I choose now? I recently had to turn down an opportunity to visit Europe with a good friend and her daughter because I can’t guarantee the passports will come in time. Also, we are in the planning stages for some international travel plans and I don’t want to put them at risk of disruption. As I mentioned, I do procrastinate sometimes!
The passport card will also be acceptable ID for the kids to travel domestically. I’m seizing the day! The time is now! Go forth and travel!
When did you get your first passport? When did your children receive their first? If you don’t currently have one, what’s stopping you?
10 comments
I got my first passport for international travel in 2006 in Germany. The US had just started requiring the biometric passport for entering the country. The application requirements are a little more extensive because of that. The costs are about the same.
We applied for my daughter’s American passport when she was 2 weeks old. I think it took only 4 weeks to arrive in the mail.
We applied for her German passport when she was 10 months old. It took even less than 4 weeks to arrive.
My husband got his first passport when he was young as well.
It is always good to have one. Especially when last minute travels are something you want to do.
I am pretty sure my passport came really quickly when I applied, a few years ago. I had one when I was pretty young also, but it was long expired.
No more missing trips due to no passports for us!
Seems quite straight forward shame they are only valid for 5 years though. Could become quite expensive. I think in Europe children’s passports are valid for 18 years-then they have to apply for adult passports.
It does, though I suppose a 5 year old and an infant look dramatically different. They are a little bit cheaper, at least. You’re right, it could become quite expensive for those who travel regularly!
It is never too early to get an international passport for kids 🙂 Good tips.
Yeah! I can actually book one of those great travel deals now!
I myself was 5 when I got my first passport. Wow, that was a long time ago. My son has never had one. Thank you for all the info. I would have never thought to measure my child before filling out the application and I believe everyone will need passports or passport card even for domestic travel.
I hope you’re wrong on that prediction!
Yes I had to stop and measure because it’s on the first page.
I had no idea that before the late 2000s, Americans didn’t need passports to visit Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean! Things have definitely changed a lot since then.
Yes, I didn’t realize how much more travel I could’ve done back then without getting a passport. You did have to travel with your birth certificate, though. Passports are probably a safer option!
Now, we have to have passports to go everywhere.