Lesson One: How to Obtain a Minor Passport for a US Resident

As part of my personal evolution as a travel blogger, this is an early post from Upgrd.com where I joined Matthew and other talented writers (including my husband) which would then merge with Travel Codex, another Boarding Area blog. Finally, we found our home here at Live and Let’s Fly with Matthew. As this is an early post, references have not been updated and may no longer remain accurate. Please enjoy this time capsule blog post.

Getting a Passport For a Minor

Here are some helpful tips on obtaining a passport for a minor under the age of 16:

What you will need for a minor passport:

Evidence of U.S. Citizenship (We used Certified U.S. Birth Certificate)
Social Security Number (This is required on the application forms)
Evidence of Parental Relationship (We used Certified U.S. Birth Certificate)
Passport Photo
Application Forms
Appointment at the Post Office
Both parents at appointment
Passport Fees

Note: If you are trying to obtain a passport for an infant soon after birth, there should be an option at your local courthouse to obtain a certified copy of the Birth Certificate and Social Security card in person. This will still require you to wait a few days after birth and also holds a small fee for each document. Otherwise both items should arrive to you in the mail a couple of weeks after your child is born. Remember you will need to mail a Certified copy of the Birth Certificate in with your application so it doesn’t hurt to just have an extra copy on hand.

Passport Photos

As I stated in my previous post, this can seem like a bit of a hassle with small children (especially infants) as most places that take passport photos will not or can not take infant passports. There are a couple of helpful websites that will give you a step by step how-to on taking your own photos at home, or you can check out this service, or you can also have the photos taken at the Post Office during your appoint for and additional $15.

There is also an app for your phone that you can download called “ItsEasyPhoto” from ItsEasy Passport & Visa Services.

The Application

Application forms can be found on the travel.state.gov website. It is best to have these filled out ahead of time to save you time and be prepared for any additional documents you may need when submitting your application in person. You can find the form here.

Appointment

You will need an appointment to submit your application in person. If this is your first time obtaining a passport for a minor you MUST submit your application in person. It is best to contact your local Post Office and schedule an appointment. Most of the local offices near me were book several weeks in advance, so be prepared and try to book your appointment well in advance. It is also important to remember that for a minor, BOTH parents must be present in order to submit your application.