Expedited Passport For Newborn - Easy To Get   by Ben Pate

in Travel / Travel Tips    (submitted 2012-01-24)

It used to be that a newborn baby was permitted to travel on the passport of one of their parents. Now, however, it is a requirement that every US citizen, including a newborn, have their own individual passport. When traveling within approximately two weeks, parents may apply for an expedited American passport for newborn. Parents can do this themselves or they may go through a specialized agent.

Requirements

Getting a passport for a newborn is not quite as straightforward as obtaining one for an adult. Proof of US citizenship of the baby is required. This is usually a certified copy of their birth certificate. Proof of parental consent is also a requirement. Parents need to complete a form, pay the fee, attach two photographs of the infant and include evidence of travel intent. The procedure is a little more involved if one of the parents is uncooperative or if they are absent altogether. There are five distinct levels of a child passport - Rush, Priority, Next Day, 24-Hour and Expedited. This latter category may take between eight days and two weeks to process. The completed passport is mailed directly to the child's parent(s).

DS-11

The application form is called a DS-11 (Application for a US passport renewal). This may be obtained from a passport agency or an acceptance facility. It may be filled in online and then printed or it may be printed out first and then filled in by hand. It is essential that the form not be signed until instructed to.

Submission

The passport will be valid for five years and it may not be renewed. The application needs to be submitted in person and the baby itself has to be there.

Photos

Requirements for the two passport photographs are rather stringent. They need to be 2 inches by 2 inches in size with a white or whitish background. The head size has to be between 1 and 1.375 inches with no had or anything else worn on the head. It must be taken no more than six months before the date of the application.

Photo Requirements

In the photograph, the baby must have a 'natural' expression. They must not be smiling, laughing, crying or screaming. They must have their mouth closed and must not contain a pacifier. The baby must be facing forward and looking at the camera. Only the baby must be in the picture, no parental hands, face, arms or even a car seat. Sometimes it is easier just to pay a professional photographer to get this done.

Citizenship

The infant's parents must provide proof of their own American citizenship. This can be a naturalization certificate, a valid passport, a Consular Report of Birth, a certificate of citizenship or a certified birth certificate.

About the Author

While both parents should submit the application for an expedited American pasport for newborn together, it is possible for one parent to be present provided a form called 'Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16' has been completed. Alternatively, a written, notarized statement from the parent who isn't there will be accepted. Passports for children do not stay valid as long as they do for adults. This is why it's important to pay attention to dates. Children cannot do a passport renewal, they must apply for a whole new passport each time it expires.