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Travel and outings with kids

Passport for kids

A U.S. passport for a child under 16. The child applies in person on Form DS-11 with both parents' consent, and it's valid for 5 years.

What It Means

A passport for kids is a U.S. passport book or passport card issued to a child younger than 16. The child has to apply in person using Form DS-11, and both parents or guardians either come to the appointment or give their consent in writing. It stays valid for 5 years and can't be renewed, so every new one means another in-person application.

Try It: Add Up Your Children's Passport Fees

Pick what each child needs and how many are applying. The fees come from the State Department's 2026 fee chart for applicants under 16.

To the State Department$200
To the acceptance facility$70
Total$270

The two fees are paid separately, one to each office.

How People Say It

  • "Her passport runs out before our trip, so we need a new one."
  • "We both have to be at the passport appointment with him."
  • "Is a passport card enough for the cruise to Mexico?"

The Breakdown

What the rule says

A child under 16 applies in person on Form DS-11. Both parents or guardians go to the appointment with the child, or the one who can't attend gives written consent. The passport lasts 5 years and can't be renewed.

Who it applies to

U.S. citizens younger than 16. Teens who are 16 or 17 follow a different State Department process.

What to bring

  • The child
  • Form DS-11, filled out
  • Evidence of U.S. citizenship bearing the issuing office's seal, such as a qualifying U.S. birth certificateBirth certificateThe official record of a birth, kept by the vital records office of the state or territory where the birth took place. See more, plus a photocopy of it
  • Each parent's original government-issued ID and a photocopy of the front and back
  • One passport photo, 2 by 2 inches, showing the child's full face from the front
  • Form DS-3053, signed before a notary, if a parent or guardian can't attend
  • Two payments: the application fee for the State Department and the acceptance fee for the facility

What it costs in 2026

What the child getsApplication feeAcceptance feeTotal
Passport book$100$35$135
Passport card$15$35$50
Book and card$115$35$150

Source: U.S. Department of State fee chart, updated March 2026. Fees change, so check travel.state.gov/passportfees before you pay.

Good to Know

The State Department says leaving out the photocopy of the citizenship document can slow the application down, so bring the original and a copy. A consent form signed by a parent who couldn't come is only good for 90 days after it's signed or notarized. Passport cards are valid for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean, and they can't be used for international flights.

FAQ

Do both parents have to be there for a child's passport?

Yes, unless one of them gives written consent. A parent who can't attend signs Form DS-3053 in front of a notary, and the form has to be submitted within 90 days.

How long is a child's passport good for?

5 years for a child under 16. It can't be renewed, so the next one needs a new in-person application on Form DS-11.

How much does a child's passport cost in 2026?

The State Department's 2026 chart lists $100 for a passport book, paid to the State Department, plus a $35 acceptance fee paid to the facility. A card alone is $15 plus the same $35.

Do It in Buhata

Vault and Countdown

Save each child's passport number and expiration date in Vault (Plus), then add a Countdown to that date so the next application doesn't sneak up on a trip.

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Related Terms and Categories

  • Birth certificate

    The official record of a birth, kept by the vital records office of the state or territory where the birth took place.

  • Travel insurance

    A policy bought for a trip that can repay prepaid costs if you cancel for a covered reason, and pay for medical care or evacuation while away.

  • Flying with a baby

    Air travel with a child under 2, which starts with one choice: a lap infant on an adult's lap, or a ticketed seat with an FAA-approved car seat.

  • Vacation planning

    Working out where, when and how a trip will happen, including what it costs, how to save for it and what paperwork it needs, well before you leave.

Travel and outings with kids

Sources

U.S. Department of State, "Apply for a Child's Passport Under 16"; U.S. Department of State, "Passport Fees"; U.S. Department of State, "Updated March 2026 United States Passport Fees"; U.S. Department of State, Form DS-3053, "Statement of Consent: U.S. Passport Issuance to a Child Under Age 16"

Last updated .