Obtaining a children’s passport is somewhat more complicated than getting one for an adult. There is additional proof and documentation required and extra care must be taken to get all the items in order and completed correctly before a passport application will be approved and passport issued.
It’s important to gather all the necessary forms and papers and go in person to the office of the agency. The location will vary, depending upon where you live. The application can be filled out, except for the signature(s). The document won’t be signed until the agent is ready to witness it. Your infant must have a valid social security number and you cannot do the application online. You must arrive in person.
You will need proof that the child is a U. S. Citizen and that you are the infant’s parent(s). A birth or adoption certificate, an earlier passport, citizenship certificate or naturalization certificate are suitable. If there are custody issues, a custodial decree will be required.
If both parents are applying for the child’s passport, both must provide identification documents. There are several types of identification documents that are accepted as proof. These might include a driver’s license, military ID or passport.
The format of the evidence that is submitted must follow a precise order and appearance in order to be accepted. Parent’s documentation must include the copy the identification card in actual size or larger. If the ID card has two sides, you should use two letter-size pages in white color. Documents submitted as proof cannot be smaller than actual size. The copies of the parents ID has to be submitted along with the application and photographs of the child.
Generally, both parents must provide consent. This can be done many different ways. Probably the simplest is for both parents to appear at the time of application and sign the consent. If that is not possible, or if there are custody issues, there are other ways to provide parental consent. You should do the needed research to find the necessary regulations and stipulations.
You must make provision for the proper fees and charges. Some passport offices won’t accept personal checks, but will accept credit cards or money orders. Charges for additional services such as overnight delivery or expedited service may be required. Exact money order amounts are important if you have elected to pay by this method. The passport office may not accept cash in payment for passport fees either.
Format for passport pictures also are thoroughly defined too, They must measure two inches by two inches and be recently taken. They must be color pictures and must be the same photograph. These two photographs will be submitted along with the application. The image will appear on children’s passport. The photo background must be off-white or white. The picture for the passport applications for infants must show the full face of the baby.