How To Apply For A US Passport For Your Newborn Baby? An Easy Step By Step Guide for Parents

Hello Readers,

You want to travel with your child and need to know how to apply for a US passport for your newborn baby. If you don’t know how to get a US passport, what should you do? You should read this.

Even a baby less than a month old needs a passport to travel in the US. There are specific ways to fill out a form so that officials can check it. No matter how old you are, everyone from the US who goes abroad must have a passport.

The application process can be complicated, so while you try to take a good photo for your baby’s passport, we’ve written down the steps for you.

Parents can get a passport for a baby or a child under 16 years old, but it may take a few extra steps. The passport may be good for up to 5 years.

There are many ways to do it online, but you can’t get it directly by mail. Both parents of the child must be present when the application is turned in at the passport agency or any other authorized location (post office).

Keeping everything organized and together at first will help you get things in order quickly and not forget anything. Here are the steps you need to take to apply for a passport for a newborn.

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07 Steps Full Guide To US Passport For Babies

Planning with your baby on an international adventure? Here is a detailed explanation on how to apply for a passport for your baby. Below are the main steps which we to follow while apply US passport for newborn baby.

The secret to a pain-free experience is having everything filled out and organized in advance. Here’s how to get passports for kids, step by step.

Step 1: Fill Up Form DS-11

Filing Form DS-11 is the first step when it comes to apply US Passport for newborn. You can download the form from the website USCIS. Here’s what you have to do:

• Download Form DS-11 from the main U.S. Department of State Website and print it out.
• Bring your newborn with you to the passport application agency.
• Carry any required supporting documents like social security number, birth certificate, newborn’s full name, and legal information, etc.
• Sign the application and submit only after you’ve been instructed by the agency in person once they have verified the details.

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Step 2: Proof of US citizenship

The parents must submit any document which serves as evidence for proving that the infant is a US citizen for apply passport for baby.

• Certified birth certificate 
• Citizenship certificate
• Any US passport if issued previously
• Birth abroad with a consular report

Note that no unregistered or duplicate birth certificates are accepted.

The birth certificate which will be provided must have a registrar’s signature, date, and seal and has to be registered from a concerned registering office.

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Step 3: Relationship Evidence

The proof of the relationship that parents relate to the infant must be presented for the application verification process. The documents which will be submitted should be the original copy.

• The certified birth certificate is the most ideal method of proving the relationship as it indicates the names of both parents.
• If the child was not born in the US and does not have residential certified citizenship.
•  The foreign birth certificate is to be submitted which usually contains both parents’ names.
• The birth report of the child should be presented.

In the case where the child is adopted, the parents must submit the following documents:

• An adoption certificate with parents’ names on it.
• The birth certificate was registered with the parents’ names.

In the case where there is a guardian of a newborn baby, they must submit:

• The court order established custody of the child.
• Guardianship certificate issued by the court.
• Previously made US passports are not approved to prove the relationship with parents.
• If the child is under the sole custody of a parent, then the parent must present the proof of sole custody or the court order to get the form signed by another parent under special circumstances.

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Step 4: Parents’ Identity Proof

The parents should be able to provide any kind of identity proof for the application approval. The documents accepted are as follows:

• US passport which isn’t damaged. Condition to prove their identity.
• A driver’s license will also work if it is valid.
• Current Government ID or military ID (if any).
• Naturalization certificate.

If the above-mentioned documents are not available, then there are other options too such as:

Secondary identity proof for apply US passport for newborn:

Some documents can be used to prove identity and these must be submitted together.

• Social Security card
• Library card
• Credit/debit card
• employee ID

These documents do not get approval if they are presented alone.

Any witness can also be brought along who can prove the identity and swear by it. However, there are a few things to be noted before the person can be a witness:

• The witness must be of US citizenship and residential.
• They should have valid identity proof.
• Must be present while the application is being submitted
• The witness must know the person for more than 2 years.

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Step 5: Parents’ Identification Photocopy

The parents must be able to submit a photocopy of their identification 

• The photocopy must be presented with the identification documents while applying.
• If there is more than one child, then an individual passport application should be submitted for each child along with documents and identity proof.
• The paper should be plain white 81/2*11′ and a standard stock paper which will show both sides of the ID. The other types of papers are not accepted.
• Both sides of the paper should not be used.
• The image size can be enlarged, but cannot be made smaller on that standard stock paper.
• The photocopies of all the secondary identification must also be attached in the same manner as stock paper.
• If there is a case of any witness or applicant being disabled, then the assisting individual must present the required photocopies on their behalf with identity proof.
• The person who acts as a witness in the process will be needed to submit his/her photocopies of identity.

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Step 6: In The Case Of A Parent/Guardian’s Absence

For the application of form DS-11, both parents must be available at the time of verification by Acceptance Agent but there may be some exceptions such as:

If only one parent is present:

• The parent must be present with the infant or child while submitting.
• The parent must sign the Form DS-11 in the presence of the Acceptance Agent.
• The consent statement of the second parent may be needed while the inspection.

If the parent has sole custody of the child:

• The parent must appear with the newborn baby.
• They should sign the form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent.
• The sole authority certificates must be presented.

The evidence of the sole authority of the infant can be provided:

• A letter from the second parent to consent to the application should be less than 3 months old.
• A birth certificate mentioning only the applying parent.
• Consular report and certification of birth abroad, which lists only the applying parent.
• The court order grants a sole parent and as the only applying parent
• Adoption decree(if any)
• Death certificate of the parent who is unavailable for applying.
• The juridical notation of incompetence of the parent who is not applying.

If any of the mentioned forms and certificates are not available, then the parent must fill up form DS-3053 which will state why the other parent is not present at the time of application.

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Step 7: Pay Fees And Providing 2 Passport-Size Photos

• Two color photos of the infant must be attached.
• The photos should not have differences, and the official size is 2X2 inches.
• The changes in human appearance are frequent, the photos attached must have been recently taken.
• The child’s face should be visible in the photo with a white background.
• The photos must have the baby’s face, and no other individual should be visible.
• The pictures should be taken in an upright position, and if the baby cannot do so, the parent can use any white surface as a background, and the baby can lie down on it for pictures.

The fees range for different types of forms, and the Form Ds-11 charges are as follows:

• Application fees: 95$
• Execution fees: 35$

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Additional Information

Before you go to the passport office, you should make sure you have all the required documents for apply US passport for newborn baby. Visit the website for the Department of State to find out what you need and if you’re on the right track. The fastest and easiest way to get a passport for your baby is to go to a place that accepts passport applications. Tips to help with the application process.

Photographing Newborn Babies

For the best baby passport photo, place the baby on his or her back on a white sheet and eliminate any shadows that could obscure the baby’s face. Another option is to place the baby in the car seat after covering it with a white sheet. A baby’s head can be propped up for a picture in any of these two methods.

Application Tips

• Applying for a passport at a USPS post office can be convenient in some cases, such as when a newborn baby is involved. Send a prepaid postal envelope, have the baby’s photo taken, and have all paperwork notarized to receive a passport for the little one.
• However, the best and perhaps the fastest option is to appear in person at the Passport Agency near you.
• Make sure you are on the right track by double checking the vital records and Department of State website for your state.
• When you go to the Passport Office, be sure to bring your identification documents.

Processing Time

Passport applications for infants and children take between four and six weeks to process completely. However, if you’re willing to pay more, you can get your request processed faster. Usually, it takes around 4 to 6 weeks to process the application for a baby passport.

Parents can use expedited services which can cost an additional 60$ as they process it within three weeks or 8 to 10 business days.

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FAQs About How To Apply For A US Passport For Your Newborn Baby

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