How do I get a passport for a baby?
By Tom Jones
Editor-in-Chief, PassportOfficesLast reviewed Editorial policy
Short answer
How do I get a passport for a baby?
Babies and children under 16 apply in person with Form DS-11 at a passport acceptance facility. Both parents or legal guardians must consent — usually by appearing together with the child. You need the child's U.S. birth certificate, a compliant passport photo, and payment. Child passports are valid for 5 years and cannot be renewed by mail.
Open the Child passport guide
Actionable steps, requirements, and tools to move forward.
Key takeaways
- There is no minimum age — even a newborn needs their own passport to fly internationally.
- Apply in person with Form DS-11; do not sign it until the acceptance agent instructs you.
- Both parents or guardians must consent, usually by appearing in person with the child.
- Bring the child's certified U.S. birth certificate, one compliant photo, and payment.
- A child passport book costs $100 plus the $35 execution fee and is valid for 5 years.
Full answer
Every U.S. citizen needs their own passport to fly internationally, no matter how young. You cannot add a baby to a parent's passport. Because child applications always use Form DS-11, they must be submitted in person at an acceptance facility — there is no mail-in or online option for minors under 16.
Consent is the part that trips up most families. The standard path is for both parents or legal guardians to appear with the child. If one parent cannot attend, that parent can provide a notarized Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent) with a copy of their ID. Sole-custody and other special situations have their own documentation rules.
For documents, bring the child's certified U.S. birth certificate (which proves both citizenship and the parental relationship), proof of identity for the parents, one passport photo of the baby, and payment. The birth certificate must list both parents' names to establish the relationship.
Infant photos follow the same rules as adult photos with one accommodation: the baby does not need to look directly at the camera with a fully neutral expression, though it is strongly preferred. Lay the baby on a plain white sheet or use a covered car seat so no one holding the child appears in the frame — or use our free photo tool to format the shot.