Travel and Leisure

Some Details You Should Understand About Baby Passports

International travel is a great way to show your kids the world first-hand. However, just like an adult, your child will need a passport. There are some topics about kids passport that receive many questions, and by knowing a little bit about these concepts, you can feel confident when you travel around the world with your children in tow.

Everyone from infants to seniors require a passport, and even the youngest child is no exception. For children under the age of 16, a passport is only valid for five years. However, once you get past this age, it becomes valid for ten years. Damaged passports need to be renewed as well. If you simply need more pages in your passport, a passport agency can add more without having to completely replace your passport.

As of February 2008, passport application require the consent of both parents or legal guardians for children under 16. This consent may only be requested if your child is between the ages of 16 and 18. If your child is under 18, he or she will need to be there in person in front of the AA, the acceptance agent. Both parents or legal guardians are required to show valid forms of ID to the acceptance agent in order to be allowed to apply for the child.

In order to successfully apply for your minor child, you will need to have proof of their US citizenship. This can be done with a previously issued passport that is not damaged, a naturalization certificate, a certified birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth, or a certificate of citizenship. With this done, you will then need to prove your relationship to the child. This can be done with a certified birth certificate with both parents’ names, an adoption decree, or a court order mandating guardianship or custody. A birth certificate can be from another country, as long as you have another source of proof for citizenship. The parents or guardians will then have to prove their identity. Previously issued passports, valid driver’s licenses, military or government employee ID, or naturalization certificates are acceptable forms of identification. After this is done and photocopies are made for the records, parents would then give their consent, pay for the passport, and submit two identical passport photos. This completes the process.

If you and your spouse happen to give birth to a child while overseas, and you both are American citizens, you will need to report the birth to the local US embassy or consulate. The Consular Report of Birth of a Citizen of the United States of America, simply a basic citizenship document, will be issued, meaning your child will be a valid United States citizen.

Tons of revolutionary new internet services make applying for new passports and replacing old passports much more convenient. With the ease of these services, you and your children can discover the world together. The world becomes more open, and opportunities present themselves in ways that are truly unique. Simply knowing how to get a child passports saves you time and trouble when you’re trying to prepare for a trip. Allowing your children to see the cultures and sites of the world first-hand is the sort of experience that isn’t easily forgotten. And all you need is your new passports.