How To Get Your Baby a Passport
As soon as my son was born, I knew that he needed a passport. We are a family that loves to travel, and given so much of our family lives internationally, it was important for us to have this important document for every family member. Even babies require a passport to cross international borders! Applying for a passport for a child under the age of 16 is not difficult, but it does require some additional steps that require planning. While I highly recommend checking the State Department’s website for the official info, here are some tips and tricks that I learned from the process.
Passport photos have specific requirements… even for babies!
Here is a list of all the photo requirements! I drove myself crazy trying to get a picture, get the correct dimensions, find a place to print it… and ultimately just gave up. I took my kid to the UPS store and they snapped a photo and had it printed in the amount of time it took me to google the requirements. Plus, the most common reason passport applications get rejected is because of the photo, so I was more comfortable leaving it up to the professionals!
Both parents need to be present at the passport agency/post office appointment
Yes, both parents need to be present! However, this isn’t always possible — and in ours, it wasn’t. Instead, we filled out a Statement of Consent that stated my husband understood I was applying for a passport for our son. It has to be notarized, so make sure you sign it in the presence of a notary. The easiest place you can find a notary is at your bank or credit union.
Which reminds me… yes, you need an appointment!
You need an appointment in order to apply for a child’s passport, so make sure you make one in advance. You can find a way to schedule one via the State Department website. Ours was at the local post office.
Allow ample amount of time for passport processing
I think it has gotten better, but give yourself plenty of time to get the passport. With the pandemic, processing times were extra slow (think 8-12 weeks). Save yourself the stress before a trip and give yourself plenty of time. There is also an option to expedite processing if needed!
Check all the requirements (multiple times) before your appointment!
There is a lot of paperwork that is required for a passport. Make sure that you bring all the documents needed, including proof of parental relationship. Truly, when it comes to getting this kind of stuff I bring more documents that you could possibly need. I would much rather stick an extra piece of paper in a folder rather than have to reschedule my appointment! Also… don’t forget the baby!
Good luck!