Guide · Health & Family
How to Get a US Passport for a Baby
Every child under 16 needs a passport of their own, and both parents almost always need to show up in person to get one. Here's the exact document list and what it costs.
Whether you're planning a first trip to see family in DR or just getting ahead of it, a US passport for a baby follows different rules than an adult one. There's no renewal option and no mailing it in — every application for a child under 16 happens in person, with both parents generally required to be part of it. The process is very document-heavy the first time around, but predictable once you know what to bring.
📝 Form DS-11, filed in person
You'll fill out Form DS-11 — use the online form filler at pptform.state.gov, then print it single-sided, but don't sign it until the acceptance agent tells you to. Submit it in person at a passport acceptance facility (many post offices, libraries, and county clerk offices) or, if you're traveling within about three weeks, at a passport agency by appointment. There's no online submission and no mail-in option for a first passport or any passport for a child under 16.
👨👩👧 Both parents, or documented consent
Both parents or legal guardians must generally appear in person with the baby, each showing a valid photo ID. If one parent can't attend, they need to complete a notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053) along with a copy of their ID — and that notarized form has to be submitted within 90 days of being signed. If you have sole legal custody, a birth certificate listing you as the only parent, a court order, or a death certificate can stand in for the other parent's consent instead.
📄 Documents, photo rules, and cost
Bring the baby's original US birth certificate (a photocopy alone isn't accepted — you need the original with the seal, plus a copy), both parents' photo IDs and photocopies of them, and one passport photo. For infant photos, the baby's eyes should ideally be open and no one else's hands or body should be visible in the shot — a plain white background with the baby lying on a white sheet is a common workaround. For a passport book only, expect $100 plus a $35 execution fee ($135 total); book and card together run $115 plus $35 ($150). Routine processing takes about 4 to 6 weeks; expedited service (2 to 3 weeks) adds $60. None of these fees come back if the application is denied.
Do this first: get the baby's original birth certificate in hand and use the official form filler at pptform.state.gov to prepare Form DS-11 before booking an appointment — a missing document is the most common reason a first visit gets turned away.
Official source: US Department of State, Apply for a Child's Passport Under 16 (travel.state.gov).
Sources
1. US Department of State, "Apply for a Child's Passport Under 16," travel.state.gov, accessed August 2026. 2. US Department of State, "Passport Fees," travel.state.gov, accessed August 2026.
Criollo News guides are practical explainers, not legal advice — every case is different, and program rules change. Confirm your situation with the State Department directly or an acceptance facility before your appointment.