Tips On Applying For A Passport For Minors On The Internet

Summer vacation is the time of year where families look to go somewhere special and create lasting memories. Many families will choose to vacation outside the U.S. and in order for this to happen, all family members must have a passport in hand and this includes the children. A passport for minors can be obtained but will require some forethought and planning well before the trip is scheduled to take place. 

All of the children within the family, no matter their age, must have their own passport and this even includes the infants. The application process must be completed in person with both of the parents or guardians present. This is a requirement for any minor 16 years of age or younger, without exception. The parents or guardians must show proof of their relationship to the minor along with providing a copy of their own identification to submit with the minor’s application.

There are a wide variety of locations that take in-person application for minor passports and they are a Passport Acceptance Facility, a U.S. Regional Passport Office or any U.S. Embassy or Consulate office. The child will need some form of photo identification if they possess it and if not the parent or guardian will be required to provide theirs in person. It is a good idea when applying in person to have photocopies of any identification and a written parental consent form on hand.

As with everything else in life, there is a fee that accompanies the application but the good news is that the minor’s fee is normally lower than an adult fee when applying for a passport. The fee includes a passport charge and a processing charge that will be needed at the time of application. There are different accepted methods of payment at each location and the correct one may be determined once there.

Should the trip be coming sooner than the standard 4 to 6-week wait time, there is available an expedited service for an extra fee that can get the passport returned in 2 to 3 weeks time. There are, however, other options in the form of an online service provider than can expedite a passport in as little as one to two business days, should the need arise. This of course, comes at an additional fee above and beyond what is needed to pay the government.

There is one other item of identification that will need to be provided when applying in person and that is two identical color photos. The photos need to meet the government’s requirements for passport photos and should be done professionally. Vending machine photos are not acceptable but there are options such as local photographers that can do this for a small charge.

Passport renewals for minors fall into two categories, one is if they are still under 16 and the other is if they are over 16 but the passport was issued while they were under the age limit. If the minor is still under 16 when the renewal comes due, they must appear again in person to affect the renewal. Should the minor have passed the age of 16 when the renewal comes up,

they are eligible to complete the process by mail. They will be required to fill out the renewal application, return the old passport, pay the fee and again, provide two new pictures in either case.

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