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Throughout the years, advocates against child abduction and trafficking have increased. The important role of parents to apply for their childrens passport helps to reduce this problem and protect children. While maintaining the child’s safety is very important, it still means more conditions and several procedures in most cases. However, these can be minimized if one knows all the information required to apply for a US childrens pasport.

Application Process

Primarily, what you need to understand is that the child has to apply personally, along with a guardian or both parents. Renewal of passports through the mail is not applicable for minors. Children below the age of 16 whose passports have expired or are about to expire should apply for renewal by filling out the form and submitting it personally at the designated center.

Form DS-11

The form should be completed but it is signed only after the request of the agent. Form DS-11 is required to apply for a passport if you are U. S. A citizen. The complete but unsigned form must be presented to an agent at a passport accepting facility. Parental consent is also necessary for children under the age of 16. There is a different form for expedited US child passports.

Documentation

A proof of citizenship and a proof of relationship both are necessary if you are going to apply for your minor child. Provide an original or a verified copy of the child’s birth certificate as an evidence of citizenship. These copies can be acquired from the registrar’s office of the state where your child was born.

Proof of Relationship

Proof of the child’s relationship to you can also be evidenced from a birth certificate with the parents names stated on it or an adoption decree with the same information. A court order establishing custody or guardianship can also be used, especially in the case of a divorced parent having full legal custody of a child or of children.

Foreign Birth

In case your child was born abroad, you would have to provide a certified foreign birth certificate with the parents’ names and a translation if required. A document of certification of birth abroad may also be used. Minors under sixteen, apart from needing evidence of the relationship between them and parents, will also have to provide copies of their parents’ identification plus a photocopy of each parent/guardian document.

Parental Consent

Providing parental consent is also required. This means that the parents must show up with the child upon submission of the form to an agent. If one of the parents cannot come, there must be a statement from a notary presented to explain such absence. In case only one parent has been given custody of the child, he/she must provide the court order documents or a death certificate of the other parent.