Are you preparing for a family trip? Are you wondering whether your adorable baby needs a passport? Traveling with families makes good memories, but preparation before traveling can be a big undertaking. Read this guide and learn what you need to do, which can save you energy and time during preparation.
Do you need a passport for a baby?
The answer is–yes. No matter how young your baby is, it’s necessary to get a passport if you plan to travel to another country with it. By the way, you might also need a visa issued by the country of travel according to specific rules of different countries. Just check the rules of the country you want to visit.
There is no need for American citizens to have a passport if they decide to travel within the US. In most cases, children under 18 don’t need to show their passports. However, it’s a necessity to get a passport when crossing the international border or traveling abroad.
As for means of transportation, you don’t need to get your baby a passport if you plan to travel by bus or cruise ship. By the way, you need to get your baby a passport card if you decide to visit Canada or Mexico. However, traveling by air will be a different story. If you want to travel by plane, you need a standard passport book.
From birth, your baby will need a passport for any trip where you leave the UK. In Canada, your baby should have a valid Canadian child passport for all trips outside of the country. What’s more, Singapore and Australia also require babies to get their passports if they travel abroad.
How to get a passport for a baby
It isn’t a one-click process and it requires several steps. Follow the steps below and read it carefully. Then, it won’t be a difficult task for you and you can handle everything with this know-how and guidance.
Make an appointment
You have to locate a passport office or a post office that processes a minor’s passport in person because you can’t apply for the baby’s passport by mail. Before going to the passport office, you need to schedule an appointment on the appointment website. The process of applying for a baby’s passport is just the same as that for children under 16 years old.
Fill out the baby passport application form
You need to fill out form DS-11 and then submit it for application. You can get this form at the post office or you can print it out via the U.S. Department of State’s website. When you print out your application, don’t sign it just now, because you’ll have to do this in front of a passport acceptance agent.
Get a passport photo
Just as you had to when getting your passport, your baby also needs an approved passport photo that conforms to the requirements of a US passport. You can snap the passport photo at home by yourself or go to drug stores or pharmacies (such as CVS or Walgreens) to take the photo. If you decide to do it by yourself, please pay special attention to the specific guidelines on the U.S. Department of State’s website. All you need is a phone or a camera for snapping a photo, software for editing, high-quality photo paper, and a decent printer to print it. You can search for some guidelines on the Internet if you don’t know how to do it. However, many drug stores or pharmacies also offer the service of snapping photos. If you already have a digital photo, you can print it at a low cost. Just choose the way you like.
What Documentation Do I Need for My Baby’s Passport
Make sure what you need for the baby’s passport application and remember to take all of them to the passport office.
1. Completed, unsigned form DS-11
2. Birth certificate (it serves as both evidence of U.S. citizenship and evidence of relationship. What’s more, it must be an original or certified physical copy)
3. Parent’s ID (valid driver’s license)
4. Copy of each identification document
5. Two passport photos(The photo needs to be legible, on white 8.5” x 11” standard paper, printed with black and white ink, and single-sided. )
6. Payment for fees（$115 — $80 for the application fee and $35 for the acceptance fee. Expedited service costs an additional $60.
Both parents need to be present along with the child. If only one parent or guardian can attend in person, there is a form for the other absent parent to fill out and sign. There are other parental exceptions, so be sure you find out what documents are necessary for your situation if it will be just you obtaining the passport with your child.
Please pay special attention to the rules of the country that you are going to visit. As the saying goes, better be safe than sorry. Therefore, you will have a good trip if you know the requirements of that country.
How Long Does a Baby’s Passport Last?
Passports for children under 16 are only valid for 5 years because their appearance changes quite a lot as they grow up and develop.
It is recommended that you begin to apply for a baby’s passport at least six months before traveling. Otherwise, it may cause some delays and troubles.
How Long Does It Take to Get My Baby’s Passport?
In most cases, it takes 14 weeks from the day an application is submitted to the day a new passport is received. If you want an expedited service, you only need to wait for seven to nine weeks and pay an additional $60. By the way, you’d better make the appointment ahead of time, because you could barely get an appointment and the expedited passports might be longer than expected.
Summary
No matter it’s a baby or an adult, it’s a necessity to get a passport when traveling abroad. It’s not a one-click process, so you need to be patient to check the rules of the application and take the documentation you need. After that, you’ll have to prepare for a bit of a wait. When you get your baby’s passport, you’ll likely breathe a sigh of relief—and feel proud of accomplishing this major milestone. It’s time to pack those bags and set off on your journey.
Dolores Xiao