What's the passport requirement for children and infant? Both my wife and I have passport but not my children. Do I have to get a passport for each of my children?

Thanks,

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Most international travel requires a passport...even if it does not I strongly encourage it.

You need a picture & original birth certificate. The passport will be valid for 5 years.

Get them a passport. Even if not required for some countries (and I think it is required for almost any place but Canada perhaps) I would never risk it. Both of my kids had them before they turned one. Made for some interesting looks at Passport Control when they were five.

When our kids were little they had their own I.D. and their own travelers checks from the time they could write their names.

They would be assigned chores that were worth so much and thereby build up enough credit to purchase travelers checks. Then when we went to Disney World, they got to decide how to spend their own money. Sure made trips a lot easier not having to say yes or no to the, "Can I please have.........." pleas.

Both of my sons had passports as infants. It was always required for travel to Europe.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by DH:
What's the passport requirement for children and infant? Both my wife and I have passport but not my children. Do I have to get a passport for each of my children?

Thanks,

</font>


If you need a Passport for travel so do your children.

"Do I Need to Obtain a Separate Passport for My Baby?

Yes. All persons, including newborn infants, are required to obtain passports in their own names."


Getting Passport pictures for infants can be fun! (It is alright to hold them up in the air for the pictures.)

Sears does a great job for the passport photos and charge only 10 dollars!

When we went to Switzerland last year, we had passports for my kids (9 and 4) done. We also scanned the photo page on the passport, added my mobile phone and my mother's home phone (she didn't go). We then printed it out in a reduced form and used those 3M luggage tag laminating kits to make a tag that was attached to my kids in some way...either a backpack or belt loop. This way they had all the information they needed to show an adult or police officer how to contact us if they got lost.

My son had his passport from the time he was a couple of months old. You never know when you are going to have to take a sudden international trip!

We found that (purely by chance one day while shopping) that Costco was the best place to take infant passport photos. The cost was something like $7.50. What was great wasn't the price, but since Costco takes digital photos, we were able to take as many photos as necessary to get a legally acceptable one (and one that mom and dad liked too!). We found that lots of passport photo places still use that Polaroid instant cameras. If the photos do not turn out ok (baby crying, turning head, covering face with hands etc.), you are SOL and they will charge you for additional photos.

Maybe I have just been lucky, but I have never paid more than the flat fee for passport photos even though I had multiple shots done...

We are going to be travelling to England with our daughter, who will be 1 year old then. Do we need to get her a passport? Will a birth certificate do?

When are you required to get a passport to travel?

We are going to be travelling to England with our daughter, who will be 1 year old then. Do we need to get her a passport? Will a birth certificate do?

When are you required to get a passport to travel?

You have to get one as soon as they are born if you travel with your children. We had to get one for our daughter who will be 11 months when we travel. You will need to provide birth certificate and proof that you are parent/guardian. Both parents have to go to get the passport or you have to have a document from the parent who is not present that basically states they give you permission and are aware that you are getting a passport.

here is the link for the application and tells you what you need.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html

Just as a side note, it took us 4 weeks to get our daughters. We applied for it Sept 21 and got in about 2 weeks ago.

Emmasmum

Thanks, that is perfect.

My children have always had passports from infancy due to our traveling. It is also always a good idea to fingerprint them for safety. Just some advice I received from a long time experienced traveler.

My children have always had passports from infancy due to our traveling. It is also always a good idea to fingerprint them for safety. Just some advice I received from a long time experienced traveler.

The passport office where I applied for my son's passport suggested that we get a certain sort of stamp pad and put his finger prints on the signature line of his passport, both as additional ID for him (if we ever had to prove it really was him once he no longer looked like the infant photo) and to prevent its fradulent use. We did that, and most of the customs officials who've noticed it commented that they thought it was a good idea. (he was about 9 months when we got the passport and not yet able to sign it himself :cool: )

The passport office where I applied for my son's passport suggested that we get a certain sort of stamp pad and put his finger prints on the signature line of his passport, both as additional ID for him (if we ever had to prove it really was him once he no longer looked like the infant photo) and to prevent its fradulent use. We did that, and most of the customs officials who've noticed it commented that they thought it was a good idea. (he was about 9 months when we got the passport and not yet able to sign it himself :cool: )


Do you happen to remember that name of the stamp or where you were able to get it? That is a really great idea.

Do you happen to remember that name of the stamp or where you were able to get it? That is a really great idea.


Sorry, I don't remember the brand and I threw it out the last time we moved. The psot office passport desk told me what type to buy, maybe you could call one in your area? I know I bought it at a chain type stationery store, try asking for an indelible ink pad, one that shouldn't smear if it got wet.

What do you do if you need to obtain a passport for your child and he hasn't yet received his SSN?

Is that a requirement for minors?

We applied for it at the hospital when the baby was born 2 months ago and have not yet received it...

What do you do if you need to obtain a passport for your child and he hasn't yet received his SSN?

Is that a requirement for minors?

We applied for it at the hospital when the baby was born 2 months ago and have not yet received it...

I would imagine it would be a requirement, as it's the US Government's only way of verifying identity without the use of a birth certificate.

We received Baby Swede's SSN within three weeks of leaving the hospital. Perhaps a visit to your local Social Security office is in order?

As the actual birth certificate is definately required and a SSN card is not, the above post is non-sensical. Try calling the SSA, but it probably won't help. Just fill out on the PP form 000-00-0000, and if one day the IRS contacts you and asks you for it, supply it.

As the actual birth certificate is definately required and a SSN card is not, the above post is non-sensical. Try calling the SSA, but it probably won't help. Just fill out on the PP form 000-00-0000, and if one day the IRS contacts you and asks you for it, supply it.

The passport form does indeed ask for the number and not the card. However, while awaiting the arrival of the actual SSN, I may as well try the 000-00-0000 approach. The worst that can happen is they refuse the application until I can provide it.

You absolutely can do it that way. As I believe it states on the back of the form, the IRS "may" contact you to give the number, if you refuse, I believe it is a $500 fine.

We're travelling internationally with our 5-month old in January. Her passport came a while ago, but how does she sign it? What will the airport/security do with her if it is not signed?

When my son was an infant, I simply signed his name in my handwriting and put in parenthesis (signed by parent)

Never been questioned about it after many trips.

I also just signed my child's name and put signed by parent in parenthesis--never questioned in all our travels through Europe and Central America.

For my son's first passport, I bought an ink pad and put his finger prints on the signature line - since infant photos outdate so quickly, I wanted something that would be positive proof the passport was his if need be. A Canadian immigration officer once mentioned that she thought fingerprints were a good idea for babies, so I'm guessing it was a legal solution.

For U.S. passports, the State Department gives the following answer at http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/faq/faq_1741.html#ca63

My child is too young to sign his/her own passport. How do I sign my child's passport?

In the space provided for the signature, the mother or father must print the child's name and sign their own name. Then, in parenthesis by the parent's name, write the word (mother) or (father) so we know who signed for the child.

Just checked our 21 month olds. We never signed it and she made it safe and sound to England and back with no questions asked.

Ditto with our kids aged 4 and 1. We never signed their passports and they've been overseas many times. (the one year old has been overseas once).

My 3 year old son has 3 passport with three different standards>

Brazil: He was required to put his tumbprint instead of a siganture.
Uk: Instead of a signature it is printed "The holder is not required to sign"
Norway: Instead of a signature it is printed "Not able to sign"

In our case it is not the signature etc that is the problem, the problem is which passport to use when :rolleyes:

Jupeter

Uk: Instead of a signature it is printed "The holder is not required to sign"

IIRC, Ireland says the same on our son's passport.

He's travelled into a couple of countries that require landing cards to be completed and I've never signed on his behalf and never had any problems.

Thanks for all the info. I guess I will go with what the State dept. website says. I suppose I should have looked there first.

In Canada, infants' passports specifically state that a signature is not required.

FWIW - A Recent Infant U.S. Passport Experience

On October 1, 2008, we applied for our newborn's (5 weeks old) U.S. Passport at a U.S. Post Office in the Northern Virginia, U.S. area. The Post Office was a sleepy operation on the public side of what appeared to be a postal distribution hub (we're new to the area). LOTS of PO boxes but only a small service counter and passport application office. The P.O. staff kept the baby's birth cert with the application and assured my wife and I that it would be returned. They were pretty strict about the two parents being present rule. My wife had to run out to the car and the postal clerk waited until she returned to continue the process. Even though note required, postal clerk asked us for two ID's each.

We expected the worst throughout the entire process and expected everything from a rejected application, to unacceptable photos, to lengthy delays, to you-name-it-the-bureaucracy-is-a-mess hassles and issues.

At least our child kept eyes open at the photo shop (digital camera made it easy to get a good shot). High marks to Penn Camera in the D.C. Area. And, we had extra copies of the birth certificate.

Shockingly, on Friday October 10, 2008, I returned home and the mail contained both the baby's passport and, in separate postal envelope, the birth certificate.

Passport's issuance date was October 8, 2008.

Valid for five years (when the kid is 4, I have no doubt we'll get quizzical looks at passport control). Never thought they would let it be valid for the full five years. While State's web site says five years, it hinted at possibly lower. I thought someone might say two, three years for such a newborn infant. But, whatever.

Passport came via U.S.P.S. Priority Mail. Birth Cert came via regular mail. We did NOT pay for expedited service of any sort nor include anything for expedited shipment back. Moreover, our travel plans are several months off so we could not even say travel was imminent to get it rushed.

Strangely, on the same date the thing arrived (Oct. 10), I checked the status of the application online and came up with zero. Perhaps I mis-entered the baby's info.

So, FWIW, this could be a very simple, fast process. Less than 1 1/2 weeks from start to finish.

Or, not.

Now, on to his dual-citizenship country. The consulate here tells us 6 months for the citizen born abroad application, then wait another 6 months for the passport. So, check back in about 1 year for the status of that application.

Minor passports are valid for 5 years, no matter the age of the child. The only exception is the situation where the passport for is needed but the birth certificate isn't available (the child is a newborn baby and b/c hasn't been issued, child is being adopted but without finalized adoption decree the state won't re-issue a new b/c naming the new parents etc) in which case it is possible to get a "Limited Passport" which is valid for only one year. The procedures for this are spelled out in the Consular Affairs Manual.

BTW It turns out that Wal-Mart has an "ID/passport" photo setting on their self-serve Kodak photo printing systems. We used our own digital camera and took baby's photo (in infant carrier draped with a white sheet) and then printed the photos off the Kodak machine. Cost was the standard 29 cents for a 4x6 print which contained six 2x2 photos.

jsnydcsa - did you need your child's social security number/card to get the passport? I'm worried that waiting for the social security card to arrive before we apply for the passport will add a lot of time to the process.

jsnydcsa - did you need your child's social security number/card to get the passport? I'm worried that waiting for the social security card to arrive before we apply for the passport will add a lot of time to the process.

I wouldn't say we "need[ed]" the SS #. We had the number and the card and included the number on the passport application. The only infant related document the postal worker asked for was the infant's birth certificate. She did not "check" the SS# on the application against the infant's SS card. We had the card at the ready if she wanted to check it.

That said, the child was born in D.C. In my experience the D.C. government is far from the most efficient government operation I've encountered. At the hospital (in late August 2008) we completed a birth cert form at the hospital and the hospital submitted it to D.C. along with (I think it was a check box on the birth cert form) a request to forward the birth to SSA and request a SS#. Baby born late August, and actual physical SS card received middle- to late-Sept (which, in my opinion, impliedly meant the birth was recorded at D.C.'s birth registry). Not bad in my humble opinion for D.C. I walked over to D.C. birth registry and walked out in about 20 mins with a copy of my son's birth cert. (How quaint, the office still had a safe).

Thanks Jsnydcsa! I think we'll try it without the social security card.

jsnydcsa - did you need your child's social security number/card to get the passport? I'm worried that waiting for the social security card to arrive before we apply for the passport will add a lot of time to the process.


A social security number is a requirement to obtain a passport, even for an infant. Reading your other posts, I see you have not had your child yet. To expedite receiving your baby's SSN, be sure to apply for one when you also apply for the birth certificate while in the hospital. If you don't do it at that time, and apply later at a Social Security office, it can take up to 12 weeks to get the card.

jsnydcsa had a SSN for their child. You do not have to bring the original card, but you will need the number.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html

Yes, and as I said a long while ago one can write 000-00-0000 in that slot and MAY be contacted at some point (most likely 2-20 years later) by the IRS asking to supply the number. One could also make up almost ANY 9 digit number and then correct it later.

A social security number is a requirement to obtain a passport, even for an infant. Reading your other posts, I see you have not had your child yet. To expedite receiving your baby's SSN, be sure to apply for one when you also apply for the birth certificate while in the hospital. If you don't do it at that time, and apply later at a Social Security office, it can take up to 12 weeks to get the card.

jsnydcsa had a SSN for their child. You do not have to bring the original card, but you will need the number.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html

This is 100% incorrect information.
You do not need a SSN to get a passport.
If you have a SNN, you must put the number in on the form. If you have no SSN, than you should write 000-00-0000 in the space provided. Neither of my children have SSNs and both have passports.

All the relevent information ever needed on the subject was written here three years ago. Anyother information added this last week or so is just imparting the exact SAME information along with the EXACT same inaccuracies.