New US Passport Information
New U.S. Passport Requirement: All Minors Must Appear in Person

To enhance the accurate identification of passport applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking, the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs has begun requiring the personal appearance of all minors applying for U.S. passports.

This applies to all regular, official, and diplomatic passports for children under the age of 14, even if the child has previously been issued a passport. Prior to the introduction of this requirement, parents were not routinely required to bring a child under the age of 14 with them when they applied on the child's behalf. Now, when applying for a passport on behalf of a minor under the age of 14, parents are required to have their child present and submit documentation of parental relationship and consent, as well as comply with all other documentation requirements for the issuance of a passport.

The personal appearance requirement for all minors is a further step towards ensuring the integrity of the passport application process. This change will help to verify the identity of minor applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking.

For additional information about passport application requirements, please visit the Passport Information page at: http://travel.state.gov/specialreq.html or call the National Passport Information Center.

National Passport Information Center
Toll-free: 1-877-487-2778
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern Time
npic@state.gov