Unlike adult passport applicants, children have special passport requirements that will have to be accomplished on top of the regular passport application process. According to the United States Department of State, children are those who are under the age of 18. Meanwhile, children 16 to -17 years old have different special requirements from those required of those under 16.

In this article, we will be talking about the special passport application requirements of children under age 16. Included in these requirements are newborns or infants. There are several of these requirements that we’ll discuss further below.

The first and the most basic requirement would be the completed DS-11 form. This is the form filled in by all first-time passport applicants, whether children or adults. You can download this form online and fill it on your computer, but you will have to submit this form along with the other requirements in person.

The Department of State also requires minor applicants submit a proof of their citizenship. To establish an applicant’s citizenship, there are certain documents that can be used. These documents are: the applicant’s latest passport, a certificate of naturalization, a certified birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship, or a consular report if the applicant was born abroad.

The parents or guardians of the child also must present required documents in this type of passport application. For one, you should present a proof of your relationship with the child. Aside from that, you will also need to provide an identification document, as well as a photocopy of this document.

And since we’re talking about minors applying for a passport here, a written parental consent will also be required to be submitted to the passport office. There are different procedures for this for parents, a single parent, and a guardian who stands in place of the parents. Check out which category you fall under so you’ll know the type of procedure you’ll have to follow.

The applicant will also have to submit two copies of color photographs. Photographs submitted for passport applications have stringent guidelines; so make sure that you are familiar with these guidelines even before having your photograph taken. Once you have accomplished all of these requirements, you can now submit your passport and pay the applicable fees. Check with your local passport office in order to see what fees you may be required to pay.

When it comes to knowing where to go for child's passport applications, this guide can’t be any clearer on what you need to do. You can also visit your local passport office for more details on how to do this. They will also assist you regarding the passport application.