The passport requirements are virtually all the same with the exception of children under 16 years of age. In order to obtain traveling papers, a person must have the documentation available and be able to produce it when applying. With the addition of strict rules and regulations for overseas travel, it is important to have proper credentials.

Birth Certificate

A US birth certificate is the most important piece of documentation required for this process. If the certificate is not available, previously issued,undamaged passports are also accepted. If the person is not born in the US, an original certificate of citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization issued from the department of Immigration can be used.

Letter Of Record

Should a person not have access to any previously used passports or their birth certificate, they can obtain a letter of record. The letter is issued by the state where the individual resides in and needs to be filled out completely. Along with the letter, information such as baptismal records, school records and any additional public recordings will be required.

DS-10 Form

It is important to gather documentation from the first five years of childhood to help prove citizenship. The documents must state the place of birth along with the date of the birth in order to provide adequate proof. If a person cannot produce any of this documentation, they can have an older relative with knowledge of the birth fill out a DS-10 form and have it notarized prior to submitting it.

If Born Outside US

When the individual is born outside the United States to one parent with US citizenship, additional documentation will be required. The documentation includes a form supplied by a hospital in the state where the individual resides. The form will contain the name along with the birth date and what years were added to the search parameters when attempting to find a birth certificate.

Along with the form, the parent must submit an affidavit that contains the locations they lived both in the US and abroad before the birth. A foreign birth certificate will need to be supplied at that time as well to prove the birth of the child. In the case of both parents being US citizens and living abroad when the baby is born, a foreign birth certificate and a marriage certificate are required in addition to the affidavit of residence.

Adopted Children

When it comes to an adopted child that has not yet reached the age of 18, the guardian or parent will need to accompany them. All parties must be US citizens in order to proceed with obtaining their cards and the parent/guardian must have full custody of the child. All adoption proceedings must be final as well or the process will not be completed.

The U S passport requirements are set in place for a reason and that is to protect citizens of the United States. Travelling around the world in modern times has become a lot more dangerous than it was in previous years. So if a person is going to travel, making sure to keep money and documentation in a super secure area at all times is the best practice. Make sure your American passport application is filled out on time, as well.