Passports

Issuance of a Passport to a Minor under age 16

Parents of American citizen children are reminded that U.S. law now requires that both parents consent to the issuance of a passport for a child under the age of 16, or that the applying parent has sole authority to obtain the passport.

Both parents together with their child/children under 16 years old should appear in person at the consulate with their application.   The Department has amended the two-parent passport consent rule in order to deter fraud and child abduction. The amendment requires that if one parent cannot appear when the application is submitted, then a statement of consent from the non-applying parent is required and must be notarized.

If one parent does not appear and the applying parent does not have a document to show his/her authority to apply alone and cannot demonstrate exigent/special family circumstances, then the application will not be accepted until a notarized statement of consent is received from the non-appearing parent.