Traveling with a baby sounds cute—until you hit passport paperwork.
Getting a passport for your baby isn’t some quick errand you can knock out after lunch. It’s more like a scavenger hunt involving tiny photos, legal forms, and government offices that still believe fax machines are cutting edge. But if you’re itching to show off your little one in Paris or just need to visit Grandma in Canada, that tiny blue book is non-negotiable.
You’re about to wade into a sea of requirements you didn’t know existed. It’s not hard, but it’s loaded with annoying little details that can trip you up. Knowing what you need ahead of time will save you from stress, extra trips to the passport office, or worse—missing your flight. So before you stuff that diaper bag with snacks and toys, make sure you know exactly what it takes to get your baby ready for international travel.
1. You can’t apply online no matter how convenient that sounds.
Even if you’re used to renewing your own passport with a few clicks, the rules change when you’ve got a baby in the picture. Infants and kids under 16 must apply for a passport in person, and both parents or legal guardians need to be there. This rule is strict, and it’s not negotiable—even for newborns, as stated by the writers Carneige Mellon University. The reason? It’s all about preventing child abduction and ensuring both parents give consent.
You’ll need to make an appointment at an approved passport acceptance facility, which could be your local post office or courthouse. Don’t assume you can just walk in and handle it last-minute. These appointments can fill up, especially during travel season, so it’s smart to schedule early. The whole in-person requirement might seem like a hassle, but once you realize how seriously they take child documentation, it makes a lot more sense. Bring snacks—your baby won’t care about the paperwork but might have strong opinions about the wait.
2. Your baby needs their own birth certificate—no exceptions.
A certified birth certificate is the foundation of the whole passport process. It proves your baby’s citizenship and your relationship to them, and it must be an original document with a raised seal or official stamp. A photocopy won’t cut it. If you haven’t already requested one from your state’s vital records office, do that first because without it, you’re stuck, according to Evie Carrick at Travel + Leisure.
You’ll need to present this birth certificate during the in-person appointment, and you must also include a photocopy to send with the application. Don’t forget to check the document for errors. Something as small as a misspelled name can derail the process and cause delays. And make sure you actually have the official version—hospital keepsakes with footprints are adorable but completely useless here. If your baby was born abroad, the documentation requirements will be different, and you’ll likely need a Consular Report of Birth Abroad instead.
3. Both parents must be present or provide notarized consent.
This rule is one of the most important—and one that can trip up families quickly. Unless one parent has sole custody, both parents or legal guardians need to appear in person with the child during the passport application appointment, as mentioned by experts at USA.gov. The government wants to be absolutely sure that both guardians are aware and agree to the child leaving the country. It’s a safety measure that doesn’t bend.
If one parent absolutely can’t be there, a notarized Form DS-3053 must be submitted with the application. This form gives permission for the other parent to apply alone and must be accompanied by a photocopy of the absent parent’s ID. It adds an extra layer of hassle, but it’s mandatory. If you’re co-parenting, divorced, or in any non-traditional setup, expect to show extra documentation to back it up. Missing this step means no passport—and possibly redoing the entire appointment.
4. The photo rules are stricter than you think.
You’d think getting a picture of a baby would be simple. It’s not. Passport photo requirements are surprisingly strict—even for newborns. The baby must be facing forward with eyes open, mouth closed, and no hands or props in the frame. That includes your hands, which can’t be holding them up. Getting that perfect shot might take a dozen tries and some serious patience.
You can’t just use a phone pic or snap one at home. It’s better to go to a place experienced in infant passport photos—some drugstores and professional photo centers know exactly what to do. The background has to be plain white, the lighting has to be even, and the image can’t be blurry. Even if the rest of your paperwork is perfect, a bad photo will get your application rejected. Save yourself the headache and let a pro handle it.
5. You’ll need proper ID for both parents—every single time.
It’s not enough to just bring your baby’s documents. Both parents need to show valid government-issued ID at the appointment, usually a driver’s license or passport. You’ll also need to bring a photocopy of each ID—front and back—on plain white paper. If your ID has recently changed or looks sketchy in any way, expect extra questions or even a delay.
If one parent doesn’t have acceptable ID, things get more complicated fast. You may need to show additional documents or obtain a new ID before moving forward. And if your name doesn’t match the baby’s birth certificate due to marriage, divorce, or anything else, bring legal documents to explain the discrepancy. The passport agency doesn’t play around with identity verification, especially when minors are involved.
6. There are special rules for babies born abroad.
If your baby was born outside the United States, things get a little more complicated. Instead of a birth certificate, you’ll need a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), which proves your child’s U.S. citizenship. This document is issued by the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where your baby was born and must be obtained before you can apply for a passport.
You’ll also need to bring your child’s foreign birth certificate, along with the CRBA, and show proof that at least one parent is a U.S. citizen. In some cases, you may need to show evidence of your physical presence in the U.S. prior to your child’s birth. It’s more paperwork and definitely more stress, but it’s essential for securing that passport. Start early, because international paperwork always takes longer than you think it should—and delays could throw off your travel plans completely.
7. You can’t use expedited shipping to skip the line.
Everyone hopes there’s a fast lane when it comes to government paperwork, but with baby passports, you’re still stuck in line like everyone else. While you can pay for expedited processing—usually cutting down the wait time to about two to three weeks—it still requires an in-person appointment and all the same documentation. Expedited shipping doesn’t mean you can bypass the rules.
Don’t confuse expedited with emergency services either. Emergency passports are only issued under very specific circumstances, like life-or-death emergencies or last-minute travel for critical reasons. You’ll need proof and probably a congressional blessing to get one that way. If you’ve got a trip coming up, apply as early as possible. Regular processing can take up to eight weeks, and delays happen. There’s no shortcut here—just good planning and a bit of patience.
8. Babies only get five-year passports, not ten.
Unlike adult passports that are valid for ten years, passports for children under 16 are only good for five. That means you’ll be repeating this whole process again sooner than you think. And there are no renewals for minors—you have to start from scratch with a new application, photo, and in-person visit every time.
Even if your baby doesn’t travel much, it’s smart to keep an eye on the expiration date. Some countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, so a passport nearing expiration might not work for international trips. It’s frustrating, but there’s no way around it. Just mark your calendar for a few years down the road and be ready to tackle the paperwork again when it’s time. Think of it as part of the parenting adventure.
9. You have to pay the same government fees as everyone else.
Babies don’t get a discount when it comes to passports. The current application fee for a child passport book is around $100, and you’ll likely have to pay an additional $35 execution fee at the acceptance facility. If you opt for expedited processing or overnight shipping, those costs stack up quickly.
Add in the cost of passport photos and any necessary document printing, and you’re looking at a surprisingly pricey outing for someone who still wears onesies. Budget accordingly so the fees don’t catch you off guard. It might feel a little absurd to pay adult prices for an infant who can’t even sit up straight, but the government doesn’t care how small your traveler is—they care about paperwork, payment, and policy.
10. Traveling soon? You’ll need proof of departure.
If you have an urgent trip planned, you’ll need to show proof to get an expedited appointment. This usually means flight tickets, hotel bookings, or other travel confirmations in your baby’s name. Without that, your application goes into the regular queue and could take weeks. So don’t wait until the last minute to start this process if you have travel on the horizon.
Make copies of everything and bring physical documents to your appointment. Digital confirmations on your phone aren’t always accepted. The passport agency wants proof in-hand before they move you to the fast lane. If your departure date is within two weeks, you might be eligible for an emergency passport appointment—but be prepared to jump through extra hoops. It’s not impossible, but it’s definitely not easy.
11. You should track the status like your trip depends on it—because it does.
Once you’ve submitted everything, your job isn’t over. You can track your baby’s passport status online using the State Department’s system. Updates might not appear for a few days after submission, but once they do, it’s worth checking regularly—especially if you’ve got a trip coming up. Mistakes happen, delays occur, and the sooner you catch a problem, the more time you have to fix it.
If weeks go by without updates, don’t hesitate to call the National Passport Information Center. Be polite, but persistent. This passport is the only thing standing between you and your travel plans, so keep tabs on it like it’s your boarding pass. Once it arrives, double-check everything for errors before celebrating—because a typo in your baby’s name means starting over again.