Passport for a child
A child under 16 cannot renew a passport. Every application is in person, with Form DS-11, at an acceptance facility. A passport issued under 16 is valid for 5 years.
Full application steps for any first passport
Who this covers
Use this page for a child under 16. Ages 16 and 17 also apply in person with Form DS-11, and they pay the age 16 and older fees.
If the child’s most recent passport was issued when they were under 16, they cannot renew it, even if it has not expired. Apply in person.
Parents at the appointment
Both parents or guardians usually must appear with a child under 16. If one cannot, ask about Form DS-3053 and the other exceptions before you book. Details are on the passport forms page.
Bring proof of the child’s citizenship (an original or certified birth certificate, a previous full-validity passport, or another State Department citizenship record), a photo ID for each parent who appears, and photocopies of those documents.
The photo is one color print, 2×2 inches, taken in the last six months, on a plain white or off-white background, with no glasses.
Fees
You pay the application fee to the Department of State and a separate $35 acceptance fee to the facility. Confirm the current amounts on the passport fees page.
| Document | Application fee | Acceptance fee |
|---|---|---|
| Passport book | $100 | $35 |
| Passport card | $15 | $35 |
| Book and card | $115 | $35 |
A passport card is not valid for international air travel. Expedited service adds $60. Optional 1–3 day return of a passport book was $22.05 on the 2026 fee chart.
Where to apply
Search this map for a city, address, or ZIP, or browse acceptance facilities by state. Post offices book first-time and child visits on the USPS scheduler. Libraries, courts, and other offices use their own appointment systems.
Routine processing is 4–6 weeks after the application arrives, and expedited processing is 2–3 weeks. Mailing can add up to two weeks each way. A trip within 14 days is an agency appointment, not a visit to the facilities on this map.
Find an acceptance facility on the map
Browse acceptance facilities by state
Passport near a city
Each city page lists the acceptance facilities in that city. Open one to see where to apply in person.
Passport near Brooklyn, NY Passport near Chicago, IL Passport near Houston, TX Passport near New York, NY Passport near Baltimore, MD Passport near Los Angeles, CA Passport near San Antonio, TX Passport near Las Vegas, NV Passport near Cincinnati, OH Passport near St Louis, MO Passport near Rochester, NY Passport near Washington, DC Passport near Columbus, OH Passport near Miami, FL Passport near Milwaukee, WI Passport near Syracuse, NY Passport near Austin, TX Passport near Cleveland, OH
Questions
Can I renew my child’s passport?
No. A passport issued when the holder was under 16 cannot be renewed. Apply in person with Form DS-11 at an acceptance facility.
Do both parents have to go?
Usually yes, for a child under 16. If one parent or guardian cannot appear, ask about Form DS-3053 and the other exceptions before you book.
How much is a child’s passport book?
A passport book for a child under 16 is $100 to the Department of State plus a $35 acceptance fee paid to the facility. A book and card together are $115 plus $35. Confirm the current fee chart before you apply.
PassportMap is not the U.S. Department of State. Fees, forms, and processing times change. Confirm them on travel.state.gov before you apply or mail a renewal. Figures on this page were checked in September 2026.