obtaining passport for children under 14

All children, regardless of age, must travel on their own passports and cannot be included on a parent's passport. Please complete an Application for a U.S. Passport (Form DS-11) to apply for a first passport, renew (i.e. to replace an expired or soon to expire passport), or to replace a lost/stolen/damaged passport.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Recent changes to passport regulations:

• Effective July 2, 2001, both parents' consent must be submitted to the issuance of a passport to a minor. Effective November 1, 2004, the Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053) must be notarized.
  
  
• Effective March 26, 2004, children under age 14 must appear in person with the parent(s) when submitting their passport applications.

WHERE AND HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

The parent(s) and child must apply in person at the Consular Section of U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby.

If only one parent is available to sign the application in the presence of the consular officer, in addition to the required documents outlined under "Submit the following documents with your application", the parent who submits the child's application must provide one of the following:

• The absent parent's written consent to issue a passport to the child by completing a Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor under Age 14 (Form DS-3053). This form and a clear photocopy of the signing parent's valid identification (e.g. passport, driver's license) must be notarized by a notary public. Justice of the Peace or solicitors are not acceptable. The absent parent's consent must be unequivocal and must not state any time or geographical limitations or any other conditions. Please note that each passport case is adjudicated on its own merits and that a Consular Officer may request to see both parents and the child.
  
  
• Primary evidence of sole and exclusive authority granted to the parent submitting the child's application to apply for a passport for the child (e.g. court order).
  
  
• If applicable, an official death certificate of the absent parent.

COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT
(FORM DS-11):

The parents or legal guardian(s) must complete sections 1 to 22 on the application form in BLOCK letters and black ink. You must read the "ACTS OR CONDITIONS" on page 4 of this form before you proceed further. If any of the mentioned acts or conditions have been performed by or applied to the applicant, cross out ONLY the applicable portion(s) and submit a supplementary explanatory signed statement with the application.

Section 23:

DO NOT WRITE in these sections. The parents must sign this section in the presence of the Consular Officer.

SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION:

1. Evidence of child's U.S. citizenship (one of the following) :

(a) Most recently issued passport;

If the child has never been issued a passport or the most recent passport is unavailable:

(b) If the child was born in the U.S., a birth certificate (click here for U.S. Birth Certificate info). Hospital records are not acceptable.

If the child was born outside the U.S.:

• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240); OR
• Certification of Birth (Form DS-1350 or FS-545); OR
• Certificate of Naturalization; OR
• Certificate of Citizenship.

2. Evidence of parentage/ guardianship between child and parents or legal guardian/s
(one of the following):

• A full birth certificate that shows parents' details; 
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240);
• Adoption decree of an adopted child.

3. Valid identification of both parents or legal guardian(s):

For example: driver's license, passport.

NOTE: If the child's current passport was lost or stolen, also complete a Statement Regarding Lost Or Stolen Passport (Form DS-64)

4. Photographs

Refer to U.S. passport photograph specifications.

5. Passport fees

All fees are subject to change without notice (click here for the current fees).

6. Collection or return of your passport and documents

If you wish to have your passport returned by mail, submit a pre-paid self-addressed envelope. Otherwise, you must collect your passport in person at the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby.

PASSPORT VALIDITY

Minors (age 15 or below) - 5 years

CONDITIONS FOR DOWNLOADING PASSPORT APPLICATION FORMS:

The forms are Adobe Acrobat PDF format. To get Adobe Acrobat Reader, (click here)

Select the required forms by clicking on the form numbers below:

• Application for a U.S. Passport - Form DS-11
  (Click here to download DS-11)
• Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passports - Form DS-64
  (Click here to download DS-64)
• Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to Minor under Age 14 - Form DS-3053
  (Click here to download DS-3053)

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