Because of incidents where children were abducted by a parent and taken overseas, the laws regarding obtaining a child passports are quite strict. The law reads that an adult acting on a child’s behalf, comply with all applicable requirements. While an adult’s passport is good for ten years, a minor’s passport is only valid for five years. A child (minor) is defined as an unmarried person under the age of eighteen.
A child must be present and accompanied by a parent or parents when applying for this document. An authorized person can also accompany them if the parents are not present. This person must provide proof that she or he is legally certified to be their representative. The application must be made to an acceptance agent. The acceptance agents are the post office, the municipal clerk, or county clerk’s office. All children, from birth, must have a passport if traveling out of the country.
Sometimes people are employed overseas or are vacationing when a child is born. That child cannot stay in that country nor return to the United States with their parents without a passport. In such a case, the parents have to apply at a US Embassy or Consulate to put in an application for the document. The basic requirements are the same, including the parents’ identification as citizens.
Because of some well publicized instances of child abduction by unauthorized parents, a law was passed in 2001 called the two-parent consent law. Under this law, both parents or guardians must sign for a child to receive this document. They both must present proof that they are the actual parents. Under some circumstances, there are other arrangements.
If one parent is applying, they have to present applicable evidence to show that they have legal rights to apply for the passport on the part of the child. There are a number of exceptions to the law that can be applied. At the time of application, the child’s birth certificate must be shown, as well as photo identification of the parent.
Children under the ages of 16 and 17 must be present to apply for a passport; they cannot apply over the Internet. They must be accompanied by one or both parents and the same two-parent law is enacted. If they are adopted, the adoptive parents must bring proof of guardianship. Guardians such as grandparents are allowed to sign, but only if they have the papers to prove it.
When there is a custody dispute, or at the request of one of the parents, a state court may take possession of a child’s passport in order to be sure they are not removed from the country. A parent has the right to request the child’s name be put on an alert list. This means that the parent would be informed if an application for the passport were filed. If the complaining parent had sole custody, the passport would be denied.
The acceptance agents require certain documents to be presented at the time of the child passports application is made. They include the child’s original or certified birth certificate or naturalization papers, the parents’ identification, two pictures taken by the passport applications photographer and proof of the parents or legal guardian’s relationship.
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