New U.S. Passport Requirements for Children Under 14
The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs has just announced new passport application requirements for children under the age of 14. To enhance the accurate identification of passport applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking, the Bureau of Consular Affairs has begun requiring the personal appearance of all minors applying for U.S. passports.
This new rule applies to all regular, official and diplomatic passports for children under the age of 14, even if the child has previously been issued a passport. Prior to the introduction of this new requirement, parents were not routinely required to bring a child under the age of 14 with them when they applied on the child's behalf. Now, when applying for a passport on behalf of a minor under the age of 14, parents are required to have their child present and submit documentation of the parental relationship and consent, as well as comply with all other documentation requirements for the issuance of a passport.
According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, this new personal appearance requirement for all minors is a further step toward ensuring the integrity of the passport application process. This change is designed to help verify the identity of minor applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking.
For additional information about passport application requirements, please visit the Passport Services page or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778.
