Minor Child Passport Application Requirements

Under the two parent consent law, as amended in 2008, and as implemented by the United States Department of State, both parents are required to consent to the passport application for a minor U.S. citizen under the age of 16. In the alternative, the applying parent must document his or her sole authority to obtain a passport by producing one of the following: (a) evidence of sole custody, (b) a court order allowing the parent to travel with the child, or (c) notarized written consent of the other parent or written statement explaining why the non-applying parent’s consent cannot be obtained. The minor child must appear in person when applying for the passport. This law in practice is designed to decrease the likelihood that a U.S. passport would be used to facilitate an international parental child abduction.