At the time our oldest daughter was born I was working for the airlines and we could fly pretty much anywhere for free. We knew having a newborn would dramatically change our travel dynamic but we had already resolved that this baby would be a traveler. We still wanted to see the world, we would just be bringing along our baby for the ride. So, one of the first things we did with her as a newborn was applying for a passport.
It seemed intimidating as new parents but getting a passport for a newborn isn’t difficult at all. After getting all of our four kids infant passports, and now renewing them one by one as they expire, we’re seasoned veterans in the kid passport area. Here are our tips for getting a baby a passport, taking a newborn passport photo, and all of the helpful information we’ve learned over the years.
Can babies travel without a passport?
If you’re wanting to fly outside of the United States, you’ll need a valid US passport for your baby. If you’re crossing the border into Canada or Mexico by foot or by car, you can get by without a passport as long as you have proper documentation.
How long does it take to get a baby passport?
From the date of application, it takes 6-8 weeks to receive a passport for a newborn, or 2-3 weeks if you’ve paid to have it expedited.
How to Get a Passport for a Newborn
Assuming you already have the baby, you can’t actually apply before the baby is born, here are the steps to apply for a passport for a newborn.
1. Have Your Baby
Before your baby is delivered you officially have a birth certificate you can’t actually apply for their passport. So, you’ll need to wait until your bundle of joy arrives. However, you can start researching about passports or get a jump start on the paperwork if you’d like.
2. Get a Birth Certificate
Make sure when your baby arrives to get an original or CERTIFIED copy of the birth certificate as soon as you can. This is the one that is official and is usually multi-colored with a government seal. You’ll need this birth certificate later in the process.
3. Fill Out the Official Forms
A US Department of State DS-11 form is the official application for a US Passport, both for children and adults. You can get the form online directly from the US State Department. Once you’ve downloaded it, fill it out completely except for the final signatures, even the questions that don’t seem applicable for a newborn just mark those fields N/A. Make sure when you print it out that you don’t print it two-sided. They won’t accept it.
4. Take Newborn Passport Photos
Even an infant needs a traditional passport photo. But how do you take a newborn passport photo? They’re not able to sit to smile on command or look at the camera. These tips will save you when you’re taking your infant passport pic.
Newborn Passport Photo Tips
Avoid In-store Photos– I’ve never had a good experience getting quick passport photos taken by anyone else but myself. Most drugstores and photo printing places shoot their photos on outdated equipment with inexperienced photographers. Mix in a trip to the store with an unpredictable infant and it could easily be a disaster. From my experience, you’ll take a better passport selfie yourself.
Get a Passport Photo App – The specifics on passport photos are a bit crazy The size and exactly where the head and chin should be in the photo are a lot to keep track of, but there is a simple way to make sure you don’t mess up. Get a passport photo app. There are a bunch of free smartphone apps that make taking a passport super simple. They have built-in guides to make sure your photo is the right size and your head and face are in the correct position. When you’ve got the right shot you can export your photo all ready to print at your local drugstore or photoshop.
Use a Sheet or Car Seat to Help – The hardest part of getting a passport photo for an infant is getting them in the right position and on a white background without you being in the shot yourself. I’ve seen this done successfully three different ways.
- Cover yourself in a white sheet or blanket Halloween ghost style and hold the baby for the photo.
- Lay a white sheet on the ground and lay the baby on it face up. Take the photo from above and you’ve got it. Just be careful that you’re not casting a shadow on the baby. If there are weird shadows, it will be sent back.
- Use a car seat. Yes, the car seat that you already have. Place a white sheet over the car seat and put the baby in to create a perfectly white background.
Make Sure Baby’s Eyes are Open – Whatever way you decide to get the perfect passport shot, make sure the baby’s eyes are open in the final shot. I’ve read that sometimes you can get away with partially open eyes with a newborn, but I’d rather be safe than have to start the application process over to take new photos.
5. Gather All of Your Other Documents
Now you’ll need to gather some more documents to prove citizenship of the child and your custodial rights to the infant.
Most US-born babies will need these items to get a US passport:
- A Certified Birth Certificate
- Completed, Unsigned DS-11 Form
- Passport Photos
- Parent’s IDs with Photo Copies
If you can’t have both parent’s present or full custody of the child, or have other circumstances, the requirements may be different and you might need additional forms. Again, check the State Department’s website for what you’ll need to do.
6. Go In-Person to File the Application
Any child under 16 years old needs to apply in person at a passport agency or authorized location, (think county clerks, post offices, etc). Be sure that both parents attend with the proper forms.
If you decide to go to a passport agency office, you’re required to make an appointment but many of the local post offices and courthouses don’t take appointments and are first come first served. If you show up to one of these locations you’ll probably find yourself waiting in line.
Appointment or not, the application process may take a while to complete. Since you’re bringing along a newborn it is super helpful to make sure your baby is fed, napped, and changed.
7. Pay the Fees
At the time of application be ready to pay for the passport. A passport for a newborn will cost you $80 for the passport and $35 for a processing fee. Make sure to bring two checks for these fees, because they need to be paid separately.
You can also get a passport card for an additional $15 or expedite your order for $60.
8. Travel with Your Newborn
Your new passport should arrive in the mail within 6-8 weeks, or 2-3 weeks if you’ve paid to have it expedited. Your birth certificate will also be returned and should arrive in a separate envelope around the same time. Now that you have your newborn’s passport you’re all set to travel internationally for 5 years before it expires.
Other Helpful Newborn Passport Tips
If you have other kids or members of the family with passports, it is handy to get them on the same renewal schedule so you don’t have to visit the passport office to regularly.
It is cheaper to get a passport for a baby than it is an adult, but you won’t save much. Plus, if you’re under 16 your passport is only good for 5 years, so you’ll have to renew it much sooner than an adult would.
Well, now that you have a passport for your newborn where will you be traveling? Our oldest baby’s first international trip was a flight to Vancouver, Canada to catch an Alaskan Cruise. Check out tips for cruising with a baby in this post.
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