Let’s be real for a second. Trying to figure out how do I get my son a passport usually starts with a sense of adventure and ends with you staring at a 14-page government PDF wondering if you actually need both parents' middle names written in cursive. It’s a lot.
The stakes are high because the Department of State doesn't play around with minor applications. If you mess up one tiny box or the photo has a shadow behind his left ear, they’ll send your application back in six weeks with a cold, photocopied rejection letter. You’ll be out the execution fee, and your vacation to Tulum will be looking real shaky.
Passports for kids aren't like adult renewals. You can't just mail them in. You have to show up, in person, with the child, and usually with the other parent. It's basically a legal summit held in a cramped post office or a county clerk's basement.
The Absolute Essentials You Can't Forget
Before you even think about booking an appointment, you need the DS-11 form. Don't sign it. Seriously. If you sign that paper before the agent tells you to, you’ve just wasted a piece of paper and ten minutes of your life. The agent has to witness the signature. It’s a whole "swearing under oath" thing that feels way more dramatic than it needs to be for a toddler who still eats crayons.
👉 See also: How Far Is the Distance to Santa Claus North Pole? What Your GPS Won't Tell You
You’re going to need original documents. Not copies. Originals. You need your son’s long-form birth certificate. This is the one that lists the parents' names. If you only have the short "abstract" version, the State Department might flag it.
Why the Birth Certificate Matters More Than You Think
It’s not just about proving he’s a citizen. It’s about proving you are the parents. This is where people get stuck. If you've changed your name since he was born—maybe through marriage or divorce—and your current ID doesn't match the birth certificate, you need the bridge. That means bringing the marriage certificate or the court order for the name change.
Evidence of citizenship usually looks like:
- An undamaged U.S. passport (even if it’s expired, it works).
- A certified U.S. birth certificate.
- A Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
Wait, check the birth certificate again. Does it have a raised seal? Is it issued by the city, county, or state? If it’s the "souvenir" one from the hospital with the cute little footprints, leave it at home. It’s useless for a passport application.
The Two-Parent Rule (And How to Break It)
This is the biggest hurdle for most families. The law (specifically the Two-Parent Consent Law) requires both parents to appear in person with the child. The government is terrified of international parental child abduction, so they want to see both of you standing there.
But life happens.
If the other parent can't make it because of work, or they live in a different state, they have to fill out Form DS-3053. It’s a Statement of Consent. They have to sign it in front of a notary. Then, you have to bring that original notarized paper and a photocopy of the front and back of the ID they showed the notary.
What if the other parent is out of the picture?
If you have "sole legal custody," you have to prove it. A court order that specifically says you have sole legal custody is your golden ticket. If the other parent is deceased, you need the death certificate. If there is no second parent listed on the birth certificate at all, then you’re good to go solo.
There’s also Form DS-5525 for "special family circumstances." This is for when you genuinely cannot locate the other parent. Be warned: the State Department is incredibly skeptical here. You’ll need to provide evidence of why you can't find them, like police reports or documentation of restraining orders. "He won't answer my texts" isn't going to cut it.
The Nightmare That Is the Passport Photo
Taking a photo of a child is like trying to photograph a caffeinated squirrel. For a passport, they need to be facing forward. Eyes open. Neutral expression (or at least a "natural" smile). No glasses. No hats. No pacifiers.
If your son is an infant, the best trick is to lay them on a plain white sheet on the floor. Take the photo from above. Just make sure there are no shadows on their face. If they’re a bit older, tell them they are a secret agent. Sometimes that helps them sit still for the three seconds required.
📖 Related: Finding Your Way: The Map of Florida with Melbourne Explained
Most people just pay the $15 at Walgreens or the Post Office to have them take it. Honestly? It's worth the money just to avoid the stress of having your DIY photo rejected because the "lighting was uneven."
Money, Timing, and the Waiting Game
You’re going to pay two separate fees. This confuses everyone.
- The Application Fee: This goes to the U.S. Department of State. For a minor, it’s usually $100.
- The Execution Fee: This goes to the facility (like the Post Office). It’s $35.
Check the payment methods for your specific location. Most acceptance facilities take credit cards for the $35 fee, but the $100 fee to the State Department usually has to be a check or a money order. Yes, a paper check. In 2026. It feels archaic, but if you show up without a checkbook or a money order, you aren't getting that passport.
How long will it take?
Routine processing is currently hovering around 6 to 8 weeks, but that fluctuates wildly. Expedited service (an extra $60) usually cuts that down to 2 or 3 weeks. If you have a life-or-death emergency or travel within 14 days, you can try to snag an appointment at a Regional Passport Agency, but those are harder to get than Taylor Swift tickets.
Common Mistakes That Delay Everything
I've seen people get held up because they used blue ink. Use black ink. Only black ink. If you use a sparkly gel pen or a blue ballpoint, they might make you rewrite the whole thing.
Another weird one: Social Security numbers. You must provide your son's SSN. If you don't have it or he was never issued one, you have to provide a signed declaration under penalty of perjury that he doesn't have one.
Don't forget the photocopies. You need the original birth certificate AND a black-and-white photocopy of it. You need your ID AND a photocopy of it (front and back). If you walk up to the window without copies, the clerk will either charge you $1 per page or send you to the library down the street.
Actionable Next Steps to Get It Done
Stop overthinking it and just start the momentum.
✨ Don't miss: Weather San Jose California: Why It’s Not Just "Always Sunny"
- Order a certified birth certificate today if you don't have the "long form" with the raised seal. It can take weeks to get this from the Vital Records office.
- Book the appointment now. Post office slots fill up months in advance in major cities. Check smaller towns nearby if your local office is booked solid.
- Buy a money order. If you don't use checks, go to a grocery store or the post office and get a money order for the exact amount ($100 for a child's book).
- Check the expiration of your own ID. You can't vouch for your son if your driver's license expired last month.
A child's passport is only valid for five years. Unlike adult passports which last ten, these expire fast. Keep an eye on that date, because once it expires, you have to do this whole "in-person" dance all over again. There is no such thing as a "mail-in renewal" for a minor.
Make sure you have a sturdy envelope to keep all these documents together. When you walk into that appointment, you want to be the parent who has everything organized. It makes the agent's life easier, and it gets you out of there faster.
Once the application is submitted, you can track the status online at the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. It usually takes about two weeks for the system to even acknowledge they have your application. Don't panic when it says "Not Found" for the first 10 days. That's just the bureaucracy warming up.
Double-check your mailing address on the form. If it's wrong, your son's passport is going on a very different vacation than the one you planned.