Do you know what documents you need when traveling with your little one? When traveling domestically, whether your child is a lap child or has their own seat, always bring a copy of their birth certificate. Sometimes I’ve been asked for it and other times not – even with the same airline. I think it’s all about who you get when checking in at the counter. Never travel without your child’s birth certificate! Another thing I never travel without, Jacob’s insurance card.
Traveling internationally, regardless of age, you absolutely need a passport. Remember passports for children 16 and younger are only valid for 5 years, so make sure to stay on top of renewals. You also want to give yourself enough time to get the passport which can take anywhere between 4-6 weeks. There are expedited processing times but you’ll need to find out those processing times and fees as they can vary. Also, please keep in mind when reading this that the steps I listed below are to get a passport for a child whose parents are still married and both listed on the birth certificate. The passport application form DS-11 is the same for all children, but please make sure to read the forms carefully if you are divorced, an adopted parent or foster parent, etc., for any additional forms or requirements.
First, you’ll need to make sure to get a good passport photo. You can take them at home but make sure the picture matches the passport photo guidelines. I prefer getting them taken at Costco (the cheapest) or somewhere else that offers passport photos since they have a computer system that makes sure the photos are within the specific government guidelines. For a baby, the easiest way to take a photo – I found this out through trial and error (see the before and after passport photos of Jacob) – is to lay your baby down on a piece of white poster board and take the picture from above. Who would have thought?! You should have seen us at Walmart on our first passport photo attempt trying to hold Jacob’s head up without being in the photo. Nearly, impossible. Not only was there a hand in the photo but the dimensions of the picture were completely off. The photos were rejected but it did make for a good learning lesson and a funny meme.
Second, you’ll need to fill out the U.S. Passport Application (form DS-11) for a minor. Both parents must be present in order to get the passport, unless one parent fills out this Statement of Consent (form DS-3053). The consent must be signed in front of a notary and must be submitted along with a proper government ID which you’ll find listed in the instructions on form DS-11. Also, please, please make sure you read the instructions on all of the forms. If you are like me, you just skip to the sections and start filling them out, and then lo and behold the application gets rejected because you used blue ink when it specifically said black ink only. So yeah, don’t be like me, pay attention and read everything first!
Next, both parents, or one (with an affidavit) will need to bring the child to the nearest passport processing center to complete the process along with the following documents:
- U.S. Passport Application (form DS-11)
- Proof of Citizenship
- Proof of Identity
- Passport Photo
- Fees
- Statement of Consent (form DS-3053), if applicable, along with a copy of government ID of parent
So now that you have a passport, what else do you need for international travel? Well, I still always keep a copy of Jacob’s birth certificate on me, in case of an emergency, AND make sure to check that the country you are visiting doesn’t require additional travel documents. For example, most of Asia requres U.S. citizens to have a travel Visa and in 2021 most of Europe will start requiring the same…. so always make sure to check the country’s travel policy as well.