Newborn Passport and Traveling Tips

Time to meet the extended family around the world? If you want to travel outside the United States with your baby, your newest family member needs a valid U.S. passport. Here are some common questions about passports for children.

Does my newborn need a US passport to travel to all countries outside the United States.
The short answer to that question is: yes.

All children, no matter what their age under 15-years-old needs a child’s passport. We have made the process for getting kid’s passports streamlined.

Steps to Getting a Child’s Passport
Forms and Documentation You Will Need
Go to the State Department and fill out the DS-11 form online – do not sign.  Print two copies of the DS-11.
One is for Texas Tower and one is for the envelope the passport deputy is going to execute and seal for you.

Get two passport quality photos taken. If you have a local Walgreens, Kinko’s, or CVS – all of these facilities are familiar with taking passport photos.

You will need an original, certified birth certificate for the child.

A check payable to the Department of State for $140.

Next, you will need to provide a clear copy of the mother’s and father’s state-issued identification. If either parent cannot be present at the time of execution of the documents,  then a notarized Form DS-3053 is needed.

Now you need to provide proof of departure for the child. This is easiest to do in this format:

A. Copy of airline tickets
B. Company letter of expedite. (Sample Below)
C. Travel itinerary Sample Letter

Then you need to print two copies of the Texas Tower Authorization form. This gives us permission to expedite the passport process for you. One copy will go in the envelope to be sealed by the passport deputy. The other will go on the outside with the DS-11 copy you made for Texas Tower.

These are all the documents you should need to obtain your child’s passport.You will need to make an appointment with your local post office to have a passport deputy witness your signing of the DS-11 form, and seal your envelope with your documents for the passport office. If you are unsure where the nearest office is to your location, just go to You can find a complete list of local agencies at http://iafdb.travel.state.gov and you can find the most current list. The passport deputy will charge a fee of $25 for the execution of your documents.

Once the envelope is sealed by the passport deputy, do not open it again.
Ask for the envelope back and attach the copies of the forms you made for Texas Tower along with the authorization form to the outside of the envelope.  To see the current list of fees, please go here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Then simply mail or overnight to Texas Tower and your passport for your child will be expedited.