International travel already requires more planning than domestic travel, but things get more complicated when you add kids and their passports to the mix.
“How to apply for a passport for a child” ought “Basically, it can be easy,” said David Alwadish, founder and CEO of passport and visa concierge service ItsEasy.com. In reality, though, the process can be a bit overwhelming.
“An original birth certificate is required, the child and the parents listed on the birth certificate must appear in person before an authorized acceptance agent to gather the documents and witness the parents’ oaths,” Alwadish explained.
But there are plenty of things that can go wrong and leave parents scrambling to get their child’s passport in time for an important family visit or a big vacation. We asked experts to share the most common mistakes parents make with their children’s passports.
Ignore photography guidelines
“Parents often ignore photo guidelines in favor of capturing the cutest, most aesthetically pleasing passport photo,” said Lousson Smith, product operations specialist at flight alert service Going.
If you do regular family photo shoots or an annual Christmas card shoot, consider asking your photographer to take a couple of passport photos. Just remember that the photo should show the child against a white background and should be at the correct distance from the camera and in good focus.
“The main reason applications are rejected or delayed is poor quality photos,” Alwadish said. “The baby can have a natural smile, but not a dizzy smile that distorts the natural flow and contour of the face and eyes. The father cannot appear in the photo.”
She noted that the child cannot wear a bow, hat or anything else on his or her head. Religious headdresses are acceptable if the parent provides a statement attesting to their religious purpose. Otherwise, the important thing is to make sure the child has his or her head up, eyes open and looking straight ahead with a non-exaggerated expression.
“Lay the child safely on your mat or bed on top of a white sheet, so he or she never falls off, and wait for the perfect moment to take several photos until you get the right one,” Alwadish advised.
Sending incorrect information
“Results may vary, but some customs agents will be very specific about information that doesn’t match exactly,” Smith said. “Make sure your child’s name, date of birth and passport information are 100 percent correct. Also, make sure the parents’ information is correct and that your own passport isn’t expiring soon.”
He recommended checking that the passport has at least six months of validity until the expiration date.
““Another common mistake parents make is receiving a blank passport form and filling it out by hand,” Alwadish said. “This practice not only makes it take longer for passport officers to process the application by having to retype the data, but it also increases the risk of unforced typographical errors in the finished passport.”
He recommended completing passport forms online.
Not having both parents appear in person
To prevent international abductions and other problems, the State Department requires that both parents or guardians accompany the child to apply for a passport in person. When this is not possible, additional paperwork will be required.
“Problems begin when both parents are unable to appear in person and only one does, without the proper consent form, documentation or death certificate,” Alwadish said.
She noted that work disputes, divorce, custody issues, incarceration or guardianship arrangements could prevent both parents from appearing in person to apply for a passport.
“If both parents are unable to appear, in most cases there is a special form that the other parent who will not be appearing can sign and have notarized,” Alwadish said. “This form, known as DS 3053, is commonly used when the parent who is unable to attend gives permission for the other parent to appear with the child. Both parents can use the same form to allow a guardian to represent and appear with the child.”
Thinking you can renew it
Don’t confuse passport rules for children with those for adults. While adult passports are valid for 10 years, children’s passports are only valid for five years, so even if your passport is valid for holidays, your child’s may not be. Make a note in your calendar and remember that you’ll need to use the same procedure you used for your child’s first passport to reapply after the five years have passed.
“Any passport issued to a child under the age of 16 is simply not renewable, so it is a mistake to consider renewing it,” Alwadish said. “However, any passport issued after the child turns 16, if not lost and kept until the full expiration, is renewable.”
Losing it
“When traveling, keep your child’s passport with you to mitigate the possibility of losing it abroad and keep it with your own,” Smith advised. “Travel with photocopies and photographs of the passport just in case. If you lose it abroad, go to the nearest embassy to get a quick replacement.”
In addition to safely storing your children’s passports alongside your own, Alwadish also recommends getting an ID card for your child to carry with them in case you get separated. It’s more like a regular ID card than a passport, but it’s cheaper, smaller, and allows holders to cross some land borders.
“Stick your cell phone number to the card and make sure it never leaves your hand,” he said. “Will that card be the ‘security cap’? Probably not, but it’s only $15!”
