One of the biggest myths about US passports is that newborn babies do not need passports to travel with their parents.  This is absolutely not true. Every traveler needs to have their very own passport, and that includes newborn babies!

Whether you are planning to travel internationally with your young baby, or whether you want to get your baby a passport just to prove her US citizenship, there are some special considerations for passports for newborns.  Newborn babies are subject to all the same passport requirements as any other minor passport applicant.  Today, we’ll look at some of those requirements in depth and learn what’s a little different about getting passports for newborns.

Getting a Birth Certificate for Your Newborn

The birth certificate showing your child was born in the US is the most important requirement for a minor passport.  Usually, when we talk about getting a birth certificate for a passport, we’re talking about how to get an official copy of a birth certificate.  For a newborn baby, we need to talk about how to get a birth certificate issued for the very first time!

Birth certificates are issued by the Vital Statistics Office in each US state or territory.  It’s your responsibility, as a parent, to file for your baby’s birth certificate.  You’ll need to have decided on your baby’s name before you file.  You’ll also need to provide the full names of both parents and their city, state, and date of birth.   Part of the birth certificate form will also be completed by the medical practitioner who attended your birth.  The way you’ll file for the birth certificate will depend on where your baby was born.

• Hospital birth – Every hospital has employees on staff who go around the maternity ward to help new parents file for their baby’s birth certificate.  They will give you a form to fill out, and then they will collect the form and file it for you.
• Freestanding birthing center – The staff at the birthing center will help you file for your baby’s birth certificate. much like the staff at a hospital would.
• Birth at home with a registered midwife – Your midwife will help you fill out and file the form to get your baby’s birth certificate.
• Unassisted homebirth – Some people choose to give birth without medical assistance… and for others, it’s a huge surprise when baby decides to arrive in a hurry at home or in the car!  If you are planning an unassisted homebirth, we recommend you check in advance with your state’s Vital Statistics Office to find out if any additional documents are needed.  Some states require that you provide “proof of pregnancy,” such as records of your prenatal care or affidavits from people who saw you during your pregnancy.

Filing for the birth certificate is only the first step!  You will not automatically be sent a copy of your baby’s birth certificate.  You will either need to order a copy by mail, or you will need to go to a local Vital Statistics Office in person to get a copy of your baby’s birth certificate.  You’ll need to prove that you are your baby’s parent, usually by showing your driver’s license or passport, and you’ll have to pay for the birth certificate copy.  Most places offer a large discount on a second copy of the birth certificate — if you are offered the chance to get a discount on two copies, we highly recommend you get an extra!

Social Security Number

A new law that went into effect in December 2015 means that you have to list your Social Security Number on your passport application.  This is even true for passports for newborns!  You’ll need to include your baby’s Social Security Number on her passport application… which means she’ll need to get a Social Security Number before she gets her first passport!

You’ll be able to request your baby’s Social Security Number at the same time you file for the birth certificate.  You’ll get your baby’s Social Security Card in the mail as soon as it is issued.  It usually takes 2-4 weeks for the card to arrive.

Passport Photos for Babies

Your newborn baby is going to need a passport photo!  Getting an appropriate passport photo for a tiny baby can pose some challenges.  We actually think it works best to take your baby’s passport photo yourself!  Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• Try to get a photo with your baby’s eyes open, if you can… but if you can’t, don’t sweat it.  The State Department understands that it’s hard to keep a newborn’s eyes open, and they will accept baby passport photos with eyes closed.
• Don’t have anything on your baby’s head — no hats, headbands, or hairbows.
• No pacifiers, toys, parents’ hands, or other objects can be in the photo with the baby.

Visiting the Passport Acceptance Agent

Yes, even babies have to go in person to the Passport Acceptance Facility!  But it’s totally fine if baby sleeps through the whole visit to the Passport Acceptance Agent.

Do you have other questions about passports for newborns? Ask us in the comments, or call us today!

The post Passports for Newborns – What Does Your Tiny Traveler Need? appeared first on G3Passports.

You’ll need to complete your passport application online, on the State Department’s official application website. This will produce a PDF of your passport application that you can print out, with all your answers neatly typed in.  The application will also have a barcode that helps the Passport Agency process your application swiftly after G3passports.com carries it to the agency for you.  Once you start filling out the application online, you can’t stop and save a draft.  You’ll need to be prepared with all the required information!

Personal Information for the DS-11 Passport Application

You probably already know that you’ll need to fill in your full legal name and your birth date.  Here are other personal details you’ll need to submit:

• Your place of birth – city and US state, or state and country if you were born outside the US.
• Your email address and at least one phone number – you may list either a home, work, or mobile phone number. You can include several numbers if you like.
• Your Social Security Number – under a new federal law, you must include your Social Security Number or your application will automatically be rejected.
• Any former legal names, such as your maiden name or previous married name.  Do not list any nicknames, pen names, or religious names.
• Your home address – please note that although this will be listed as “mailing address” on the printed passport application, G3passports.com will be shipping your completed passport to whatever address you provide when you complete your order online.
• Your height, hair color, and eye color. We get a lot of questions about how to answer the hair and eye color questions!  The online application only gives you a small set of options on a drop-down menu for hair color and eye color, so you’ll have to choose whichever color seems the most appropriate.  Don’t worry too much about this question — we’ve never seen it cause a problem for travelers.
  • Your hair or eyes are an in-between color. Choose the color that seems the closest. For instance, if you have auburn hair, you can select either brown or red as your hair color.  The State Department will not reject your application if you say your hair is red and they think it looks more brown in the photo!
  • Your hair is currently dyed. You can list either your current dyed color or your natural color.  If your hair is an unusual color like pink or green, which isn’t offered as an option, select your natural color.
  • You’re bald. Select the hair color that matches your eyebrows or beard.
  • Your eyes are two different colors. List the color of one of your eyes.

Family Information for Your Passport Information

You’ll need to provide the following information about your family:

• Your father’s full name, place of birth, and date of birth.  Not sure of these details?  Check your birth certificate, they should be listed there.
• Your mother’s maiden name, place of birth, and date of birth.
• Information about your spouse.  If you are currently married, fill in information about your current spouse.  If you are widowed or divorced, you’ll need to provide the information about your most recent spouse. Of course, this information isn’t needed if you’ve never been married!
  • Your spouse’s full name
  • Spouse’s date of birth
  • Spouse’s place of birth (city and state, or city and country if your spouse was born overseas)
  • Whether or not your spouse is a US citizen
  • Date of your marriage
  • Date you were widowed or divorced, if applicable

Travel Information and Emergency Contact

Since you’re applying for expedited passport service through G3passports.com, you will need to fill in the details of your upcoming trip.  You’ll need to list the date you plan to travel and the countries you will visit.  If your plans aren’t firm, that’s OK — just list the earliest date you think you may travel.

You will also need to provide the contact information for a friend or relative who is not traveling with you.  This person will be listed as your emergency contact in the State Department’s records.  You’ll need to fill in the following details for your emergency contact person:

• Full name
• Home address
• Telephone number
• Relationship to you

Having trouble gathering all the details you need, or do you have more questions?  Reach out to one of our passport specialists, or ask us in the comments!

The post What Information Do You Need for Your New Passport Application? appeared first on G3Passports.