You’re taking your first international trip with baby (or at least you’re thinking about it)! Yay! Traveling with little ones is so fun and adds a new dynamic to the adventures. The rules for kids under 16 to get passports is a bit different than adults. Read on to see all the steps and preparations you will need to get baby’s first passport!

Fill Out the Right Form

Go to US Department of State website and fill out the DS-11 Form and print it out. You will need baby’s social security number. Tip: Be sure to request the large passport book. It comes with 52 pages versus the regular 28 pages at no extra cost. You will also have the option to get a passport card which is valid for crossing the border by land. In my opinion, save the fee and put it towards Global Entry (which is what we did!). The passport book is good for all methods of international travel.

Schedule the Appointment

So, funny story. We had traveled many times with baby to Mexico before we got his passport but we would always leave from the Tijuana Airport. So when I booked a flight from San Diego to Cabo, I didn’t realize I would need his passport until after I booked the flight. So needless to say I had to request an expedited passport. It’s an easy process and you can get an appointment within 2 weeks of your flight with proof of travel (and an extra fee). But for those that are not on a time crunch, you can schedule your appoint online at your nearest passport acceptance facility. For a list of facilities nearest you, visit here.

What to Bring to Appointment

You will need baby’s original birth certificate or certificate of citizenship, proof of U.S. citizenship, proof of parental relationship of both parents (this is usually reflected on the birth certificate), photocopies of parents’ ids (i.e. driver’s license, passports, government id’s) as well the originals. And parental consent – the best way to do this is having both parents present at the appointment. For more specific information on what to take, check out this detailed list.

Get a Photo

Depending on your little one’s age, you have several options to getting a picture. Oliver was 9 months old so we took him to Walgreen’s and they placed a white blanket behind him in his stroller. As another option you can lay baby down on a white blanket. You want the background to be white and baby to be facing towards the camera as much as possible. Some passport facilities offer photo services for an additional fee (call to make sure!).

Passport Appointment

Super important – both mom and dad will need to attend otherwise you will need a notarized consent form. Be sure to bring all documentation and baby’s photos. The passport book and execution fees are $105. If you include the passport card it’s an additional $15.

Wait Patiently

As I mentioned before, we expedited the process so we were able to pick up his passport three days after our appointment but normally, you will have about a 4-6 week waiting period before you receive the passport in the mail.

Have you gotten your baby’s first passport? How was your experience? I’d love to hear from you!