Embassy of the United States

Passports

Special Requirements for Children under age 16
Minor Children must apply in Person

Important note: As of Feb. 1, 2008, the two-parent signature requirement will be extended to all children under the age of 16.

Each minor child shall appear in person and provide appropriate documentation. Both parents’ consent and signatures are mandatory for passport issuance for minors under 16. Either both parents accompany the child, or one parent accompanies the child, and the non-applying parent submits a notarized statement of consent for passport issuance (see item 5 below).

See office hours and location.

All children regardless of age (including newborns and infants) must have their own passports for travel to and from the United States
For all minors under age 16 you must:

1. Provide Application Form DS-11 and please follow specific instructions below: Download application form DS-11;
   Print out and submit only one-sided pages of the application form. (Form DS-11 is also available in the Consular Section’s waiting room display.
   Please do not sign the DS-11 application form until the Consular Officer instructs you to do so.
   Note that the online version of the application form includes instructions on the backside written for use in the U.S., which do not apply to your application in France. Please follow specific instructions below:
   
   
2. Submit Proof of U.S. Citizenship
   
   For minors under age 16 you must establish proof of citizenship AND proof of relationship.  Previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as proof of relationship to the applying parent(s)/guardian(s).  See number 3 below for proof of relationship.
   
   Minor Children under 16 may prove U.S. Citizenship with any one of the following:
   
   - a full validity (five-year) U.S. passport; or
   - an original U.S. Birth Certificate; or
   - a certified U.S. Birth certificate (see note below); or
   - a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad; or
   - a U.S. Certification of Birth; or
   - a U.S. Certificate of Citizenship; or
   - a U.S. Naturalization Certificate
   
   
   Note: A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within one year of your birth. You may order a certified birth certificate online or write to one of the offices of the National Center for Health Statistics.
   
   A delayed birth certificate filed more than one year after your birth may be acceptable if it:
   lists the documentation used to create it,
   and is signed by the attending physician or midwife, or, lists an affidavit signed by the parents, or shows early public records.
   
   If you do not have a previous U.S. passport or any of the documents listed in item 2 above, you will need the following:
   
   a. a Letter of No Record issued by the State with your name, date of birth, which years were searched for a birth record and that there is no birth certificate on file for you;
   
         and
   
   b. as many of the following as possible
   
   - French livret de famille
   - Local hospital birth certificate
   - Census record
   - Early school record
   - Doctor's record of post-natal care
   
   Note: These documents must be early public records showing the date and place of birth, preferably created within the first five years of your life.
   
   The following are NOT proof of U.S. Citizenship
   
   - voter registration cards
   - army discharge papers
   - driver’s license
   - social security card
   
   If the applicant was born abroad AND does not have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad the applicant must obtain this document before applying for a first U.S. passport.
   All original documents submitted with the application as evidence of U.S. citizenship will be returned. See Foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizens.
   
   
3. Present Evidence of Child's Relationship to Parents/Guardians    
   
   Note: Previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as proof of relationship to the applying parent(s)/guardian(s).
   
   You will need to submit one of the following:
   
   - French livret de famille
   - an original U.S. birth certificate (with parents names); or
   - a certified U.S. birth certificate (with parents' names); or
   - an original or certified copy of foreign birth certificate (with parents' names and sworn translation, if necessary); or
   - Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) (with parents' names); or
   - Certification of Birth Abroad ( Form DS-1350) (with parents' names); or
   - adoption decree (with adopting parents' names); or
   - court order establishing custody; or court order establishing guardianship.
   
   Note: If the parent(s)' and/or guardian(s)’ name(s) is/are other than that on these documents, evidence of legal name change is required.
   
   
4. Provide Parental Identification
   Each parent (any nationality) or guardian must submit one of the following:
   
   - valid drivers license
   - valid official U.S. military ID
   - valid U.S. government ID
   - valid U.S. or foreign passport with recognizable photo
   - Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate from USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and - Immigration Services) with recognizable photo
   - Alien Resident Card from USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.)
   
   Note: Your social security card does NOT prove your identity.
   
   
5. Present Parental Application Permission Documentation
   
   A. Both parents must appear together and sign
   
   Or
   
   B. One parent appears, signs, and submits second parent's notarized statement of consent authorizing passport issuance for the child (a notarized Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16, or a notarized written statement with the same information on a sheet of paper from the non-appearing parent)
   
   Or
   
   C. One parent appears, signs, and submits primary evidence of sole authority to apply (such as one of the following):
   
   - Child's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate (with translation, if necessary) listing only applying parent; or
   - Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only applying parent; or
   - Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order); or
   - Adoption decree (if applying parent is sole adopting parent); or
   Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child; or
   - Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent;
   - or Death certificate of non-applying parent.
   
   If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent/guardian should submit a Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16.
   
   Note: A third-party applying in loco parentis on behalf of a minor under the age of 16 must submit a notarized written statement or affidavit from both parents or guardians authorizing a third-party to apply for a passport. When the statement or affidavit is from only one parent/guardian, the third-party must present evidence of sole custody of the authorizing parent/guardian.
   
   
6. Provide Two Passport Photos – See list of Photographers.
   
   The  photographs must be:
   
   - 2x2 inches in size (5cm x 5 cm)
   - Identical
   - Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
   - Color
   - Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
   - Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (between 2.5 and 3.5 cm)
   - Taken in normal street attire
   - Uniforms should not be worn in photographs.
   - Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline unless worn daily for religious purposes
   
   If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture.
   
   Note: Vending machine photos are not acceptable
   
   
7. Provide a Social Security Number
   
   (For infants, parents will complete the application form in order to obtain a social security number. If your child does not have a social security number, and/or never applied for one, please refer to the Federal Benefits Unit in Paris.
   
   
8. Pay the Applicable Fee of $85 for children under 16
   
   Methods of Payment
   
   See Fees and Payment Methods. You will pay the applicable fee at the time of application for the passport.
   
   All new passport(s) and, if applicable, cancelled old passport(s) will be returned by mail using the Chronopost envelope tracking system.
   
   When submitting your application with your current U.S. passport, color photos, payment and, if applicable, other required documents, please include a self-addressed Chronopost envelope available at all French post offices (one Chronopost envelope may contain several passports – maximum 8).
   
   The Chronopost envelope tracking system guarantees a faster and more secure service for the return of your passport(s).
   
   Once we have received the complete passport application, it takes approximately two weeks for you to receive your new passport. 
   
   
   
   
    

For more information see Important Notice: All Minors Must Appear in Person and Special Requirements for Children Under Age 16 Applying for Passports. 

If you live or are traveling in the south of France you may apply for this service at the U.S. Consulate General in Marseille. Please contact this office for further information.

Email: citizeninfomarseille@state.gov

Security at the Embassy

For security reasons, do not bring luggage--including large backpacks--laptop computers, or large cameras.   Security guards will hold small tourist cameras and cell phones until your departure, but there is no storage available for luggage, large backpacks, laptop computers, or large cameras—please do not bring them to the Embassy.

4, avenue Gabriel
75382 Paris Cedex 08