Information, Applications and Procedures for:
New Passports for Minors Under 16 Years

You must have an original or certified copy of your child's birth certificate, naturalization papers AND old passport if one has previously been issued. We strongly recommend using a long-form birth certificate.

If you do not have your child's Birth Certificate, you can obtain information about ordering a certified copy of your birth certificate here.

Requirements for Acceptable Forms of Birth Certificates can be found here. (All proof of citizenship documents will be returned to you with your child's new passport.)

In order to prove the parent's or guardian's identity to the Acceptance Agent, each parent or guardian will be required to show a driver's license or state-issued identification issued more than six months ago. Official government or military picture identification, valid U.S. or foreign passport with photo, or an I.N.S. Alien Resident Card is also acceptable.

Also bring a copy of each piece of identification to include in the sealed envelope. If submitting a DS-3053 for a parent unable to appear at the acceptance agent, include a copy of that parent's identification as well.

If you do not have this identification, you may use
Supplemental Identification described here.

You will be required to submit two (2) identical passport photographs. Photographs must be taken by a passport photographer. Homemade photos are not acceptable and most often cause a delay in passport issuance.

Passport Photo Requirements

We can prepare passport photographs for you at select A Briggs office locations nationwide. Review our Passport Photo Locations to see if there is one located near you.

For children under 16, you must be prepared to submit proof of parent's or legal guardian's relationship to the minor applicant. Note: Previous U.S. Passports are not acceptable as proof of relationship to the applying parent(s)/guardian(s). Parents or legal guardians applying for a child under 16 must submit an original or certified copy of one of the following:

Certified U.S. Birth Certificate of the applicant (with parents' names); or

Certified Foreign Birth Certificate of the applicant (with parents' names and translation, if necessary); or

Report of Birth Abroad of the Applicant: Form FS-240 (with parents' names); or

Certification of Birth Abroad of the Applicant: Form DS-1350 (with parents' names); or

Adoption Decree of the Applicant (with adopting parents' names); or

Court Order Establishing Custody of the Applicant; or

Court Order Establishing Guardianship of the Applicant.

NOTE: If the name of the parent/guardian is other than that on the document, evidence of legal name change is required.

Click on the link at the bottom of this section to create your child's DS-11 Application for Passport. After entering your child's personal data, click on the “Create Form” button.

US Passport applicants may electronically submit their personal information and then print the completed form.  This system generates a 2D bar code (required for all applications submitted by hand carry, the submission method used by A Briggs) on the printed form.  This 2D barcode enables the information to be reproduced electronically.  All information is captured on a secure U.S. Department of State server and is deleted once the form is printed.  Please note the US Passport Office will not accept hand carry applications without the 2D barcode.

Print two copies of the completed DS-11 form. Do not sign the DS-11 until you are instructed to do so by the Acceptance Agent. Give one DS-11 to the Acceptance Agent to be placed inside the sealed envelope. The second DS-11 is to be placed inside the shipping envelope to A Briggs.

Application for U.S. Passport DS-11 here.

(The State Department web site does not support the Safari, Opera or Chrome web browsers for passport form completion; Internet Explorer and Firefox should work fine, however.)

Two checks or money orders, one payable to U.S. Department of State for $140.00 and the second for $25 payable to the courthouse or post office (the Acceptance Agent fee).

Please include the parent or legal guardian's date of birth on the check. Do not use starter checks for new bank accounts.

Although it is recommended that your check have your name pre-printed on it, if submitting a business check or someone else's check, make sure to include your name, address and date of birth on the check. Money orders must contain your information on them.

Please note: The fee for a passport for a child under 16 is $30 less than a passport issued for a person 16 or older. For persons under 16, the passport is valid for a 5 year period, whereas passports issued to persons 16 or older are valid for ten years.

Submit a Letter of Authorization giving A Briggs the authority to submit your child's application and pick up your child's passport when issued. Provide two originally-signed Letters of Authorization - One copy should be inside the sealed envelope and one copy outside the sealed envelope.

NOTE: Each copy MUST contain both parents' signatures, preferably in Blue Ink. Fax or photo copies of your signature are NOT acceptable - both letters must contain original signatures.

Click here for the A Briggs Letter of Authorization.

Submit a copy of your computer-generated itinerary or your ticket from an airline, travel agency, or online booking agency showing your departure from the U.S. FAX or photocopies are acceptable. Please include one copy inside the sealed envelope and one copy outside of the sealed envelope.

If you are unable to provide an itinerary please provide a letter from your company on letterhead. This letter should explain details of the trip and needs to be signed by someone other than the applicant. Please include one copy inside the sealed envelope and one copy outside of the sealed envelope.

If you are unable to provide a trip itinerary or company letter, we can still assist you without one however it will take a minimum of 11 business days to process your request.

The Online Order Form must be completed. Please print two copies of the confirmation page. Include one copy in the A Briggs envelope and keep one copy for your records.

The Online Order Form will prompt you for payment method. You may pay the A Briggs fees online with a credit card or enclose a personal or business check or money order. If you pay by check or money order, this payment must be placed in the shipping envelope outside of the sealed envelope.

Processing times are business days and do not include shipping time. Keep this in mind when placing your order. Orders are filled based on departure date. For example, a traveler leaving in 10 days that selects 1 to 4 day service may experience fulfillment times of up to 6 days including shipping.