Applications for Minors

Minor Children MUST apply in Person with their parents/guardians

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

After reading the information below, click here to schedule the appointment. 

See office hours and location.

Please Note:  All children regardless of age (including newborns and infants) must have their own passports for travel to and from the United States if they have a claim to US citizenship.

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 at the Embassy, although you will speed up your processing if the forms are completed ahead of time.
• 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 Ireland.  Please follow the instructions given here.

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), but do establish proof of citizenship.
• 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 the 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
• is signed by the attending physician or midwife, or, lists an affidavit signed by the parents, or shows early public records.

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:

• 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 driver's 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

• Both parents must appear together and sign

 Or

• 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

• 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 –

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 Dublin.

8)  Pay the Applicable Fee of $85 for children under 16

We can accept cash in dollars or euro or credit card payment.

All new passport(s) and, if applicable, cancelled old passport(s) will be returned by mail.

When submitting your application with your current U.S. passport, color photos, payment and, if applicable, other required documents, please include a stamped self-addressed envelope, size 6in x 9 1/2in approx., for the return of your passport.  Please affix to the envelope a €5.50 regular postage stamp or a combination of stamps to the value of €5.50.  We will return your passports and documentation to you by Express Post mail.

 

Once we have received the complete passport application, it takes approximately two weeks for you to receive your new passport.

For First Passport Applications please click here.
For Lost or Stolen Passport Applications please click here.

 When traveling, please remember to carry a photocopy of your child’s passport in a separate place. In the event of loss or theft, the copy will facilitate issuance of an emergency passport.

Security at the Embassy

Please do not bring any electronic devices, such as laptop computers, Blackberries, iPods, or large bags, such as backpacks, suitcases or packages to the Consular Section as there are no storage facilities on Embassy grounds. Security guards may hold small tourist cameras and cell phones until your departure, but there is no storage available for any other large items or electronic devices — please do not bring them at the time of your appointment.

U.S. Embassy
Consular Section
American Citizen Services
Passport Unit
42 Elgin Road
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4