Passports for Minors (Under 16 Years)

Minors under age 16 wishing to renew an expiring or expired passport should follow this process.  If you are filing a Consular Report of a Birth Abroad, you may submit it together with this application.

1. Appointments are required. Make an appointment online and print the appointment letter. Appointments are available for American citizens Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm.  We are closed on the last Wednesday of every month and on American and Indian holidays.
2. Complete the DS-11 passport application online.
   
   Online application tips:       
   • Complete the address fields completely. If you are in India, your passport will not be sent back to the United States. When you drop off your application, you can designate if you wish to pick it up or have it sent to you by registered mail to an address in India.
   • If completing an application without a social security number, you may enter all zeroes as a placeholder.
   • Expedite fee: You do not need to select the "expedite fee" option; passports printed for citizens abroad are automatically expedited.
   • Please fill out the emergency contact information even though it is not required.
   • Print the form but do not use two-sided printing.

3. Print application and bring with required documents to the interview.  Do not sign the application for your child. You will do so in the presence of the consular officer.

Except as described below, the child and both parents must appear in person.  

Required Documents

• Current Passport
• Two (2) studio-quality color photographs taken within the last six months measuring 2" x 2" (5cm x 5cm) with a white background. No other photo format can be accepted. More information 

• For children under age 16, both parents must be present with photo identification to sign the passport application in the presence of a consular officer. The child must also be present. If one parent is absolutely unable to attend for special circumstances, he/she must send their passport and a statement indicating their agreement with the issuance of the passport (you may use Form DS-3053, Statement of Consent - Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16, or draft your own statement of consent). This statement must be notarized. The consular officer reserves the right to require additional evidence if the consent is notarized by a non-U.S. notary public. Other exceptions to the rule requiring the signature of both parents may apply, which should be discussed with a consular officer.
• For children under age 16, the parents must prove their parentage by showing the child's original government-issued birth certificate. If the birth certificate lists the mother's maiden name, she should be able to prove her identity accordingly.
• For children age 16 or older, the child signs for him/herself (in the presence of the consular officer), so the parents need not be present, and there is no need to present a copy of the child's birth certificate.
• The child must prove his/her identity. If the child is easily identifiable by the consular officer by looking at the previous passport, no additional proof may be necessary. However, a child's appearance may change significantly over time, so the consular officer may ask for additional proof of identity. Please bring as much proof as possible. Examples of items that can be used to establish a child's identity are:
  • Person of Indian Origin (PIO) or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card (issued by the Government of India).
  • A passport issued by another country.
  • School ID card with photo.
  • Police/immigration registration record with attached photo.
  • Growing age photos (i.e., a series of family photographs from various ages since the child's last passport was issued--for example, if the child is now five years old and the passport was issued shortly after his/her birth, bring family photos showing the child at ages 1, 2, 3 and 4).

Fees

Complete fee information is available here. If applying in person, you may pay with cash dollars, cash rupees (at the current exchange rate), demand draft or a major U.S. credit card. Personal checks are not accepted.

Passport Processing Time


Except in emergencies, passports are printed in the United States and take approximately two to three weeks.  Please consider this timeline when renewing or applying for passports. You will receive an automated email when your passport is ready.

Passport Delivery or Pick Up


If you opt to pick up your passport, you may do so between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding the last Wednesday of the month and American and Indian holidays. You do not need an appointment to pick up your passport.

The U.S. Consulate is pleased to provide courier delivery services for U.S. passports, effective August 16, 2010.  All passports which are not picked up at the Consulate must be delivered through VFS courier services. This service will allow for timely tracking and delivery of your passports.  Please read carefully the instructions below so as to arrive at your appointment prepared.

1. Prior to your appointment at the Chennai Consulate, obtain a demand draft in the amount of Rs. 166 per passport service drawn in favor of “VFS Global services Private Ltd”, payable at Chennai. .  We cannot accept cash for this service.
2. At the appointment, you will be asked to provide the VFS demand draft and courier slip for each individual applicant.  You may access the VFS courier slip on their website at: https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/uspassportservices.html.
3. Passports will still be printed in the U.S., so overall processing time will remain between two and four weeks.  However, once the ACS unit provides your new passport to VFS, you will be able to check the status of your passport by entering your old passport number at the VFS website.  Please click here to track your passport.
4. You will receive a receipt from VFS with the return of your passport.

Questions?

Email: chennaics@state.gov