If I had a passport as a child, can I renew it after it expires? The answer to this question is unclear because it will depend on your age when the passport expires.
As a general rule, child passports cannot be renewed, so once it expires, the child’s parents must apply for a new one.
Also, child passports are only valid for five years, unlike the one for adults, which is valid for ten years. So once it expires, a new one has to be obtained for international travel. To better understand the conditions that qualify one for renewal, let us look at the following State Department compliance conditions.
Conditions For Passport Renewal
Passports issued to children under the age of 16 years cannot be renewed.
Passports that expired more than ten years ago cannot be renewed
Passport renewals can be done in the presence or absence of the applicants, but for child passport applications, the child must be present with their parents.
Children under the age of 16 are classified as minors
As you can see, if you were issued a passport as a child when you were under the age of 16, you cannot renew it even if it expired less than 10 years ago.
What Should I do If My Passport Expires?
Let’s say you got your passport when you were 15 years old or younger, and now it has expired at age 20 or younger; the only option available to you is to apply for a new passport. How you do that also matters depending on your age.
If you are already 18 years and above, you can apply for a new passport yourself by filling out the application form, attaching the necessary documents, and submitting it to the passport agency. On the other hand, if you are between the age of 16-17, you can seek parental consent from your parents to apply for a new passport if your parents can’t follow you to the passport office. All you will need is to get them to notarize a declaration of consent issuance authorizing the State Department to issue you a passport.
However, if you are below 16, your parents will have to apply for it on your behalf as you are not qualified by law to submit the application on your own.
Note: Your age at the time the passport was issued and the time it expired will determine the steps you take to get a new passport, but overall, any passport issued when you were under 16 cannot be renewed.
How To Apply For A New Passport
Since the only option available to you is to apply for a new passport, here are the steps to take.
Gather Your Documents: The first step is to gather all the documents you will need to process the passport. You need a Ds-11 application form. Fill it out but don’t sign it until the officer in charge asks you to do so. You will also need proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. If you are applying for your child, you will have to prove your citizenship using a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
An Identity card like a driver’s license is needed, but parents can provide the same or a valid passport.
Parents or guardians must prove their parental relationship of custody rights with their birth certificates or court documents. The applicant’s passport photo is required for the passport book or passport card.
If the child is under 15 and one parent cannot be present at the agency, they must complete and notarize a DS-5525 consent form explaining why they cannot be present and authorize the authorities to issue the passport to the parent who is present.
Teenager ls Between The Age of 16-17
For teenagers, an adult passport with a 10 years validity can be issued to them, but the documents are the same as for children under 16 years.
What Is The Processing Time
Passports take up to 8 weeks before they are ready and released to their owners. The delay is due to the extensive security procedures your application will pass through before it is printed. So it is advisable to submit your application as soon as possible so you don’t jeopardize any travel plans you might have. However, in cases of emergency, you may apply for an expedited service so the passport will be produced and released within days. For expedited service, the agency will charge an extra $60.
If I had a passport as a child, can I renew it? You can’t renew a passport issued to you when you are below the age of 16; instead, you should apply for a new one.