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Department of State
Requires Personal Appearance by Minors
for US Passport Issuance
February 5, 2004
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
February 5, 2004
All Minors Applying for a Passport Must Now Appear in
Person
To enhance the accurate identification of
passport applicants and aid in the prevention of international child
abduction and trafficking, the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular
Affairs has begun requiring the personal appearance of all minors applying
for U.S. passports.
This applies to all regular, official and diplomatic
passports for children under the age of 14, even if the child has previously
been issued a passport. Prior to the introduction of this requirement,
parents were not routinely required to bring a child under the age of 14
with them when they applied on the child’s behalf. Now, when applying for a
passport on behalf of a minor under the age of 14, parents are required to
have their child present and submit documentation of parental relationship
and consent, as well as comply with all other documentation requirements for
the issuance of a passport.
The personal appearance requirement for all minors is a
further step towards ensuring the integrity of the passport application
process. This change will help to verify the identity of minor applicants
and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking.
For additional passport information, please visit the Bureau
of Consular Affairs’ website at
http://travel.state.gov .
2004/128
[End]
Released on February 5, 2004
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