Can a Minor Renew a U.S. Passport? Child Application, Fees, and Photo Rules (2026)
Children under 16 cannot renew a U.S. passport. Learn the DS-11 process, the two-part fee, parent-consent rules, and photo tips.
Quick Answer
No — children under 16 cannot renew; every child passport requires a new in-person Form DS-11 with both parents present. Fees total $135 (book), $50 (card), or $150 (both); each total already includes the $35 acceptance fee. The hardest part for most parents is the baby passport photo: infants can be photographed lying on a white sheet from above, and a self-prepared digital file may be more flexible than a rushed in-store attempt. The hardest part for most parents is the photo: infants can be photographed lying on a white sheet from above, and a self-prepared digital photo (via PhotoOmni, $5.99) often works better than a rushed in-store attempt.
Short answer: no. Children under 16 cannot renew a U.S. passport, even if their previous one hasn't expired yet. Every child passport, every time, requires a brand-new Form DS-11 application submitted in person — there's no mail-in or online renewal option for minors, no matter how many passports they've had before.
That single fact trips up a lot of parents who assume the process works the same way it does for adults. Here's what's actually required, what it costs, and — the part almost no guide covers in real depth — how to actually get a compliant photo of a baby or toddler who has no interest in sitting still for one.
If you prefer to prepare the file online, the US passport photo maker can help check the crop, background, and passport-photo format before submission.
Why Kids Can't Renew
Adults renewing with Form DS-82 by mail can do so because their passport photo, from years earlier, still resembles them closely enough to confirm identity. Children's faces change too much, too fast, for that system to work. That's also why child passports are only valid for 5 years instead of the adult 10 — the shorter window keeps the photo on file reasonably close to how the child actually looks. In practice, this means most kids end up needing a new passport around ages 0–1, 5–6, and 10–11 before turning 16.
Who Needs to Be There
Every application under 16 requires:
- The child, in person
- Both parents or legal guardians, in person, to sign in front of the acceptance agent
- If one parent can't attend: a notarized Form DS-3053 from the absent parent, or legal documentation of sole custody
This requirement exists specifically to prevent one parent from obtaining a passport for international travel without the other parent's knowledge — so there's no shortcut around it, even if it's inconvenient to get both parents to the same appointment.
What It Costs in 2026
| Document | Application fee | Acceptance fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child passport book (under 16) | $100 | $35 | $135 |
| Child passport card | $15 | $35 | $50 |
| Book + card | $115 | $35 | $150 |
Notice this is actually more than the adult renewal fee ($130) — a detail most parents don't expect, since it's easy to assume a child's document should cost less.
The Part Nobody Actually Explains Well: Photographing a Baby or Toddler
Every child passport guide mentions "you need a passport photo of your child" in one sentence and moves on. But this is genuinely the hardest step for most parents, and it deserves more than a footnote.
The core requirements are the same as an adult's:
- 2×2 passport photo, plain white or off-white background
- Taken within the last 6 months
- No shadows, no other people or objects in frame
- No pacifiers, toys, or other objects visible
Where it gets harder with infants and toddlers:
- Eyes open, neutral expression is required for adults, but the State Department allows some flexibility for infants under 1 year old, since getting a baby to hold a neutral, forward-facing expression on command isn't realistic. Even so, try for open eyes and as close to a front-facing shot as you can get — a fully closed-eye or heavily turned photo is still likely to be rejected.
- No one else can be in the photo. You can't hold your baby up in frame with your arm visible, and a hand or arm supporting the child's head is also a common rejection reason.
- The white sheet trick works well for infants who can't sit up: lay the baby on their back on a plain white sheet or blanket, and photograph from directly above, looking straight down. This avoids needing them to sit upright against a background and tends to produce the most compliant results for babies under 6 months.
- For toddlers who can sit but won't stay still: a plain white wall with good, even lighting is usually more workable than a portable backdrop, since you'll likely need several attempts. Take more shots than you think you need.
- Older kids (roughly 3+): most in-store photo options (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart) work fine, since they're used to photographing children and can usually get a compliant shot within a few tries.
Why a Self-Prepared Digital Photo Often Works Better for Young Kids
In-store photo counters are built around a 5–10 minute process — one photographer, one attempt, limited patience for a fussy toddler who won't look at the camera on command. That's a difficult environment to get a compliant photo of a child in.
A US passport photo maker can apply these dimensions and formatting checks to the uploaded photo.
Taking the photo at home, on your own timeline, with as many attempts as needed, and then running it through a tool like PhotoOmni to check compliance — correct 2x2 sizing, proper background, head positioning — often produces a better result than a single rushed attempt at a pharmacy counter. It also means you're not paying full retail price and driving to a store with a cranky toddler in tow, only to find out afterward that the photo didn't pass.
FAQ
Can a child's passport be renewed by mail? No. Every applicant under 16 must apply in person using Form DS-11, regardless of how many previous passports they've had.
Do both parents have to be present for a child's passport? Yes, unless one parent provides a notarized Form DS-3053 or documentation of sole legal custody.
How long is a child passport valid? 5 years, compared to 10 years for adults — shorter because children's appearance changes faster.
Are the eyes-open and neutral-expression rules relaxed for babies? Yes, the State Department allows some flexibility for infants under 1 year old, though you should still aim for open eyes and a front-facing shot where possible.
What's the easiest way to photograph an infant for a passport? Lay the baby on their back on a plain white sheet and photograph from directly above — this avoids needing them to sit upright and tends to produce the most compliant results.
Is it cheaper to take a child's passport photo at home instead of a store? Yes — a self-prepared digital photo through a tool like PhotoOmni ($5.99) is typically cheaper than retail options and lets you take as many attempts as needed without time pressure.
Bottom Line
The paperwork and in-person requirements for a child's passport are non-negotiable — both parents, DS-11, in person, every single time. But the photo itself is the one part of the process you have real control over, and for babies and toddlers especially, doing it at home on your own terms tends to go a lot more smoothly than trying to get a compliant shot in a five-minute in-store window.
About the Author
PhotoOmni Editorial Team
The PhotoOmni Editorial Team researches official passport, visa, immigration, and identity-photo requirements. Every guide is reviewed for practical accuracy and updated when application rules, upload specifications, or government guidance change.