The U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic is advising parents on the process for renewing their children’s passports, which differs significantly from the adult renewal procedure. For children under the age of 16, a physical appearance at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo or the U.S. Consular Agency in Puerto Plata is generally required.
Applications for minors must be completed using Form DS-11, not the adult Form DS-82. Both parents or legal guardians typically need to attend the application interview together or provide appropriate consent and documentation. For applicants who are 16 or 17, they can sign their own passport application, but at least one parent must also sign for the application, which may still require parental consent.
During the appointment, it is essential for each parent to provide valid identification and proof of their relationship to the child, which is most commonly a birth certificate. It’s important to note that a Consular Report of Birth Abroad does not serve as proof of legal parentage or custody.
If the child’s appearance has changed significantly since their last passport was issued, parents may need to present photos showing the child’s progression from their last passport to the present. Photos taken on a cellular phone are accepted.
Children’s passports are valid for five years, unlike adults’ passports, which are valid for ten years. Parents are advised to check the validity of all travelers’ passports well before their planned trips. If a child’s passport is expired and travel is imminent, parents may be eligible for an emergency passport. To apply for one, they should secure the earliest appointment available on the Embassy’s website and follow the instructions for requesting an emergency passport. The Embassy will make efforts to accommodate emergency travel plans.
