Consular Section
Passport Services

- IMPORTANT NOTICES -

AMERICAN CITIZEN SERVICES

PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF ALL MINORS
To enhance the accurate identification of passport applicants and aid in the prevention of international child abduction and trafficking, the Department of State requires the personal appearance of all minors applying for U.S. passports. This applies even if the child has previously been issued a passport, regardless of place of issuance. The personal appearance requirement for all minors is a further step towards ensuring the integrity of the passport application process. In addition, passsports renewal by mail is now restricted to applicants who hold a full validity passport which was issued when the applicant was 16 or older. Applicants who had not turned 16 at the time when the passport was issued cannot renew passports by mail, but must apply in person at the Embassy.