Whenever you apply for a passport, you must provide details pertinent to the application. And often, these revolve around your citizenship and proof of identification. But do you need your parents’ information to apply for a passport?
Do You Need Your Parents’ Information to Apply for a Passport?
Parental information establishes a relationship between the applicant and U.S. citizens. Your need for this information depends on the nature of your passport application. The options are as follows:
a) Passport Renewal
Anyone applying for renewal already has a current passport. And this acts as proof of citizenship and identification. Even so, you will still need to include some parental details, like your parents’ names. But other than that, you can complete the process by providing the following documents:
- A complete DS-82 form,
- Two passport photos, and
- Your most recent passport.
You will not need other documents to establish parental relationships to renew your passport.
b) New Passport Application
If you are a new passport applicant, you must present proof of citizenship and identification. Thus, you should provide the following information:
- A complete DS-11 form,
- Two passport photos,
- Proof of U.S. citizenship, e.g., a birth certificate, and
- Proof of identification, e.g., a driver’s license.
You must include parental information, e.g., names, when applying for the passport.
c) Children’s Passports
Children cannot renew their passports and must apply for new ones every five years. Moreover, parental information on passport applications for minors is mandatory. Thus, when applying for a passport, minors should include the following documents:
- A complete DS-11 form,
- Two passport photos,
- Proof of U.S. citizenship, e.g., a birth certificate,
- Proof of parental relationship, e.g., an adoption decree, a U.S. birth certificate, a foreign birth certificate, etc., and
- Valid parental IDs such as passports and driver’s licenses.
The parents should be present during the application process. If not, the unavailable parent should provide written and notarized consent for the minor. Or the available parent should give reasonable proof of inability to locate the other parent.
