A fair amount of work goes into preparing for even the most glamorous vacations, and obtaining/renewing passports for children is often one of the more tedious tasks. But it’s relatively straightforward, and relatively simple: You can apply right at a post office that accepts passport applications. The best bet here in Bethesda is the one located at 7400 Wisconsin Ave, at the corner of Wisconsin and Montgomery Ave. (There’s a small parking lot in the back, and it’s also right by the metro stop, if you are taking public transportation.) The hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00-5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 8:30-1:00 p.m. You don’t need an appointment.

What you do need is paperwork, a passport photo, and your actual child. As a parent or legal guardian, you may apply on your child’s behalf, but they must be with you at the time of application. (All first-time applications must apply in person, and all renewals must also be done in person if your child was under the age of 16 at the time of the original passport.)

You will need to download and fill out Form DS-11, an application for a passport. Don’t have your child sign it until they are asked to do so by the agent at the post office. You will have to submit evidence of your child's U.S. Citizenship, which can be an expired U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, a consulate report of a birth abroad or certification of birth, a naturalization certificate, or a certificate of citizenship.

Both parents must be present, or one parent can be present but must provide the other parent’s notarized consent form. If you are a single parent, you will need to submit primary evidence that you have the sole authority to apply for your child. For more information, click here. 

Parents will be asked to provide their child’s certified birth certificate with both parents’ names, or a foreign birth certificate with both parents’ names, or a report of birth abroad with both parents’ names, or an adoption decree with both adopting parents’ names, or a court order establishing custody, or a court order establishing guardianship.

You will be asked to provide identification, either an undamaged U.S. Passport, a valid driver’s license, a naturalization certificate, a current government employment ID, or a current military ID. You will need to provide a photocopy of this information as well as provide parental consent. You’ll need to pay the application fee, and provide two 2 X 2 passport photos. (Most camera shops in the area do this service.)

That’s it. You’ll have your child’s passport all set and ready in four to six weeks. (If you need it sooner than that, you can pay an expedited fee.) Bon voyage!

For more info: U.S. Department of State: Travel. State.gov