APVI — American Passport & Visa International
    U.S. Passport · Child Passport

    Your child's U.S. passport, in 5 days, not months.

    Child passports require original citizenship evidence, proof of your relationship to the child, and consent from both parents. APVI will help you prepare everything and expedite the issuance of your child's passport in 5 days only.

    Start My Application Now

    Speak with a child passport specialist:(800) 766-0452

    Reviewed by APVI customers on Trustpilot

    Parents and their young child in an airport terminal holding a closed U.S. passport booklet

    APVI, Inc. is a private passport and visa expediting company registered with the U.S. Department of State. Start your child passport application today.

    Registered Expediting

    Registered with the U.S. Department of State

    BBB A+ Accredited

    23+ years of trusted service

    256-bit SSL Secured

    Bank-grade document encryption

    Processing & fees

    Pick your child passport speed. We do the rest.

    Standard government processing can take weeks. APVI helps eligible families move faster through specialist review and registered expediting support. Every option includes document review, secure upload, shipping instructions, and status updates.

    Applicants under 16 pay U.S. Department of State government fees of $183.36 separately by check or money order included with the application packet. Government fees, shipping options, and eligibility requirements may vary by applicant. Your APVI specialist will review your child passport packet before submission.

    Customer stories

    Passport customers trust APVI when timing matters.

    Hear from a real APVI customer who relied on clear instructions, human support, and a smoother passport process.

    APVI Passport Services Customer Story
    “APVI made the process easier and a lot less stressful because they handled everything.”
    Audrey Glynn · APVI Passport Services Customer

    Real customers choose APVI when they want expert help, clear communication, and a smoother passport process.

    • Real APVI customer story
    • Human passport support
    • Clear next steps
    • Trusted when timing matters
    Start My Application Now

    Questions? Speak with a passport specialist: (800) 766-0452

    How it works

    How child passport service works with APVI.

    Start your order online, upload your child's documents for review, prepare the packet correctly, and APVI helps guide your family through the Acceptance Agent and expediting process.

    1. 01

      Start your child passport order

      Choose your Child Passport processing option and start your order online.

    2. 02

      Upload your documents for specialist review

      Securely upload the DS-11, citizenship and relationship documents, parent IDs, and photo so an APVI specialist can review the file before your Acceptance Agent visit.

    3. 03

      Visit a local Acceptance Agent with your child

      Your child must be present. A local Passport Acceptance Agent witnesses the parent signatures on the DS-11, verifies parent IDs, and seals the documents into an official envelope.

    4. 04

      Ship the sealed envelope to APVI

      Do not open the sealed envelope. Send it to APVI using the shipping instructions provided.

    5. 05

      APVI submits and tracks the passport

      APVI submits your sealed packet through the registered expediting process and helps track your child's passport through return delivery.

    6. Start My Application
    Required DS-11 step

    You do not go to the passport agency. You visit a local Acceptance Agent.

    For child passport applications, the government requires the child to be present and the parent signatures on the DS-11 to be witnessed by an authorized Passport Acceptance Agent. This is usually a post office, courthouse, public library, or local government office, not the passport agency that processes the passport.

    APVI prepares your child's application packet first. Then you bring your child to the Acceptance Agent, sign the DS-11 in their presence, show your government-issued ID, and have the documents sealed into an official envelope. The sealed envelope is handed back to you, and you send it to APVI so we can submit it through the expediting process.

    01

    APVI prepares your packet

    We help review the DS-11, citizenship and relationship documents, consent paperwork, photo, and instructions before your visit.

    02

    Parents and child visit the Acceptance Agent

    Your child must be present. The Acceptance Agent witnesses the parent signatures on the DS-11, verifies parent IDs, and seals the documents.

    03

    You receive the sealed envelope

    The Acceptance Agent gives the sealed envelope back to you. Do not open it.

    04

    Send the sealed envelope to APVI

    You ship the sealed envelope to APVI, and we submit it through our registered passport expediting process.

    Do not open the sealed envelope. Once the Acceptance Agent seals your documents, the envelope must remain sealed when sent to APVI.

    What you'll need

    What you'll need for a child's U.S. passport.

    Complete your child's DS-11 application through the U.S. Department of State website. Do not sign it in advance. Parents or guardians sign the DS-11 in front of the Passport Acceptance Agent. Your APVI specialist reviews the completed form before you finalize the packet.
    A certified U.S. birth certificate listing both parents, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a previously issued U.S. passport. Photocopies are not accepted. APVI reviews the citizenship evidence before submission so a rejected document does not cost you weeks.
    The document that proves your relationship to the child, usually the certified birth certificate listing both parents, an adoption decree, or a court order of guardianship. This document is what allows the passport to be issued to a minor.
    Each parent or guardian attending must present a valid government-issued photo ID, along with a photocopy of the front and back of that ID. Your specialist confirms which IDs are acceptable before the Acceptance Agent visit.
    For children under 16, both parents or guardians must consent to the passport. The strongest option is for both parents to appear with the child at the Acceptance Agent visit. If one parent cannot attend, see the DS-3053 requirement below.
    If only one parent can appear, the absent parent must submit a notarized DS-3053 Statement of Consent, signed within the last 3 months, together with a photocopy of the front and back of the ID they used at notarization. APVI reviews the DS-3053 for the notarization, dates, and ID copy issues that most often cause rejections.
    The child's photo must be taken within the last 6 months, with a plain background, eyes open where possible, and no other person visible in the frame. Your specialist checks the photo against the current specifications before submission.
    Provide a copy of the plane ticket, airline confirmation email, or travel itinerary showing the child's upcoming trip.
    Applicants under 16 pay U.S. Department of State fees separately: $183.36 for a passport book. These are paid by check or money order included with the packet. Child passports are valid for 5 years.
    Download and complete your APVI Letter of Authorization. The LOA allows APVI to submit your child's documents and receive them back from the Department of State on your behalf.
    Once you have completed and uploaded all of your child's application documents, sign your checklist and upload it as the final item.
    Parental consent

    Consent is where child passports most often get delayed.

    For children under 16, the U.S. Department of State requires consent from both parents or guardians. APVI reviews your consent documentation before submission so a missing notarization or an expired form does not cost you your travel date.

    01

    Both parents attend

    The simplest path. Both parents or guardians appear with the child at the Acceptance Agent visit and sign the DS-11 in the agent's presence.

    02

    One parent cannot attend

    The absent parent completes a DS-3053 Statement of Consent, signs it in front of a notary, and includes a front-and-back photocopy of the ID used at notarization.

    03

    The 3-month rule

    A DS-3053 must be signed and notarized within the last 3 months of submission. An older form is rejected, and the application stops.

    04

    Sole legal authority

    If you are the only parent or guardian with legal authority, you provide court documentation, a birth certificate listing one parent, or a death certificate instead of a DS-3053.

    A DS-3053 cannot be signed in advance at home. It must be signed in front of a notary, and the front and back of the notarizing ID must be photocopied and included with the packet.

    Smiling mother and her young child at a table holding a closed U.S. passport booklet beside passport paperwork
    Why APVI

    Child passport rules are stricter. APVI helps catch issues before submission.

    Child applications require original citizenship evidence, proof of your relationship to the child, consent from both parents, and an exact DS-11. A missing signature or an unnotarized consent form can add weeks. An APVI passport specialist reviews your materials before you finalize the packet.

    • Child passport document review before anything is submitted
    • Parental consent and DS-3053 guidance when one parent cannot attend
    • Citizenship and parent-child relationship document guidance
    • Child passport photo review against current specifications
    • DS-11 application review for accuracy and completeness
    • Secure document upload with bank-grade encryption
    • FedEx shipping instructions where applicable
    • A dedicated APVI passport specialist assigned to every order
    • Status updates from start to finish
    • 23+ years helping U.S. travelers
    • BBB A+ Accredited, with Trustpilot and Google review proof
    DIY vs. APVI

    Child passport applications are easy to underestimate.

    You must interpret the consent and citizenship rules on your own, and a small mistake can delay your child's passport and your family trip. Here is how doing it yourself compares with having an APVI passport specialist review the application.

    Without APVI

    The DIY path

    • Citizenship document review: You decide on your own which citizenship evidence is acceptable.
    • Parental consent: Consent and DS-3053 rules are easy to get wrong, especially notarization dates.
    • Relationship proof: You guess whether your document proves the parent-child relationship.
    • Parent ID copies: Missing front-and-back ID photocopies are a common rejection reason.
    • Passport photo review: Child photos are the hardest to get right and are often rejected.
    • Form and signature review: You must catch form, signature, and payment mistakes yourself.
    • Acceptance Agent preparation: It is unclear who has to attend with the child and what to bring.
    • Shipping instructions: You choose your own carrier and hope it arrives intact.
    • Processing speed: Standard government processing can take weeks.
    • Status support: Limited visibility once your packet leaves your hands.
    • Human specialist support: No one to call when a question comes up.
    • Return delivery: You wait for standard return mail.
    With APVI

    The APVI path

    • Citizenship document review: APVI reviews your child's citizenship document before you submit anything.
    • Parental consent: APVI confirms whether a DS-3053 is needed and reviews it before submission.
    • Relationship proof: A specialist confirms your birth certificate, adoption decree, or court order works.
    • Parent ID copies: Your specialist checks every ID copy before the Acceptance Agent visit.
    • Passport photo review: Your specialist checks the photo before it reaches the Passport Office.
    • Form and signature review: APVI reviews your packet before submission.
    • Acceptance Agent preparation: APVI tells you exactly who must attend, what to bring, and what happens next.
    • Shipping instructions: Secure upload and FedEx shipping instructions are provided.
    • Processing speed: Eligible applications are supported through APVI's registered expediting process.
    • Status support: You receive updates from order to return delivery.
    • Human specialist support: A passport specialist helps catch preventable errors.
    • Return delivery: Tracked return delivery of your new passport.
    Parents and their young child at an airport terminal holding a closed U.S. passport booklet

    Child passport handled, family trip protected.

    APVI helps eligible families move faster through specialist review and registered expediting support, so a preventable error never costs you a departure date.

    Frequently asked

    Everything you need to know, in plain English.

    Still have questions? Call us at (800) 766-0452.

    The application you fill out before your payment is just your order with APVI.com. You will complete the official application for your process and gather all of the required documents after your order has been placed. 

    Don’t worry, we will provide you with all the details you need for your expedited application process!
    APVI.com is a third-party US Passport and Travel Visa expediting company registered with the US Department of State and over 90 Embassies. Since 2003, we have assisted over 9 million customers to expedite their US Passports and Travel Visas, and we pass on that experience and knowledge to the processing of all our clients’ documents on time every time! 

    APVI.com provides you with all the information and assistance you need for navigating the application process and all applications and supporting documents are reviewed by an APVI specialist before shipping your documents. Once your documents have been received, we will submit them on your behalf to the government for the expedited processing selected. We will notify you when your application is received, submitted and completed and if for any reason there is an issue with the processing of your application, we will help with the re-submission of the corrected items to minimize further delays. 

    For more information about APVI.com, please visit our Company Page.
    Our order page provides a breakdown of each cost associated with your order. 

    There are no hidden fees, all service, Government and Shipping fees are provided upfront before pressing “Process My Order.”

    Passport applicants will pay their government fees separate from their APVI processing fee by check or money order included with the documents for submission. For more information on the US Department of State fees associated with passports, please click here
    Your documents are gathered together per the checklist provided after your order has been placed. Once you have gathered the required documents, you will upload them to your instructions page. An APVI specialist will review your documents and provide you with a prepaid overnight FedEx shipping label via email. You will place all the required documents into a FedEx shipping envelope and affix the provided label to the front. Drop your application packet to your nearest drop off location (please do not use a dropbox) or schedule a pick-up, and we will provide you with an update once your documents have been received.
    Thank you for placing an order with us! Please follow the instructions provided on your instructions page and begin uploading your documents. Once your documents have been uploaded, an APVI specialist will review your documents and email you a prepaid FedEx shipping label. 

    Please note that our specialist's hours are 9 am to 5 pm, 7 days a week EST. If you have placed an order outside these hours, a specialist will review your order on the next business day.  

    APVI offers same day passport processing. When selecting this option, please remember that this does not include shipping if you are outside of the DC area. For example, if you send your documents on Monday, the processing will begin on Tuesday, as long as the documents arrive to us by 8:30 am. They should be released Tuesday night and back to you on Wednesday. This is barring any delays with shipping or U.S. Department of State and is not applicable if there are issues with the documents inside the sealed envelope.

    You must submit an original or certified copy of your US birth certificate or US naturalization certificate. For any applicant 16 years or older that was issued a child passport, your expired, undamaged passport may count as proof of citizenship, as well. The U.S. Department of State will return your proof of citizenship back upon completion of your passport. Please be advised that U.S. Department of State will not accept a printed copy of your proof of citizenship. 

    Get started today

    Apply for your child's U.S. passport
    with APVI.

    Start your order online, upload your child's documents securely, and let an APVI passport specialist review your packet before you complete the submission process.

    • Specialist reviewed
    • Dedicated passport specialist
    • Status updates start to finish