Passport requirements vary depending on the age of the person who is applying and so it is important to know what to bring the first time. A person must have the proper documentation or they will not be able to obtain their travel papers. The laws are extremely strict when it comes to international travel,following the steps below will help to get prepared for the process.

Birth Certificate

When applying for this type of travel documentation, a birth certificate is worth its weight in gold. Should a person be unable to obtain their certificate,they can use old passports in lieu of a certificate. In the event that the individual applying was not born in the US, they will need to obtain one of two documents, a certificate of Naturalization or a certificate of citizenship.

Letter Of Record

In the event that the above documentation is not accessible, a letter of no record can be obtained through the state of residence. Along with the letter as many additional documents will be required to prove citizenship. The documentation must include proof of birth or public information from the first five years of the child whether it is church records or other records.

DS-10 Form

Also, the documents must display the date and place of birth for the child in order to be accepted. The earlier, the better so a time line can be established for informational purposes. If the above documents are unavailable, a DS-10 form can be submitted by an older relative who has knowledge of the birth. Additionally, the form must be notarized prior to submitting the form.

If Born Outside US

When the individual is born outside the United States to one parent with US citizenship, additional documentation will be required. The documentation includes a form supplied by a hospital in the state where the individual resides. The form will contain the name along with the birth date and what years were added to the search parameters when attempting to find a birth certificate.

Along with the form, the parent must submit an affidavit that contains the locations they lived both in the US and abroad before the birth. A foreign birth certificate will need to be supplied at that time as well to prove the birth of the child. In the case of both parents being US citizens and living abroad when the baby is born, a foreign birth certificate and a marriage certificate are required in addition to the affidavit of residence.

Adopted Children

When it comes to an adopted child that has not yet reached the age of 18, the guardian or parent will need to accompany them. All parties must be US citizens in order to proceed with obtaining their cards and the parent/guardian must have full custody of the child. All adoption proceedings must be final as well or the process will not be completed.

The USA Passport requirements are set in place for a reason and that is to protect citizens of the United States. Travelling around the world in modern times has become a lot more dangerous than it was in previous years. So if a person is going to travel, making sure to keep money and documentation in a super secure area at all times is the best practice. Make sure your American passport application is filled out on time, as well.