american citizen services
Passport for children under 16 years of age
For children under age 16, both parents and the child must personally appear at the Consular Section and present all of the following required items. The Consular Section cannot accept incomplete applications.
- Completed, but not signed, Form DS-11. Please do not sign until instructed to do so by a consular officer. If the applicant has a social security number, it MUST be included in the application in order for the application to be considered complete.
- Two full-face 2 inch by 2 inch identical color photographs taken within the last six months with a white or light background. Photo Shops in Dakar.
- Evidence of the child's relationship to the parents/guardians, such as an original birth certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad. Previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as proof of relationship to the applying parent(s)/guardian(s).
- Proof of identity for both parents.
- Proof of the child's citizenship, such as a previous U.S. passport or original U.S. birth certificate.
- Proof of the child's identity, such as a photo i.d. If the child's appearance has changed significantly since the last passport was issued, or if the previous passport expired more than 6 months before your application, please bring photographs of the child to assist in confirming identity. We strongly encourage you to bring at least one photo from each year since the previous passport was issued, especially if it was issued when the child was under two years of age.
- Cash fee of $85 or equivalent in CFA ($60 application fee, $25 execution fee).
One Parent Applying
If only one parent can appear, she or he must submit one of the following items:
- The second parent's original notarized statement of consent authorizing passport issuance for the child (this can be either an original notarized Form DS-3053 or an original notarized written statement with the same information on a sheet of paper from the non-appearing parent); OR
- Primary evidence of sole authority to apply such as one of the following:
o A birth certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad that lists only applying parent; or
o Court order granting sole legal custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order); or
o Adoption decree listing the applying parent as the sole adopting parent; or
o Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child; or
o Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent; or
o Death certificate of non-applying parent.
Third-Party Applying
If a third-party is applying on behalf of a minor under the age of 14, she or he must submit an original notarized written statement or original affidavit from both parents authorizing the third-party to apply for a passport. When the statement or affidavit is from only one parent, the third-party must present evidence of sole custody of the authorizing parent.
Payment Information
The Consular Section can only accept cash fees in U.S. Dollars or the equivalent in CFA. We regret that we cannot accept checks or credit cards.
