Let’s be real: the real cost is your time. You have to gather forms, get your baby’s birth certificate, and bring both parents (or a notarized statement if one parent can’t come). Yes, the government wants to make sure no one is smuggling a baby out without both parents’ permission. Very FBI, very dramatic.
And the photo appointment? Expect to arrive with a perfectly calm baby, only for them to turn into a tiny gremlin the second the photographer clicks. It’s a rite of passage. You’ll laugh about it later—after you’ve cried a little.
How Much For A Replacement Child Passport at Christopher Bryant blog
Forms, Forms, and More Forms
You’ll need Form DS-11, which is the official “I have a small human and we want to travel” document. Fill it out online, print it, but do not sign it until you’re standing in front of the passport acceptance agent. Think of it as a dramatic signing ceremony—minus the red carpet.
You’ll also need proof of citizenship (the birth certificate) and proof of parental relationship. That’s usually you being on the birth certificate. If you’re not sure, ask: “Does my baby officially belong to me?” The answer is yes, even if they keep you up all night.
