U.S. Embassy & Consulate
in New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue

Passports for Applicants Under 16 Years of Age

The following instructions apply to all U.S. passport applications for a child under the age of 16 – regardless of whether they have been previously issued a U.S. passport.

First time applicants under the age of 16 born outside of the U.S. must first establish their claim to U.S. nationality before a U.S. passport will be issued. Please refer to our information regarding how to apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

Completing the Application

Please print out only one-sided pages of the application, and submit all of the following in person at the Consulate serving your area.

• Completed (but not signed) Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport;
• The minor child (applicant) must be present.
• The child’s full original birth certificate, showing the names of the parents who will be signing their child’s passport application. Please note, the name of the applicant should match their birth document(s). Any material changes to the applicant’s name must be supported by an amended birth certificate or other name change evidence.
• Child’s most recent U.S. passport; if the child has never held a U.S. passport, documentary evidence of U.S. citizenship must be provided.
• One (1) U.S. sized passport photograph (Note: these are a different size from New Zealand passport photographs). Submitted passport photos must have a white, off-white or cream background.
• Current, government-issued photo identification of the parent/s submitting the application
• U.S. passport regulations require the consent of both parents/legal guardians before a U.S. passport will be issued to a minor child (unless certain circumstances apply).  This requirement is usually met by both parents attending the child’s passport interview and signing the passport application in the presence of a consular officer.  However, we understand that it is not always possible for both parents to attend the passport interview and options do exist if only one parent is available to sign the passport application form.
• Any required supporting documents.
• Applicable fee.
• Self-addressed courier envelope for return of your new and old passports
• Make an appointment (NOTE below about appointments).
• Applicants must bring a photocopy of the documents they are submitting in support of their applications.

Submitting the Application

The application must be signed by the applicant in the presence of a Consular Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Auckland or at a Consular Outreach visit – this requirement cannot be waived. All applicants must be present at the appointment, including minor child applicants under the age of 16.

Appointments

Please remember to print your appointment confirmation and bring it with you to the Consulate.

Please be advised that the appointment time is a guide as to when you should plan to be at the Consulate. It is not necessarily the time you will be seen by the Consular Officer. Applicants should plan to spend at least an hour at the Consulate.

Please use this link to make an appointment at the Auckland Consulate General.

Access to the U.S. Consulate Auckland

For the safety of all of our customers and staff, all visitors to the Consulate must pass through security screening at our reception area before entering the Consulate. Please allow time for screening before your appointment.

The Consulate General’s hours of operation are from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.  You will not be able to access the Consulate’s reception area outside of these hours.  At no time are you authorized to remain in the lobby of the Citigroup Building while awaiting Consular services. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.

Please do not bring luggage, including backpacks, to your appointment. You will not be able to bring these items into the Consulate, and there is no storage available in our office.

Mobile telephones and other telecommunication devices, electronic recording devices, and cameras may not be taken into the Consulate. Please turn them off, and leave them with the guards at the reception area. They can be collected after your appointment.

Aerosols of any kind are prohibited, and must be left with the guards until after your appointment.

Any type of headwear, including baseball caps, must be removed while in the Consulate.