All children under age 16 must apply in person, accompanied by at least one parent. They cannot apply by mail; no exceptions can be made unfortunately.


The two-parent passport consent requirement for minors under age 16 applies to all passport services. To comply with this two-parent passport consent statute, you must:

  Submit the other parent's written consent to the application using this form. You must also include the child's original birth certificate as evidence of the two parents' names and bring in with you a copy of the other parent's passport.

One parent may sign in person and the other parent give his/her consent through a written affidavit (One parent signs and submits second parent's signed consent; download the affidavit form. The form must be notarized). Follow this link to learn more about these requirements. Note the parent who signs in person will need to still have a copy of the non-present parent's passport with him/her.

Japanese notarials are acceptable. Notarials done on US military bases are acceptable. Notarials for this purpose can be done at no charge at the Embassy or one of our Consulates. All notarized statements must be in English. A FAXed copy of the notarized document is acceptable.


  If only one parent signs the application with no consent from the other parent, the signing parent must establish sole authority to execute the application through written proof of sole custody, for example, following a divorce.

Did you know...? Divorce in Japan, especially divorce by mutual consent (kyogi rikon), differs greatly from divorce in the United States, particularly in the area of child custody. In many cases a Japanese divorce decree issued following a divorce by mutual consent is not sufficient to prove sole legal and physical custody of a child. Japanese law does not recognize joint custody, thereby rendering the establishment of sole custody in a divorce by mutual consent vague as custody is awarded to one parent even in cases where physical custody of the child is shared by both parents. Therefore, in many cases we may ask for a notarized consent form from the non-custodial parent where only a divorce decree by mutual consent exists or we could request further evidence of sole legal and physical custody.

  Or, both parents may appear in person with their passports and sign for children under age 16. You must also bring the child's original birth certificate as evidence of the two parents' names.

Follow this link for more details on the documents required to comply with the two-parent consent rule.

Here's what else you'll need to renew your child's passport...

Here are the things you'll need to renew your child's passport.

Your Child's Current or Most Recently Issued Passport

You must present your child's current or most recently issued passport, even if that passport has already expired.

If you cannot locate the passport, you will have to declare it lost or stolen and submit form DS-64: Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport along with passport application.

Application Form

Please complete one copy of Form DS-11, available for download (forms are also available for pick-up in our offices and are available on base for military persons).

Note that the form you print must be clear and sharp, with black print on white paper, 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, or A4 size in Japan. Thermal paper, dye-sublimation paper, special inkjet paper, and other shiny papers are not acceptable.

Federal law requires a passport applicant to provide his/her Social Security Number (SSN) under question #5 on the DS-11 application form. Failure to provide this information could result in a $500 penalty imposed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Both parents sign their names and the child's name for applicants under age 16. The child does not sign for him/herself. All applicants must be in Japan for us to process their application.

Two Photos

The photos must be sized 2" X 2" (or 5 cm X 5 cm) with a white background.

Be careful with the size-- "passport photos" you get at a local photographer's shop are likely too small and are intended for Japanese people to use to obtain a Japanese passport.

You can follow this link for more detailed information about correct passport photos.

Please don't staple the photos to the application form. Just write the applicant's name on the back of the photos with a felt tip pen (ball point can press through and mar the picture) and include them with the application.

Here's what the photo should look like:

The photo must be 2 inches by 2 inches with the face size as specified. Your browser may not display the graphic above as the right size.

One of the most common problems with passport applications we receive is that the photos are the wrong size. The photo in your current US passport may be a different size from what is needed for a new passport, as standards have changed from time-to-time.

The best way to make sure your photos are the right size is to download and print out a passport application (see above).The drawing of a proper photo is right on the application form.

Proof of Birth

Please include an original of one of the following documents:

  Certified U.S. birth certificate (with parents' names); or
  Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240) (with parents' names); or
  Certification of Birth Abroad (DS-1350)(with parents' names); or 
  Adoption decree (with adopting parents' names); or
  Court order establishing custody; or
  Court order establishing guardianship.

If the parent(s)/guardian current name(s) is/are other than what is stated on these documents, evidence of legal name change (e.g. marriage, divorce, court-ordered name change) is required.

Fee

The fee for a renewal passport is $85 for children. We accept cash, US$ or Japanese Yen. We cannot accept checks at any of our offices in Japan.

We accept credit cards at the Embassy in Tokyo and at our Consulates in Fukuoka, Naha, Osaka, and Sapporo, where you may pay using your VISA, Mastercard, Discover, Diners Club or American Express card. Please also be prepared to pay with cash if the credit card verification system is temporarily unavailable. Credit card payments are billed in U.S. dollars.

       


US military members seeking a "No Fee" passport must submit form DD 1056 in lieu of the fee.



  Self-Address Expack 500 Envelope
Please bring along a pre-purchased "Expack 500" envelope, available at Japanese post offices and most convenience stores for 500 yen. The "Expack 500" provides express return of your documents and includes a barcode so you can track your documents as they make their way through the Japanese postal system.

Persons using an APO address should include a regular legal size or larger self-addressed envelope marked "MPS", except on Okinawa where things will be returned to you by military courier. Please note: persons using an APO address cannot use the "Expack 500".

How Long Does It Take?

Processing time is about three to four weeks after we receive your application in good order, as all passport printing now must be done in the U.S. However, because computers break, typhoons happen and mail is sometimes delivered late, please don't make any unchangeable travel plans until you have your new passport in hand.