Office of International Education

Passport for US Born Baby

US citizenship is available to babies born in the US.  In order to get a passport for your US born baby you will need to do the following:

  1. Obtain an official birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Their number is (724) 656-3100. This certificate may have already been sent to you.  If not, you will need to check with the hospital where the baby was born. The information may be available from the hospital itself.
  2. Apply for a social security number for the baby. Often this process happens automatically for babies born in a hospital in the US.  Alternatively, applications and directions to the Social Security Office are available at OIE or on our website: http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/forstu/ssdirect.pdf.
  3. To apply you must take your child’s social security number, certified birth certificate, your own social security card (if you have one), another form of ID for yourself (e.g. your passport), two “passport” photographs of the child and check or money orders for the fees ($52 application fee; $30 processing or execution fee).  The child must appear in person when the application is made.  Both parents must also be present or the parent applying for the passport must have a signed, notarized Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14) from the parent who is absent.

The passport application form and additional information may be found at:  http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

The application must be made in person.  In Pittsburgh, Passport applications may be accepted at:

  • Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Room 222, 412-350-6071
    http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/cofc/pass.asp
    Only accepts personal check or money order for fees.  ($52 payable to US Department of State; $30 payable to Allegheny County Treasurer)

or at many local Post Offices such as:

  • Oakland Post Office, 347 S. Bouquet Street, 412-621-9708
    Squirrel Hill Post Office, 1800 Murray Avenue, 800-275-8777
    http://www.usps.com/passport/
    Only accepts personal check or money order for $52 application fee (Payable to US Department of State; will accept cash, money order, check, debit/credit card for $30 execution fee).  Some Post Offices are able to provide passport photographs as well.

Additional acceptance offices are available from: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

Last Updated On: October 4, 2007