Getting Baby’s Passport in SF

Postpartum
Written By Sophie Smith


The first key step is of course to accurately fill out paperwork for SSN & birth certificate at the hospital. Here’s what you should do in the following weeks:

SSN Card

  • Gets mailed to you automatically - they say it takes 8 weeks, but usually just ~2-3

  • SSN is required for passport application (you don’t need to bring the card, just need to include the number on the application form)

Birth Certificate

  • Doesn’t come to you automatically

  • You’ll need to send in a certified copy with your passport application

  • The fastest way to get this in SF is by going in person to the Office of Vital Records

    • 101 Grove Street, Room 105, open 8am-4pm

    • Only one parent needs to be present at this, bring ID

    • They say that this is available 4-6 weeks after birth, but it may actually be available much sooner if you’re on a tight timeline (my son’s was available around 3 weeks). I recommend calling 311 to be connected to their office and asking if your child’s certificate is ready

  • An alternative is to request it by mail by sending in this form (must be notarized)

Passport Appointment

  • Schedule an appt via USPS, or just come during walk-in hours. If you’re crunched for time for a trip, I’d book an appointment as early as 3 weeks post birth - you can always cancel/reschedule with no penalty if your SSN and birth certificate haven’t come in time 

  • Bring baby’s birth certificate and fill out this form in advance. Both parents will need to attend and bring ID.

  • Can’t use credit card for processing fee, must be a check. I’d bring a blank one (rather than filling it out in advance) just in case the final amount is different than what you expected

  • You can take passport photos at the post office, Walgreens, Fedex, UPS - they are very specific about photo requirements and you don’t want to risk the application being rejected, especially if you’re on a tight timeline. If you want to DIY, take the photo with baby lying down on a white sheet.

  • Check the latest processing time estimates here

    • If you’re anxious about whether it’ll come in time for your trip, you can pay an extra ~$200 to expedite it (7-9 weeks)

    • If your travels are even sooner, or you just want even more peace of mind, there is also a rush option for ~$800 that comes in just a few weeks

      • Technically, you have to have “proof of travel” that shows you have travel plans in ~3 weeks 

      • But it’s totally fine to just get to the final page on a booking website and print all of the details before you submit payment (even the “rush my passport” agents gave this advice!)

      • If the USPS agent asks, you can show the tentative itinerary and say you needed to be sure you’d get the passport by the travel date before finalizing the purchase

Sophie Smith
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