2026-09-0211brief

State Dept draft rules would require parents to prove their own citizenship to get a child a passport

Draft guidance implements Trump's narrower August 6 order on "birth tourism."

A child's passport application already requires a parent's ID and proof of the parental relationship. Reuters reported that a State Department draft would add a new demand: parents or guardians would also have to show proof of their own citizenship or immigration status.

What's in the draft:

  • The draft is not public. Reuters described its contents; no State Department official has confirmed on the record that the requirement is in it.
  • The department has not said whether the draft is final, or when any change would take effect.
  • A State Department spokesman said the passport process must "fully reflect" how the administration defines American citizenship. He did not address what the draft says.