New Law on Children's Passports, Aimed at Reducing Abductions: Changes in U.S. law just made it harder for minors to get passports. The State Department recently announced that signatures from both natural parents are necessary for minors obtaining passports. The law goes into effect July 2. The new law reduces the possibility of international parental abduction, said Philip T. Reeder, deputy spokesman for the State Department. “Under this new law,” he said, “a person applying for a U.S. passport for a child under 14 must demonstrate that both parents consent to the issuance of a passport to the child or that the applying parent has sole authority to obtain the passport.” The law immediately affects children from previous marriages. U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide will hold applications for any child under 14 with only one parent’s signature until evidence of the second parent’s consent is submitted. Geographically separate natural parents can submit a letter to show consent for issuing a passport.