Quick Answer
For a US child under 16, a parent or authorised representative can request a free protected-consumer credit freeze separately at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Each bureau needs proof of identity and authority; if no file exists, it creates a record to freeze. Keep all three confirmations. A freeze makes new-credit fraud harder but does not stop every kind of identity theft.
A child may not discover identity fraud until a first loan, benefit claim or other application fails. Freezing a file is a preventive step you can take before there is a problem. The process below covers US nationwide credit bureaus; it is not a procedure for a UK or other country’s credit system.
What Are the First Steps?
Request a freeze from each of the three credit bureaus individually. They don’t share freeze requests, so a freeze with Equifax has no effect on your child’s file at Experian or TransUnion.
Request a Separate Freeze at All Three Credit Bureaus
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion keep separate records and each has its own process for freezing a minor’s credit. Skipping one leaves a gap, since lenders can request a report from any of the three.
Understand What a Security Freeze Can and Cannot Stop
A freeze restricts access to the credit file and makes many new-credit applications harder to approve. It is not a guarantee that nobody can open an account, use an existing account, claim benefits or misuse a child’s information elsewhere. Federal freeze protections have exceptions, including certain existing-creditor, government, employment, insurance and tenant-screening uses. Keep protecting identity documents and reviewing suspicious notices.
A freeze also doesn’t remove fraudulent accounts that already exist. If you find unfamiliar entries during the process, you’ll need to dispute them separately.
Check Who Can Request a Freeze for a Child
Parents and legal guardians can request a freeze for a child under 16. Equifax also allows someone with power of attorney to submit a request, as confirmed on its security freeze page.
Once your child turns 16, they can manage their own freeze. The freeze stays active until someone requests its removal.
Which Documents Will You Need?
Prepare a separate packet for each bureau
You’ll need paperwork to prove three things: who you are, who your child is and your legal right to act for them. Missing or mismatched documents are a common reason requests are delayed.
Prove Your Identity and Your Child’s Identity
For your identity, bureaus generally accept a copy of your driver’s licence or other government-issued ID, plus proof of your current address, such as a utility bill or bank statement. For your child, you’ll typically need a copy of their birth certificate and Social Security card. Equifax asks for both to verify a child’s identity, as explained in its freezing your child’s credit report FAQ.
Send copies, not originals. Mailing original identity documents creates an unnecessary risk if the envelope is lost or delayed.
Show That You Can Act on Your Child’s Behalf
If your name is on your child’s birth certificate, that document usually satisfies this requirement. If you’re a legal guardian rather than a birth parent, include a court order, adoption decree or other proof of guardianship. Equifax also accepts a lawfully executed power of attorney or foster care certification.
Before mailing, check that names and addresses match across all documents. Inconsistent details between your ID, your child’s birth certificate and your proof of address can cause requests to be rejected or delayed.
How Do You Submit the Three Requests?
Use each bureau’s instructions for a minor or protected consumer, rather than its standard adult online-account workflow. Equifax and TransUnion require mailed documentation for protected-consumer requests. Experian’s minor-services page describes mail and secure document submission options; identify the exact service you are requesting and follow its directions.
Check Each Bureau’s Current Form and Submission Rules
Experian offers an online form through its Child Identity Theft Services centre. Print and mail it with your supporting documents to Experian, PO Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013, or by overnight mail to Experian, 701 Experian Parkway, Allen, TX 75013. Equifax has its own Minor Freeze Request Form, which you can mail to Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348.
TransUnion has no form. Instead, write a letter requesting a “protected consumer freeze” for your child and mail it with your documents to TransUnion, P.O. Box 380, Woodlyn, PA 19094, according to Experian’s step-by-step guide to requesting a minor freeze.
Before mailing, check each bureau’s current instructions directly, since requirements and forms can change. A request based on outdated information may be returned.
Send Separate Requests Without Mailing Original Documents
Each request needs its own complete set of document copies. You can’t send one shared set across all three envelopes because each bureau processes and keeps its own copies.
If you have more than one child, you can mail multiple requests at once, but each child needs a complete, separate set of supporting documents.
Keep Copies and Track Any Posted Requests
Use certified mail with a return receipt for each envelope. This gives you proof of delivery and a paper trail if a bureau says it never received your request, as recommended in guidance from the Identity Theft Resource Center on requesting a credit freeze for a minor.
Keep a copy of everything you mail, including completed forms or letters and all supporting documents. Store these with any confirmation letters or PINs the bureaus send, since you may need them later to lift the freeze.
What Should You Do After Submitting?
Wait for written confirmation from each bureau before assuming the freeze is active. Equifax says that once it receives all the documents, creating and freezing a minor’s file can take up to three business days. Processing across all three bureaus may take longer.
Confirm That Each Freeze Is in Place
Each bureau sends a confirmation letter once it has placed the freeze. If a bureau asks for more information instead, respond promptly with the missing documents so it can continue processing your request.
If you haven’t heard back within a reasonable time after your certified mail was delivered, contact the bureau directly to check the status of your request.
Investigate an Unexpected Credit Report or Signs of Fraud
If a bureau finds a credit file, review the actual accounts and inquiries. A child listed as an authorised user on an adult’s card may have a legitimate file; the existence of a report alone is not proof of theft. For entries you do not recognise, contact the relevant company’s fraud department, dispute them with the bureau and use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. A freeze does not remove an already fraudulent entry.
You can report child identity theft through the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft reporting service or by calling 877-ID-THEFT. Look out for other warning signs, too, such as mail addressed to your child about credit cards, loans or collections. These may appear before you otherwise notice a problem.
Keep the Confirmations for Future Lifts or Removal
Store each bureau’s confirmation letter and any PIN it issues in a safe place. You’ll need this information if you or your child later wants to temporarily lift or permanently remove the freeze.
Keep the Freeze in Place Until Your Child Needs Credit
A child credit freeze stays active indefinitely, so you don’t need to renew it or repeat the process once all three bureaus confirm it. It remains in place as your child grows, until they’re ready to apply for credit themselves.
At 16 or 17, a minor can request a freeze or removal using each bureau’s procedure. For a protected consumer under 16, a parent, guardian or other legally authorised representative supplies the required proof of authority. Do not assume a child’s birthday automatically removes an existing freeze, or that an adult’s online workflow applies to a minor. Follow the bureau’s current identity-verification and submission instructions.
There’s no charge to place, lift or remove a freeze at the three nationwide bureaus. A paid credit lock or monitoring subscription is a separate choice, not a requirement. A freeze does not change the information in a credit report or reduce a credit score.
Keep the three confirmations with your secure family records so your child can manage access when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you freeze your child’s credit online?
Use each bureau’s minor-specific procedure. TransUnion requires a mailed protected-consumer request; Equifax requires its minor form and documentation by mail. Experian describes mail and secure document submission for minor services, so follow its current instructions for the specific request. Do not assume an adult online freeze account works for a young child.
Is it free to freeze your child’s credit?
Yes. Placing, lifting and removing a security freeze is free. Paid monitoring or a credit lock is a different product and is not required to obtain a freeze.
Can you freeze a child’s credit if no credit report exists?
Yes. A bureau can create a protected-consumer record for the purpose of freezing it. This is not the same as opening a credit account or building a credit score.
How can you tell if someone is using your child’s Social Security number?
Unfamiliar bills, collection notices, tax or benefit problems warrant investigation. Ask each bureau for a manual search and review any file found. An authorised-user account can also create a legitimate file, so verify the entries instead of assuming every existing file proves fraud.
When can your child lift or remove their credit freeze?
The freeze does not expire automatically at a birthday. Minors aged 16 or 17 can request their own freeze or removal under the bureau’s procedures. TransUnion requires a mailed request at that age; Equifax accepts phone or mail, with online myEquifax accounts reserved for adults. Keep confirmations and follow each bureau’s proof-of-identity requirements.
Sources and image credits
Primary guidance: FTC child identity theft; CFPB protected-consumer freezes; Equifax minor freeze FAQ; Experian minor services; TransUnion freeze FAQ.
Images: Impulsec illustrations. The diagram shows the three-bureau request and confirmation process.
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Stuart Kerr Spindlow is Impulsec’s Publisher, Chief Editor and Lead Reviewer. He writes and maintains coverage of consumer cybersecurity and digital-safety software, with a focus on practical suitability, limitations and the evidence behind product claims. Read Stuart’s full profile.