Passport for Minors: A Parent's Guide

A passport application for a child follows the same broad process as an adult's, but with extra requirements around parental consent and proof of guardianship — which makes sense, since a minor can't independently consent to travel.

What's typically different for a minor's application

• Both parents' (or legal guardians') identity documents are usually required
• A form of parental consent is needed, and the exact form can depend on the family's specific situation
• The child's birth certificate is a core document, not just supporting proof
• Minor passports are generally issued with shorter validity than adult passports

Situations like separated or divorced parents, a single parent, or a legal guardian who isn't a biological parent each have their own specific documentation path. If any of these apply to your family, it's worth confirming the exact requirement for your situation before you start, rather than assuming the standard two-parent process applies.

A tip that saves parents time

Because minor applications often need both parents' documents, the most common delay is simply one parent's paperwork not being ready when the other's is. Gathering both sets of documents before starting the application avoids that back-and-forth.

If you're applying for your child's first passport or a renewal, send us your family's documents on WhatsApp and we'll tell you exactly what else, if anything, is needed for your situation.