Passport for Minors

Passport for Children: Key Highlights

In India, anyone under 18 years of age is considered a minor. Before children could be endorsed on their father's passport for international travel, there was no need to apply for an individual passport. However, this facility is no longer available as per the new instructions issued by the Indian government. Children, including newborns and older ones under 18, must have apply for passport for minors.

Passport requirement for minors differs from normal passport procedures in India and requires parents or legal guardians. Let’s learn some of the key features of passport for minors in India:

* Fee will vary with the service opted and is subject to change with time and government regulations.

As you prepare for your upcoming journey and apply for your ward’s passport, don’t forget to secure your trip with a travel insurance plan. Many international travel insurance plans also come with passport loss coverage. Other than medical or flight-related financial emergencies, it will safeguard you from threats like the loss or theft of your passport while travelling.

Procedure to Apply for Indian Passport for Minors

A child’s parents or legal guardians can apply for a passport for minors. Without the consent of the minor’s parents or legal guardians consent, a minor can’t apply for a minor passport in India. The following are the steps to apply for a minor passport in India:

Step 1: Go to the official Passport Seva Portal and create the minor's login ID and password.

Step 2: Log in to the account and click on the online application passport.

Step 3: Click on Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport and start a fresh application.
Choose the alternative you want to fill the passport form for minors: online or by downloading the form.

Step 4: Carefully fill in all the details accurately. Avoid any mistakes or omissions.

Step 5: Pay the required application fee. The fee will be higher if you have applied for a Tatkal passport for the child.

Documents Required for Minor Passport in India

A Passport application for minors requires the following documents:

• Proof of date of birth (birth certificate issued by the concerned municipal corporation)
• Proof of present address
• Declaration confirming the particulars furnished in the application as per Annexure D
• Passport copy of the parent/parents applying
• Present proof of address of parents
• Passport-size photograph of the minor and parents (both or either) applying. The photo should be in the size 4.5 cm in length x 3.5 cm in width.

Please note that passport requirements for minors will vary for special cases.

Additional Documents Required for Minor Passport

Other than the proof of birth and residence, additional documents will be required depending on the category opted by the applicant. These are some extra documents required for passports for minors:

• Declaration confirming the particulars furnished in the application as per Annexure D/Annexure C/Annexure I as per the requirement
• A standard affidavit, according to the Annexure E
• Original identity certificate according to the Annexure A
• Attested photocopy of either or both parent's passport
• A valid court-attested deed of adoption of the child
• CARA No Objection certificate, court decree and copy of guarantee executed by the court in case of minor children adopted by foreigners
• Certified copy of the child’s custody in favour of the applicant parent (for children of legally divorced parents)
• Death certificate of the spouse (for children with one deceased parent)
• Student ID card issued by any government-recognised educational institute if the applicant is a student
• A bonafide letter from the authorised signatory of UGC recognised college on official letterhead

Passports for minors may require additional documents as special cases require extra documents for minor passport applications.

Indian Passport for Minors: Eligibility

Passport for minors in India is valid for five years or until that child turns 18 years old, whichever is earlier. While applying for a passport for children, there are options to apply for two age groups:

• Minors below 15 years of age
• Minors aged between 15 and 18 years

For minors below 15 years, the passport booklet issued is 36 pages. However, the validity can be of 5 years or 10 years.

Minors falling under one or more of the following cases are eligible to apply for a minors passport in India:

• Minors aged 15-18 years
• Minors from Nagaland and Jammu & Kashmir
• Minors whose parents are employees of government/PSU/SU/Statutory body
• Minors whose parents hold an Indian passport with their spouse's name endorsed
• Minors whose parents reside abroad
• Adopted minors
• Children of divorced parents
• Children of separated parents who have not divorced legally
• Children of single parents
• Minors who have the consent of one parent but not the other
• Passport applied for by a legal guardian when one or both parents are not consenting to the child’s passport
• Passport applied by the legal guardian
• Minor students staying in a different residence from their parents’
• Minor children who have been born through surrogacy
• Minor dependents of Diplomatic/Official passport holders
• Minors who have had a change of name

Passport Renewal for Minors

If a passport for minors is about to expire or needs to be renewed for some reason, then this can be done by following the same procedure through the passport seva portal website. All they need to do is to select the ‘Reissue of passport’ option when selecting the application type.

For passport renewal for minors, proceed according to the age requirement and select the reason for applying for the re-issue. Choose between the normal or tatkal scheme and completing the passport application. Fill the passport form for minors online and proceed with fee payment.

One thing to note is that minor passports are issued in two categories:

• Applicants below 15 years of age
• Applicants between 15-18 years of age

In the case of children between 15-18 years, passport renewal for minors can be opted for either 5 years validity or until the applicant turns 18 years, whichever is earlier. They can also opt for a passport with 10-year validity. If opting for 10 years validity passport, then the applicant can choose between a 36 pages booklet and 60 pages booklet. Documents required for minor passport renewal are similar to the ones required for a fresh passport, with additional documents depending on case-to-case basis.

Passport Fees for Minors

The cost of passport fees for children applying from India will vary with their age, validity and number of pages in their passport booklets. Passport fees for minors will be different for fresh passport applicants and re-issues.

Annexures for Minor Passport

Several special cases may require additional documentation due to a lack of regular ones. Given below are the annexures under which the applicant can provide an affidavit along with the required documents:

• Annexure D: For minor passport applicants who are living with a single parent
• Annexure C: For minor passport applicants who can’t obtain consent from one of their parents
• Annexure E: Standard affidavit affirming all the details provided for the passport application are true
• Annexure G: For minor passport applicants who can’t obtain consent from both the parents
• Annexure H: For those minors who live with their legal guardian

Mode of Payment for Minor Passports

There are multiple modes of available for the fee payment of minor passports in India. You can choose any of the given options below:

• Pay via the SBI payment portal on the Passport Seva Kendra
• Pay via credit cards/debit cards/wallets
• Payment through SBI bank challan
• Tatkal passport fee requires regular fee payment online and the remaining amount in cash when you visit the Passport seva kendra

Please note that apart from SBI internet banking and SBI bank challan, additional 1.5% + service charges will be applicable.