Minor Passport Questions and Answers [FAQs]
Minor passports in India are issued to children under 18, typically with 5-year validity or until age 18, with 10-year validity options for ages 15-18.
Question-1: What is the definition of minor for issue of Passport?
Answer: Applicants less than 18 years of age are considered as minor for issuance of Passport.
Question-2: I have a one-month old baby? Does the baby require a separate Passport or his/her name can be endorsed in one of the parent’s Passport?
Answer: Endorsement of child’s name in parent’s Passports is not allowed anymore. As per the amended instructions, a minor should have a separate Passport.
Question-3: In case of minor’s Passport, whose father is abroad, is it mandatory to obtain father’s consent to apply for the child’s Passport? If so, what is the procedure?
Answer: Ideally, both the parents/legal guardian should sign Annexure ‘D’ in fresh or re-issue cases (to safeguard the interest of minor applicants). Both parents shall be present at the PSK/POPSK while applying for Passport for their minor children or one parent with Passports of both the parents may be present (PSK in-charge may call for other parent, if not satisfied with the signature on Annexure-D). In case either parent is resident abroad, the parent who is submitting the application in India will sign the application form and obtain the consent of other parent in Annexure-‘D’. In the cases where consent of either parent is not possible to be obtained, declaration in form of Annexure-C may be provided with applicable reason.
Question-4: I am a minor who is 16 years old. Is it possible for me to obtain a full validity Passport of 10 years?
Answer: Children between the ages of 15 and 18 have the option to apply for a minor Passport valid until he/she attains the 18 years of age or full validity Passport of 10 years. Different fees are applicable for different validity.
Question-5: What would be the validity of a minor’s Passport?
Answer: The validity of a minor’s Passport is restricted to five years or till they attain the age of 18, whichever is earlier. Minors aged between 15 to 18 years may refer to question above.
Question-6: Who can apply for my minor child Passport in India if I am offshore?
Answer: Ideally, both the parents/legal guardian should sign Annexure ‘D’ in fresh or re-issue cases (to safeguard the interest of minor applicants). Both parents shall be present at the PSK/POPSK while applying for Passport for their minor children or one parent with Passports of both the parents may be present (PSK in-charge may call for other parent, if not satisfied with the signature on Annexure-D). In case either parent is resident abroad, the parent who is submitting the application in India will sign the application form and obtain the consent of other parent in Annexure-‘D’. In the cases where consent of either parent is not possible to be obtained, declaration in form of Annexure-C may be provided with applicable reason.
Question-7: Is it true that Passport applications for minors under 18 require consent of either both parents or legal guardian?
Answer: Ideally, both the parents should sign Annexure ‘D’ in fresh or reissue cases (to safeguard the interest of minor applicants). Both parents shall be present at the PSK while applying for Passport for their minor children or one parent with Passports of both the parents may be present (PSK in-charge may call for other parent, if not satisfied with the signature on Annexure-D). However, when consent of either parent is not possible, the parent who is submitting the application may provide declaration in form of Annexure-C with applicable reason must submit a declaration in the form in Annexure-‘C’ stating the reasons.
Following documents have to be submitted in the given cases:
| S.No. | Case | Documents to be submitted |
| 1 | Passport application of a minor with consent of both parents | Annexure “D” |
| 2 | Applied by Legal Guardian | Annexure “D” |
| 3 | Minors with single parent (One parent deceased) | Annexure “D” along with Death Certificate of deceased parent |
| 4 | Applied by one parent/guardian when consent of one or both parents is not possible | Annexure “C” |
Question-8: My spouse is living in another country. How do I get his/her signature for consent while applying for my child’s Passport?
Answer: Ideally, both the parents/legal guardian should sign Annexure ‘D’ in fresh or re-issue cases (to safeguard the interest of minor applicants). Both parents shall be present at the PSK/POPSK while applying for Passport for their minor children or one parent with Passports of both the parents may be present (PSK in-charge may call for other parent, if not satisfied with the signature on Annexure-D). In case either parent is resident abroad, the parent who is submitting the application in India will sign the application form and obtain the consent of other parent in Annexure-‘D’. In the cases where consent of either parent is not possible to be obtained, declaration in form of Annexure-C may be provided with applicable reason.
Question-9 : I want to apply for my child’s Passport. Are signatures of both parents mandatory on Annexure D to be submitted along with the application? What if my spouse is refusing to sign the form?
Answer: Ideally, both the parents should sign Annexure ‘D’ in fresh or reissue cases (to safeguard the interest of minor applicants). Both parents shall be present at the PSK while applying for Passport for their minor children or one parent with Passports of both the parents may be present (PSK in-charge may call for other parent, if not satisfied with the signature on Annexure-D). However, when consent of either parent is not possible, the parent who is submitting the application may provide declaration in form of Annexure-C with applicable reason must submit a declaration in the form in Annexure-‘C’ stating the reasons.
Following documents have to be submitted in the given cases:
| S.No. | Case | Documents to be submitted |
| 1 | Passport application of a minor with consent of both parents | Annexure “D” |
| 2 | Applied by Legal Guardian | Annexure “D” |
| 3 | Minors with single parent (One parent deceased) | Annexure “D” along with Death Certificate of deceased parent |
| 4 | Applied by one parent/guardian when consent of one or both parents is not possible | Annexure “C” |
Question-10: I wish to apply for a Passport for my child who is 12 months old. Can I apply for a 60 pages (Jumbo) booklet?
Answer: No, only 36 pages Passport booklet are issued to minors.
Question-11: If parents have valid Passport, however, the background details of the parents is adverse in the Passport database, can Passport be issued to minor on an urgent basis?
Answer: In such cases, minors can be issued Passport under Tatkaal scheme subject to the approval of the Competent Authority.
Question-12: Do I need to carry photographs of my 3 months old child while visiting the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/ Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK)/ Passport Office (PO)?
Answer: Minor applicants below the age of 4 years need to carry a Passport size photograph for the processing of application at the PSK/POPSK/PO. For applicants above the age of 4 years, photographs will be captured at the PSK/POPSK/PO itself. Please Click Here for guidelines for capturing photographs for minors below 4 years of age.
| S.No. | Do’s | DonT’s |
| 1 | Paste ONLY ONE COLOUR photograph as per the specifications given below | Do not paste black and white photographs |
| 2 | Paste your recent passport size photograph (4.5 cm length x 3.5 cm width) in colour in the box meant for affixing the photograph | Dimensions of photograph should not be smaller than the box (i.e. 4.5 cm length x 3.5 cm width) provided in the application form |
| 3 | Background of the photograph should be plain white and the dress should be in dark colour | Photograph with dark background or in uniform, or with eyes hidden under coloured or dark glasses will not be accepted |
| 4 | Photograph should fit within the given box | Photograph in computer print will not be accepted |
| 5 | Frontal view of the full face should be visible in the photograph | Photograph is NOT to be signed |
| 6 | Photograph should be printed on good quality photo paper | Distracting shadows on the face or on the background should not be there |
| 7 | Print of the photograph should be clear and with a continuous-tone quality | Eyes must not be covered by hair. Glares on eyeglasses should be avoided with a slight upward or downward tilt of the head |
| 8 | Expression of the face should be natural (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows) | Photograph should not be damaged, for example: torn, creased, or marked |
| 9 | Eyes must be open and both edges of face must be clearly visible | Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, but the facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly visible |
| 10 | Head should be in the centre of the frame and both ears should be visible | Photographs cut from group photographs are not acceptable |
Question-13: What is the fee payable for the Passport of a minor?
Answer: Please refer to Fee Calculator on the home page. A rebate of 10 per cent is given on the applicable Passport fee for all fresh applications for minors up to the age of 8 years.
| Passport Seva Website |
