Process To Apply Indian Passports for Minors

Individuals under the age of 18 years are considered as minors with respect to issuing the Indian passport. A minor, even a newborn ought to have a separate passport.  Endorsement of the minor's name in his/her father's passport is not permissible for international travel anymore under the new guidelines issued by the Indian government. All minors intending to travel abroad must apply for a passport and are issued a 36-page passport booklet accordingly.

The Validity of Minor Passport

A minor's passport comes with a validity of five years or till he/she attains 18 years - whichever is earlier. However, minor applicants between 15 and 18 years of age may apply for a passport with 10 years' validity by paying slightly higher fees. The fees for minor passports thus differ according to the category chosen.  A minor passport with a 10-year validity is issued only after the successful completion of the police verification process.

Who can Apply for a Minor's Passport?

The parent or legal guardian of a minor can apply for his/her passport. The application for minor passports usually requires certain additional documents apart from the usual age and identity proof. Here is a list of scenarios along with their corresponding additional documents to be submitted.

1. Annexure H for the passport of a minor with consent of parents.

2. Annexure H for the passport of a minor with a single parent.

3. Annexure C for the passport of a minor child born before marriage and with a single parent.  

4. Annexure H if the legal guardian is applying for the minor's passport.

5. Annexure G for an application by one of the parents when the consent of both the parents cannot be obtained.    

6. Annexure C for the passport of a minor whose parents live separately yet not divorced.

Online Application Process for Minor Passport in India

The online passport application procedure for a minor is  similar to those for adults. However, the documents required for submission may vary. Furthermore, the parent or guardian of the minor might have to be present for the passport appointment or must send his/her consent of passport issuance when the child attends the interview.

Under the new rules of passport issuance, every applicant is required to be present at the passport office or PSK to submit their biometric records and get  their photograph clicked. Even an infant applicant needs to be present at the passport office as nobody else can get the verification and issuance of passport done on behalf of another.

These are the steps to be followed in order to apply for a minor's passport:

1. An applicant or his/her parents/guardian must first register the applicant at the official portal of Passport Seva.

2. Every applicant will be allowed to set up a unique ID and password.

3. One must log in with the ID and password.

4. One must select from the two options - Fresh and Reissue.

5. One must then select the 'Tatkal' option in the 'scheme type'.

6. The application form must be filled and submitted online,

7. The payment process has to be completed.

8. One must book an appointment at the nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)

9. One has to print out the receipt of the online payment, a copy of the application form and then visit the PSK on the booked slot with all the necessary documents.

The passport application fee has to be paid online using a Credit/Debit card or Internet banking facility. Alternatively, an applicant may generate a bank challan and make the payment at any branch of SBI. However, if the applicant avails for the Tatkal mode of application, the charge of Rs.2000 cannot be paid online and has to be paid in person at the PSK during the passport interview. Here are the charges for the same:

Mode of Payment	Charges
Credit Cards (VISA / MasterCard)	1.5% + service tax.
Debit Cards (VISA / MasterCard)	1.5% + service tax.
Internet Banking (SBI)	Free.
SBI Challan	Free. (The cash should be deposited at the nearest branch of SBI after 3 hours of generating the challan and within 85 days.)

 

Visiting the PSK to Avail Minor Passport

1. The minor applicant, along with their parent or legal guardian, is required to visit the PSK.

2. All the required documents must be taken along during the time of appointment.

3. It is advisable to reach the PSK 15 minutes prior to the scheduled appointment slot.

4. Parents with minor children are generally given preference and are usually allowed to proceed without waiting in long queues. A few rounds of verification, the collection of biometrics and clicking the photograph comprises the smooth process of verification.

5. A receipt is handed over by the authority at the end of the process.

Documents Required for Fresh Minor Passport

The application for a minor's passport generally includes the submission of basic documents like  age proof, identity proof, and address proof. However, there are some special circumstances that may require the submission of  additional documents. Here is a list of the same:

Scenario	Extra Document(s) Required
Minors between 15-18 years applying for a passport with 10 years validity	If the child is eligible for ECNR category then matriculation certificate must be submitted.
Children below 18 years hailing from Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland	Declaration as per Annexure D.
Children of employees of Government/PSU/Statutory body applying for a passport without police verification	·          Declaration as per Annexure D. ·          Identity certificate in original as per Annexure A ·          Standard affidavit as per Annexure E
Children of parents with a valid passport containing the spouse’s name on it	·          Declaration as per Annexure D. ·          Attested photocopy of the passports of both/ either parent
Children of Parents who reside abroad	·          Declaration as per Annexure D. ·          Declaration as per Annexure C. (In case one parent has not consented or if Annexure D cannot be arranged)
Minors adopted by Indian Parents	·          Declaration as per Annexure D. ·          A duly attested and valid adoption deed, containing a   photo of the child. (Christians, Muslims and Parsis may submit a court order or decree granting adoption and also allowing the child to be taken out of India) ·          OR a declaration on a plain paper confirming the adoption instead.
Children adopted by foreign parents	·          CARA No Objection certificate ·          Copy of the guarantee executed before the court concerned ·          Court decree/order in respect of legal guardian
Children below 18 years whose parents are divorced	·          A declaration as per Annexure D. ·          A certified copy of the court order proving custody of the child in favor of the applicant’s parent.
Children whose parents are separated yet not legally divorced	A declaration as per Annexure C.
Children (born out of wedlock) who are brought up by a single parent	A declaration as per Annexure C.
Children of single parents, where one parent is deceased	·          A declaration as per Annexure D. ·          Death certificate of the concerned parent.
Passport application for a minor, made by one parent when the other parent has not given consent	A declaration as per Annexure C.
Passport application for a minor, made by legal guardian	·          A declaration as per Annexure D. ·          Court decree or order in favor of legal guardian
Students staying away from their parent’s present residential address	·          A declaration as per Annexure D. ·          Student ID card issued by recognized educational institutions for full-time courses ·          Bonafide certificate/letter from an authorized signatory on the official letterhead of the UGC recognized college where the child studies.
Children born through surrogacy	·          A declaration as per Annexure D. ·          A declaration as per Annexure I.

 

Minor’s Passport: Salient Features

A few important things are to be kept in mind while applying for a minor's passport:

Parent's passport

1. Both the parents are not mandatorily required to submit their passports to obtain a passport for their child. However, either the father or the mother must have a valid passport which has the spouse's name endorsed in it. This obviates the need for police verification during the issuance of the child's passport. If one parent has a valid passport without the spouse's name endorsed in it, then the couple must get the passport reissued by making the necessary changes. If the father of the child lives abroad, an affidavit has to be submitted which should  be duly attested by the Indian consulate along with the photocopy of the father's passport. Alternatively, Annexure G can also be submitted by the mother for the same purpose.

Consent of parents

1. Annexure H must carry the signatures of both the parents as it indicates their consent to  get the child's passport issued. Annexure H is basically a declaration signed by parents to give their consent for the issuance of the minor's passport. If one parent does not give his/her consent, the other parent actively applying for the minor's passport should submit Annexure G.

2. Parents with criminal background: If parents have a criminal record or unfavorable police verification reports, their minor child may be issued a passport under the tatkal mode, which is approved by a competent authority or by a Regional Passport Officer.

Photographs

1. Parents of children under 4 years of age should carry a passport-size photograph of the child (dressed in black, against a white backdrop) to the PO or PSK during the time of the interview.

2. The head should be in the center of the photograph and both the ears should be clearly visible. Eyes should be open and visible clearly.

3. Photographs of children above 4 years are clicked at PO/PSK.

4. Frontal view of the face should be prominently visible in the photograph.

5. Applicants should have a natural, non-dramatic expression while being photographed for their passports.