How to Apply for a Minor Child Passport in India

To get a first passport for a child under 18, you fill the application online at the Passport Seva portal, attach Annexure D (the parental consent declaration signed by both parents), upload proof of date of birth and address, pay the fee, and visit a Passport Seva Kendra for the appointment. A child below 15 gets a 36-page passport valid for 5 years or until age 18, whichever comes first. The normal fee for that under-15 booklet is Rupees 1,000.

This guide covers the straightforward first-time application by a child's parents. If your situation involves a custody fight, a missing parent, or one parent refusing to sign, that is a separate process, and you should read child passport consent and NOC disputes in separation or divorce instead, then return here for the general steps.

Anyone below 18 years of age is a minor for passport purposes. The booklet and validity differ by age:

• Below 15 years: Only a 36-page booklet is issued. You leave the validity column blank on the form. The passport is valid for 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier.
• Between 15 and 18 years: The child can choose either a 10-year validity passport or a shorter one valid only until they turn 18. The fee differs between the two choices.

These rules come straight from the official Passport Seva instruction booklet, so do not let an agent talk you into a different booklet or validity.

Keep the originals ready for verification and clear self-attested copies for upload or the appointment:

• Proof of date of birth of the child: Birth certificate is the cleanest option. The Aadhaar card or school leaving or transfer certificate is also commonly accepted.
• Present address proof: Aadhaar, a recent electricity, water or gas bill, bank passbook, or a registered rent agreement in a parent's name. The child uses a parent's address.
• Annexure D, the parental consent declaration: This is the affidavit or declaration by the child's parents or legal guardian for issue of a passport to a minor, written on plain paper. Both parents normally sign it.
• Both parents' passport copies (if they hold one): If at least one parent holds a valid passport with the child's name endorsed, police verification may be relaxed.

If a legal guardian (not a parent) applies, attach the court order appointing that guardian.

Annexure D is titled “Specimen Declaration by Applicant's Parent(s) or Guardian for Issue of Passport to Minor.” Both the father and the mother (or the legal guardian) sign it, declaring that the child is an Indian citizen, that the application details are correct, and that they take responsibility for the child. It warns that false information can lead to cancellation of the passport and criminal proceedings under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Passports Act, 1967.

Because the form gets re-lettered from time to time, always download the current version from the official Annexures page on the Passport Seva site before signing. Print it, sign it by hand, and carry the original to the Kendra. A scanned-only copy is not enough.

The legal backbone is Section 5 of the Passports Act, 1967 read with Rule 5 of the Passports Rules, 1980, which empowers the Passport Authority to issue a passport once the application and declarations are in order.

1. Register on the portal. Create an account at the Passport Seva Online portal (https://www.passportindia.gov.in) using a working email. Activate the account from the link sent to your inbox.
2. Log in and start a fresh application. Choose “Apply for Fresh Passport,” select the child as the applicant, and pick the Passport Seva Kendra nearest to your address.
3. Fill the form carefully. For a child below 15, leave the validity column blank and choose the 36-page booklet. Enter both parents' details exactly as in their own documents.
4. Choose Normal or Tatkaal. Tatkaal is faster but costs more. For most families, Normal is enough.
5. Pay the fee online and book the appointment. Payment confirms your slot. Note the Application Reference Number (ARN).
6. Visit the Kendra with the child and both parents. Carry all originals, self-attested copies, the signed Annexure D, and the appointment receipt. The child's photo and biometrics are captured there.
7. Track the status and police verification. Use your ARN to track progress. For minors whose parent holds a valid passport, verification may be relaxed; otherwise post-issuance police verification is common.

For a child below 15, the 36-page passport fee is:

• Normal: Rupees 1,000.
• Tatkaal: Rupees 3,000 (the Rupees 1,000 base fee plus a Rupees 2,000 Tatkaal charge).

Always confirm the live figure on the official fee calculator before you pay, because fees can be revised. For a 15-to-18-year-old choosing a 10-year passport, the fee is higher and depends on the booklet and validity selected.

The standard process assumes both parents consent. When that is not possible, the portal provides specific declarations: a single parent or a parent applying without the other's signature uses the prescribed single-parent or one-parent consent declaration, and the case of a deceased parent or an untraceable parent has its own annexure. These situations attract extra scrutiny. If the other parent is contesting the passport, that is a dispute, not a routine application, and you should follow the consent and NOC dispute guide.

For a child below 15, the passport is valid for 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier. A 15-to-18-year-old can opt for a 10-year passport or one valid only until age 18.

Yes, for a routine application both parents normally sign Annexure D, the parental consent declaration. If one parent is unavailable, deceased, or untraceable, a separate prescribed declaration is used in place of the joint one.

For a child below 15, the 36-page passport costs Rupees 1,000 under the Normal scheme and Rupees 3,000 under Tatkaal. Confirm the current amount on the official fee calculator before paying.

No. Children below 15 are issued only a 36-page booklet with 5-year (or until-18) validity. The 10-year option is available only for applicants aged 15 to 18 or adults.

You upload it with the application, but you must also carry the original, hand-signed copy to the Passport Seva Kendra appointment. A scanned-only version is not accepted on its own.

Gather the child's birth certificate, your address proof, and a printed, signed Annexure D before you start, so the online form goes quickly. Register on the Passport Seva portal, fill the fresh application, pay the fee, and book the earliest Kendra slot. If you hit a consent dispute or a missing-parent situation, switch to the dispute guide above. For a deeper understanding of citizen rights and how to push back when a government office stalls or refuses, read The RTI Playbook, and explore more guides at righttoinformation.wiki.

Authoritative sources: Passport Seva Online portal and the official Application Form Instruction Booklet (Passports Act, 1967; Passports Rules, 1980), Government of India.