Passport for a Child in India: Documents, Annexures and Steps
All guides ↓Independent guide by India Customer Care. Not the Ministry of External Affairs or Passport Seva. Apply only at passportindia.gov.in.
On this page
A child's passport is applied for online like an adult's, as a Fresh application in the child's name. Both parents usually come to the PSK with the child and sign Annexure D. If one parent can't come or doesn't agree, use Annexure C. For a child born on or after 1 October 2023 the birth certificate is the only date-of-birth proof. Most children under 15 get a passport valid for 5 years or until they turn 18, whichever comes first.
Documents for every child
- Birth certificate (check the child's name and both parents' names carefully).
- The child's Aadhaar, if any, and school ID (accepted in our experience).
- Both parents' passports, if they have them, and their address proof.
- Annexure D (both parents) or Annexure C (one parent): download annexure forms.
- A bonafide certificate from the school only if the child studies away from the parents.
- Officially, children under 4 should carry one 4.5 × 3.5 cm photo on a white background. We advise one for children under 5.
Find your family situation
Both parents available and agree
Both parents come with the child and sign Annexure D. In our experience at least one parent's passport is expected in Normal. For Tatkaal, both parents must be present and both must have passports.
One parent can't come or doesn't consent
The parent who comes signs Annexure C, which lists the documents needed for each situation. Applications with one parent go in Normal, not Tatkaal.
One parent lives abroad
Use Annexure C and carry proof of the parent's stay abroad: a copy of their visa, employment ID abroad, and the passport pages with arrival and departure stamps. Missing these is a common reason files are held.
Divorced, separated or single parent
- Divorced: carry the divorce decree and the custody order. Forgetting the custody papers is a common mistake.
- Separated but not divorced, or a single parent of a child born outside marriage: Tatkaal is not allowed; apply in Normal with Annexure C.
- Parents not married who both want their names in the passport: Appendix 12 with Annexure D.
Newborn or child born through surrogacy
There is no minimum age; apply once the birth certificate is issued and correct. For a child born through surrogacy, the genetic parent(s) sign Annexure I.
Steps
- Check names and dates on the birth certificate
- Fill the form online in the child's name and choose the annexure
- Pay and book an appointment
- Parents and child visit the PSK with originals and the signed annexure
- Police verification if needed, then delivery by Speed Post
Fee for a child, including the discount for young children: passport fee calculator. Form help: how to fill the passport form.
Mistakes we see most
- The mother's name spelled differently on the birth certificate: the file is held until the certificate is corrected.
- The wrong annexure (D when one parent is absent, or C when both could sign).
- Applying in Tatkaal with only one parent: it is converted to Normal and the extra fee is lost.
- Missing documents of the parent who lives abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum age for a child's passport?
No. A newborn can get a passport once the birth certificate is issued.
Do both parents have to come to the PSK?
Normally yes, with Annexure D signed by both. If one parent can't come or doesn't consent, the other applies with Annexure C and the documents it lists.
Should a 15–17 year old take a 5-year or 10-year passport?
Children aged 15 to 18 can choose a 10-year adult passport. Most families we help choose it to avoid applying again soon.
Sources
- Passport (Amendment) Rules, 2025: proof of date of birth (gazette, 24 Feb 2025).
- Passport Seva: annexures and affidavits (Annexures C, D, I and Appendix 12), accessed 1 Nov 2026.
- Passport Seva: instruction booklet (minors, Tatkaal exclusions, photos).
- Our passport help desk in Dehradun: applicants assisted since 2019 (answers recorded Oct–Nov 2026).