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Passport for a child in India: consent, validity and the PSK visit

On paper, a passport application for a child is a declaration by the parents. The child is the applicant, but the document that decides how the appointment goes is the consent the mother and father sign. Most questions about a passport for a child in India come back to that form, so this article starts there and then covers validity, the photograph and the visit itself.

Every child needs a separate passport

Passport Seva treats anyone below 18 as a minor. A child's name can no longer be endorsed in a parent's passport, and the FAQs give that answer for a one-month-old baby too (Passport Seva FAQs on services available).

The consent form: Annexure D or Annexure C

The FAQs say that, ideally, both parents or the legal guardian sign Annexure D in fresh and re-issue cases, to safeguard the interest of the minor. Their table matches each case to a form:

  • Both parents consent. Annexure D.
  • A legal guardian applies. Annexure D.
  • One parent has died. Annexure D, with the death certificate of the deceased parent.
  • One parent or guardian applies and the consent of one or both parents is not possible. Annexure C, a declaration that states the reason.

If one parent lives abroad, the parent submitting the application in India signs the form and obtains the other parent's consent in Annexure D. If that consent cannot be obtained, the FAQs point to Annexure C with the applicable reason. Separation, divorce and custody cases carry conditions of their own, so ask the Passport Office about yours before you book.

Who goes to the appointment

The child must be there. The FAQs make physical presence mandatory for all applicants, infants included, at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). Biometrics and the photograph are taken there.

For the parents there are two options. Both attend, or one attends carrying the passports of both. The FAQs add that the officer in charge may call for the other parent if not satisfied with the signature on Annexure D. If only one of you can go, keep the other reachable that day.

How long a child's passport lasts

The validity of a minor's passport is restricted to five years, or to the day the holder turns 18 if that comes sooner. In practice:

  • A passport issued at age 3 runs for five years and needs re-issue at age 8.
  • A passport issued at age 16 on the minor option runs only until the holder turns 18.

From 15 to 18 there is a choice. The applicant may take a passport valid until 18, or a full 10-year passport, and different fees apply to each. The FAQs on police verification say the 10-year option for this age group is processed with verification before issue.

Only the 36-page booklet is issued to minors. When a child's appearance has changed, the FAQs give re-issue as the way to change the photograph.

The photograph

For a child below 4, you carry a photograph to the appointment. For applicants above 4, the photograph is captured at the centre itself. The portal's photograph guidelines describe a recent colour picture of 4.5 cm by 3.5 cm on a plain white background. It shows a frontal view of the full face, with the eyes open.

That specification is for the Indian passport. A visa photograph follows the destination's own specification, which may differ.

Police verification

The FAQs say verification is generally not required for a minor's passport with validity limited to five years, where all of the following hold. Either or both parents hold a valid passport. The name of either parent is mentioned in the spouse's passport. And the consent of both parents is available in Annexure D. The final decision on the mode rests with the Passport Office.

If your family does not fit that description, expect the office to decide the mode when you apply.

Fees and urgent cases

Take the amount from the Fee Calculator on the portal. A notice there says passport application fees are revised with effect from 1 July 2026. The FAQs mention a rebate of 10 per cent on the applicable fee for fresh applications for minors up to the age of 8. Confirm it in the calculator before you pay.

A child's passport can be sought under Tatkaal. The FAQs on Tatkaal passports say applicants below 18 submit any two documents from the List of Acceptable Documents for the scheme. The conditions that apply to everyone are in our article on passport re-issue before a trip.

ECR status on a child's passport

Minors issued a passport valid for five years or until 18 are automatically given ECNR status, according to the FAQs. If a child's passport does show ECR, the same page says to apply for re-issue to change it. What the two labels mean is explained in ECR and ECNR on an Indian passport.

Before the family trip

Put the child's passport ahead of everything else in the plan. It expires sooner than yours, so check each child's booklet against the destination's own validity rule, which we set out in passport validity for travel. A visa application also needs the passport number, so the booklet has to be in hand first. Keep the child's birth certificate and both parents' passports together from the start, because a destination's checklist may ask for them.

The passport itself is a matter between you and Passport Seva. For the family's visas, GoVisaX can assist with reviewing the documents required for your application. If several relatives are travelling together, see our group visa page and our guide to planning visa applications for a family group.

Sources

GoVisaX is a private visa facilitation service, not an embassy, consulate or government authority. Visa decisions rest solely with the issuing authority. Requirements change, so confirm the current rules with the official source before you apply.

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