Child Passport from India in 2026 — Application Process, Tatkal, Validity
By Ritu Bhalla (Ritu Bhalla writes for Indian parents travelling with children — infants to teens — covering flight logistics, jet lag, baggage, pet travel and family-friendly destinations.) · Published · 11 min read
A clear 2026 guide to getting an Indian passport for your child — documents, the parental-consent rule, fees, validity, Tatkal and how to avoid common delays.
Quick answer
Every Indian child needs their own passport — they cannot travel on a parent's. Apply online via Passport Seva, book a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) appointment, and submit the child's birth certificate, both parents' passports or ID, address proof and Annexure D (consent). The fee is ₹1,000 normal or ₹2,000 Tatkal for a minor. For children under 15, the passport is valid five years or until age 18, whichever is earlier. Verify details on passportindia.gov.in.
Indian children need their own passports
A common misconception is that young children can be endorsed on a parent's passport — they cannot. India phased out the old practice, so every child, from a newborn upwards, must hold an individual passport to travel internationally. Apply as soon as you know foreign travel is planned, because appointment availability and processing can take time. There is no minimum age: you can apply for a passport for an infant, though the photo and process have small differences for very young babies.
Document checklist for a child passport
For a fresh minor passport, you typically need:
- The child's birth certificate (the primary proof of date of birth).
- Both parents' passports in original (or other identity proof if a parent has no passport), plus self-attested copies.
- Proof of present address in the parents' name — Aadhaar, utility bill, bank passbook or rent agreement.
- Annexure D — the declaration of parental consent, signed by both parents.
- Aadhaar of the child, where available.
For very young children, a specific photo on a white background may be required at the PSK. Always check the document advisor on the official Passport Seva site for your exact case, including single-parent, divorced-parent or guardian situations, which use different annexures.
The both-parents-must-attend rule
Parental consent is taken seriously for minors. As a rule, either both parents attend the PSK appointment with the child, or one parent attends with both parents' passports and a signed Annexure D from the other. If only one parent can be involved — due to divorce, separation, sole custody, a parent abroad, or other circumstances — a different annexure applies (for example, the relevant declaration for single parents or cases where one parent's consent cannot be obtained). Getting the correct annexure and signatures right is the single most common stumbling block, so confirm your scenario in advance.
Fees and processing
The standard fee for a minor passport (36-page booklet, validity up to age 18 or five years) is ₹1,000 under the normal scheme and ₹2,000 under Tatkal. A fee reduction applies for fresh applications for children up to eight years of age. Pay online when you book the appointment. Normal processing, after police steps where applicable, typically runs into a couple of weeks, while Tatkal is much faster. Keep the payment receipt and your Application Reference Number (ARN) to track status online.
Age-based validity (critical to understand)
This is the detail that trips up many parents. For children below 15 years, the passport is normally issued with five years' validity, or until the child turns 18 — whichever comes first. There is a separate option for minors aged 15 to 18 to get either a five-year passport or a full ten-year adult-style passport at the adult fee. The practical implication: a passport issued to a young child will expire while they are still a minor, so you will need to re-issue it (with a fresh photo and current details) before the next trip once it lapses or the child outgrows the old photo.
Tatkal — when it's actually fast
Tatkal speeds up a child's passport considerably — once the application is submitted and accepted, dispatch can happen within a few working days, versus a couple of weeks for normal processing. It is worth the higher fee when travel is imminent. However, Tatkal is not a magic bypass: your documents must be complete and correct, and the parental-consent requirements still apply. If anything is missing or inconsistent, even a Tatkal application stalls. So use Tatkal for genuine time pressure, but prepare the file as carefully as you would for a normal application.
Common rejection or delay reasons
Most child-passport delays come from avoidable paperwork issues:
- Missing or incorrect Annexure / consent — the top cause.
- Name spelling mismatches between the birth certificate, Aadhaar and parents' documents.
- Only one parent attending without the proper documents from the other.
- Address proof not in a parent's name, or an expired document.
- A non-compliant photo for an infant.
- Birth-certificate or date-of-birth discrepancies.
Double-check that every name, date and address matches across documents before the appointment.
Lost, damaged or re-issuance after expiry
If a child's passport is lost or damaged, file a police report (FIR) for a lost passport and apply for re-issue with the required documents and any applicable additional declaration. Because child passports expire while the holder is still a minor, re-issuance on expiry is routine — apply afresh with a current photo and updated address and parental details, following the same minor-passport process. Plan re-issue well before your next international trip so a lapsed passport does not derail travel plans. Always verify the current procedure and forms on the official Passport Seva portal.
Frequently asked questions
Can a child travel on a parent's passport from India?
No. India does not allow children to be endorsed on a parent's passport, so every child, including a newborn, must have their own individual passport to travel internationally. Apply early through Passport Seva, as appointments and processing take time. There is no minimum age to apply for an infant's passport.
What is the validity of a child's passport in India?
For children below 15, the passport is normally valid five years or until the child turns 18, whichever comes first. Minors aged 15 to 18 can opt for either a five-year passport or a full ten-year adult-style passport at the adult fee. A young child's passport will expire while still a minor, requiring re-issue.
Do both parents need to be present for a child's passport?
As a rule, either both parents attend the Passport Seva Kendra with the child, or one parent attends with both parents' passports and a signed Annexure D consent. For single-parent, divorced or sole-custody cases, a different annexure applies. Confirm the correct form for your situation in advance, as this is the most common delay cause.
How much does a child passport cost in India in 2026?
The standard fee for a minor passport is ₹1,000 under the normal scheme and ₹2,000 under Tatkal, for a 36-page booklet valid up to age 18 or five years. A fee reduction applies for fresh applications for children up to eight years old. Pay online when booking the appointment and keep the receipt.
Is Tatkal available and fast for a child's passport?
Yes. Tatkal is available for minors and speeds up dispatch to within a few working days after the application is accepted, versus a couple of weeks normally. It is worth the higher fee for imminent travel, but documents and parental-consent requirements must still be complete and correct, or even a Tatkal application will stall.
What documents are needed for a child's passport?
Typically the child's birth certificate, both parents' passports or identity proof with copies, proof of present address in a parent's name, and Annexure D parental consent. A specific white-background photo may be needed for infants. Check the document advisor on passportindia.gov.in for single-parent, guardian or divorced-parent variations, which need different annexures.
Why do child passport applications get rejected or delayed?
The most common reasons are a missing or incorrect consent annexure, name-spelling mismatches across the birth certificate, Aadhaar and parents' documents, only one parent attending without proper paperwork, address proof not in a parent's name, or a non-compliant infant photo. Verify that every name, date and address matches before the appointment.
What do I do when my child's passport expires?
Re-issuance on expiry is routine because child passports lapse while the holder is still a minor. Apply afresh through the same minor-passport process with a current photo and updated address and parental details. For a lost passport, file an FIR first. Plan re-issue well before your next trip to avoid travel disruption.
Can I get a passport for a newborn baby in India?
Yes. There is no minimum age, so you can apply for an infant or newborn's passport once you have the child's birth certificate and the parents' documents. The process is the same minor-passport route, though a specific white-background photo may be required for very young babies. Apply early if foreign travel is planned.
How long does a normal child passport take versus Tatkal?
Normal processing typically takes a couple of weeks after the application and any police steps, while Tatkal can dispatch within a few working days of the application being accepted. Tatkal is worth the higher fee for imminent travel, but your documents and parental-consent paperwork must be complete and correct either way.