How to get a passport for your newborn in India before their first flight (2026 step-by-step guide)
By Ishaani Reddy (Ishaani Reddy writes about the consumer-protection side of travel — DGCA passenger rights, OTA refund policies, hidden fees, dynamic-currency-conversion traps and the seven kinds of booking mistakes that quietly drain Indian travel budgets.) · Published · 10 min read
Getting an Indian passport for a newborn is more paperwork than you expect and takes longer than the internet suggests. The PSK (Passport Seva Kendra) process requires the birth certificate, both parents' passports, and a photo that most photo studios have never tried to take of an infant. Here is what actually works, including the turnaround you should realistically count on.
TL;DR — the short answer
To get an Indian passport for your newborn, you will apply at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) after registering on passportindia.gov.in. You need the baby's birth certificate (registered with the municipal authority), both parents' valid Indian passports (or proof of citizenship if no passport), and a passport-size photograph of the infant. The photo is the hardest part — the infant must have their eyes open, face forward, plain white background, and no parent visible in the frame. Realistically, plan for 3–6 weeks from the date of your PSK appointment to receiving the passport by post. In most cities, PSK appointments for minors are available within 1–2 weeks of applying online — but this varies by city and season. Start at least 8 weeks before your intended travel date to give yourself buffer.
Documents you need for a newborn's Indian passport application
The Ministry of External Affairs publishes the official checklist on passportindia.gov.in — always cross-check there, because documents can be updated. As of 2026, the standard list for a minor passport (children under 18) is:
- Proof of date of birth: Birth certificate issued by the Municipal Corporation, Panchayat, or hospital — it must be the registered certificate, not just the hospital discharge slip. This takes some families by surprise; the hospital-issued birth summary is not the same as the official registered birth certificate. Registration typically takes 1–4 weeks after the birth — start immediately.
- Proof of address: Either parent's Aadhaar, voter ID, utility bill, or any document from the standard MEA address-proof list in the child's name or parent's name. For a newborn, a parent's proof of address is accepted.
- Proof of parents' citizenship: Both parents' valid Indian passports are the cleanest proof. If either parent does not have a passport, they will need other citizenship proof (Aadhaar + birth certificate combination).
- Annexures: For a minor where both parents have Indian passports and are applying together, Annexure A (declaration by parent) may be required. If only one parent is present for the application, Annexure C (declaration by the absent parent) is also required, and must be notarised. Download these from passportindia.gov.in — do not use older versions from the internet.
- Photograph of the infant (detailed requirements in the next section).
One administrative tip that trips up a lot of parents: the birth certificate must show the child's name, or you need a separate name declaration. If you registered the birth without a name (which happens frequently in India when parents are still deciding), you will need to first get the name endorsed on the birth certificate at the municipal office before the passport application. This adds time — do it immediately after naming the baby, do not wait.
The infant passport photo: how to actually get it right
This is the part that causes the most grief, and the most rejected applications. The MEA's photo specifications for Indian passports apply to infants too — but the standard instructions ('look straight at the camera, eyes open, neutral expression') are not exactly easy to get from a three-week-old.
What the photo must show: the baby's full face, looking forward, eyes open, plain white background, no parent's hands or body visible in the frame, no hat or headwear, no photographic filters or excessive editing. The image size is 3.5 cm x 3.5 cm.
How to actually take one:
- Lay the baby on a plain white sheet (a white bedsheet or a piece of white card) on a flat surface. Natural diffused light is best — not direct sunlight.
- Position yourself directly above the baby with your phone camera, and take multiple shots while getting the baby's attention (a rattle, a sound, or a sibling making faces usually gets the eyes open and the face looking up).
- The baby does not need to 'sit up' — a lying-down photo from directly above, with face forward and eyes open, is acceptable. Many parents do not know this and waste time trying to prop up a newborn.
- Take the digital file to any photo studio and have them print it to passport dimensions with a white background. Most decent studios in India can crop and print this correctly.
- Avoid photo studios that insist on taking the photo themselves and do not have experience with infants — the result is often a crying baby with eyes closed. DIY and bring the file is faster and more reliable.
If the PSK officer rejects the photo, they will tell you the reason. You can retake and resubmit without losing your appointment slot in most cases — but it does slow things down.
The PSK appointment and application process, step by step
Here is the sequence:
- Register on passportindia.gov.in. Create an account if you do not have one. Fill in the online application form for a fresh passport (minor). You can save drafts and return to it.
- Select your PSK or POPSK. Most metro cities have multiple PSKs. POPSK (Post Office Passport Seva Kendras) have expanded significantly across smaller cities and often have faster appointments than central PSKs. Choose one based on appointment availability, not just geography.
- Book the appointment. Morning slots go fast. The system opens new slots regularly — if your preferred PSK has no availability, check at off-peak hours (early morning or late night) when the slot release cycle sometimes adds new dates.
- Attend the PSK. Both parents must ideally be present with the newborn for a minor application. If only one parent can attend, bring Annexure C (absent parent's declaration, notarised). At the PSK, documents are verified, biometrics are taken (for the child, this is just a photograph at the counter — fingerprints and iris are not collected for children under 5), and the application is filed.
- Police verification. For a first-time passport applicant at a new address, police verification may be required. This is the variable in the timeline. In many metro cities, police verification is now done post-dispatch (the passport is sent before verification), but in some zones it may still be pre-dispatch. Ask at the PSK which type applies to your address.
- Passport dispatch. You get an SMS and can track on the passport website. Delivery is via Speed Post to your registered address.
Realistic timeline: 3–6 weeks from the PSK appointment date if police verification is post-dispatch. If pre-dispatch verification is required, add another 2–4 weeks. Some applicants in well-organised zones get it in under 3 weeks; others in congested zones wait 6–8 weeks. Do not book a fixed-date international flight without the passport in hand.
Tatkal option: does it work for newborns?
Yes, the Tatkal scheme is available for minor passports including newborns. The Tatkal fee is around ₹2,000–₹3,500 over and above the standard passport fee (verify the current fee on passportindia.gov.in — fees are revised periodically). Tatkal applications are processed within 1–3 working days of the PSK appointment.
A few things about Tatkal for infants: you still need the same documents, so if your birth certificate is not ready or the name has not been registered yet, Tatkal does not help. Police verification may still be required (Tatkal passports require a verification affidavit in lieu of standard police verification in many cases — the affidavit comes from the applicant, not the police). In practice, many parents find that a Tatkal application for a newborn still takes 1–2 weeks end-to-end because of the affidavit and Speed Post steps.
If you have a genuine medical emergency or unavoidable travel within days, contact the nearest Regional Passport Office (RPO) directly for an emergency appointment. These are granted case by case.
After the passport: what else do you need for the baby's first international flight?
Passport in hand, the next steps:
- Visa: The baby needs their own visa for any country requiring one. Add the infant to the family visa application or apply separately, depending on the destination country's rules. For Schengen countries, each family member including infants gets their own visa sticker.
- Airline infant ticket: On international routes, infants under 2 not occupying their own seat pay around 10% of the adult fare (varies by airline and route). Book this through the same booking as the parents — do not add the infant as a separate booking. The infant must be added to the parents' PNR. Call the airline after booking online if the system does not allow infant add-on — some OTAs and airline sites have quirks here.
- Bassinet request: For long-haul flights, request a bassinet seat (bulkhead row) at the time of booking or as soon as possible after. Bassinets are limited — they go fast on popular routes.
You can search and compare fares for a family with an infant on FlightGPT. Also useful: our guide on pram and stroller rules on domestic Indian flights, and for Schengen trips, see family Europe trip flight planning from India.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a passport for a newborn in India?
Realistically, 3–6 weeks from your PSK appointment date under normal (non-Tatkal) processing. The variables are police verification type (post-dispatch is faster, pre-dispatch adds time) and Speed Post delivery. With Tatkal, PSK processing is 1–3 working days but total turnaround is still often 1–2 weeks. Start the process at least 8 weeks before your travel date.
Do both parents need to be present at the PSK for the baby's passport?
Ideally yes — both parents should attend with the infant. If one parent cannot attend, they must provide Annexure C (a declaration by the absent parent) notarised by a notary public or first-class magistrate. Download the current version from passportindia.gov.in — older versions may not be accepted.
Does the birth certificate need to have the baby's name on it?
Yes — the passport application requires the child's name to appear on the birth certificate. If you registered the birth without a name (a common situation in India), you need to get the name endorsed on the birth certificate at the municipal office before applying for the passport. This is a separate step that can add 1–2 weeks.
Can I take the infant passport photo at home?
Yes, and it is often easier than going to a studio. Lay the baby on a plain white sheet, position your phone camera directly above, get the eyes open and face looking up, and take the photo yourself. Then take the digital file to any photo studio to print at passport dimensions. The baby does not need to be sitting up — lying-down photos taken from above are acceptable for infants.
What is the fee for a minor (infant) passport in India?
As of 2026, the standard fee for a 5-year minor passport (valid for 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier) is in the range of ₹1,000–₹1,500. The Tatkal surcharge is additional. Verify the exact current fee on passportindia.gov.in before applying — fees are periodically revised.
Does the infant need a separate visa for international travel?
Yes — infants need their own visa for any country that requires one, even if they are not occupying a separate seat. For Schengen countries, each family member including newborns must have their own visa sticker in their own passport. The visa process for infants is the same as for adults, just applied with the infant passport and accompanying documents.