Visas for Infants & Children Travelling from India in 2026: What Parents Must Know
By Ishaani Reddy (Ishaani Reddy writes FlightGPT's family-and-logistics travel desk for Indians — fit-to-fly rules, travelling with babies and kids, special-assistance, and the paperwork that trips up first-time and nervous flyers at the airport.) · Published · Last updated · 11 min read
Even a newborn needs their own passport and visa. Here's the India-first answer page on minor visas — fee waivers, consent letters, birth certificates and documents that vary by country.
Quick answer
Yes — every child, including a newborn infant, needs their own Indian passport and their own visa for the destination. There is no "travel on the parent's visa". Many countries waive or reduce the visa fee for young children (Schengen is free for under-6 and €45 for ages 6–11), but you still file a full application with the child's passport, photo, birth certificate, both parents' documents and proof of relationship. If the child travels without one or both parents, a notarised parental consent letter is almost always required. Rules vary by country and change — verify on the official consulate/e-visa portal before you apply.
Every child needs their own passport and visa
India stopped endorsing children on a parent's passport long ago — every minor needs an individual passport. Apply through Passport Seva (passportindia.gov.in); a child's passport is valid for 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier. Both parents' details and signatures are part of the minor form. For the step-by-step process, see our guide to the child passport application in India 2026.
Once the child has a passport, they need the destination visa in their own name — even an infant a few weeks old. Immigration treats a 2-month-old and a 17-year-old identically on the question of "does this person have permission to enter". The difference is mostly in fees and the extra family documents.
Fee waivers and reductions for children (2026)
Many destinations charge less, or nothing, for young children — but a service fee (VFS/BLS) usually still applies:
| Destination | Child visa fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| Schengen | Free for children under 6; €45 for ages 6–11; €90 from 12 (per VFS/consulate 2026). VFS service charge still applies. |
| USA (B1/B2) | Same MRV fee as adults; even infants need their own visa and (usually) appointment. Under-14 may qualify for interview-waiver routes — verify. |
| UK | Standard visit-visa fee applies to children too. |
| UAE / e-visas | Often the same fee as adults, sometimes a small reduction; check the portal. |
The takeaway: budget for the application even when the fee is waived, because service charges, photos and document costs add up across a family.
Documents that are extra for minors
On top of the normal visa checklist, a child's application usually needs:
- Birth certificate — original plus copy, naming both parents (proves relationship).
- Both parents' passports — copies of the bio pages.
- Parents' visa / status — if the parents are travelling too, copies of their visas; if a parent is abroad, their residence/visa proof.
- Photos to the destination's spec — infants are photographed with a plain background, eyes open where possible, no parent visible in frame.
- Consent letter — see the next section, critical when a parent is not travelling.
- Funds / sponsorship — usually shown via the parents' bank statements and a sponsorship/cover letter.
Consulates are strict on the relationship paperwork because it doubles as a child-protection check. Bring originals to the VFS appointment even if you upload scans.
Parental consent letters — when and how
If a child travels without one or both parents — say only with mum, with grandparents, or as an unaccompanied minor — most countries want a notarised consent letter from the non-travelling parent(s), with a copy of that parent's passport/ID. The US specifically prefers a notarised letter in English from the absent parent (per US Embassy India guidance); Schengen checklists ask for written consent plus the parent's ID copy (per VFS minor checklists).
A workable consent letter states: the child's full name and passport number, the travel dates and destination, who the child travels with, and that the non-travelling parent consents — signed, dated and notarised. For ready templates and the consent-letter format, see our minor consent letter templates for India 2026. If a child flies alone, also read the airline rules in our unaccompanied minor rules (IndiGo, Air India, Emirates) guide.
Booking and flying with the child
Visa sorted, two more things matter:
- Infant tickets — infants under 2 usually fly on a lap fare (about 10% of the adult fare on international routes) with no seat; from 2 they need a child seat fare. Our guide to flying with infants from India covers tickets, baggage and bassinets.
- Names must match exactly — the name on the ticket, passport and visa must be identical, or boarding can be refused.
Compare family-friendly fares and connection times in the FlightGPT chat at flightgpt.in, and check routes like Delhi to Dubai or destination guides such as Singapore for a first trip with kids.
Date-stamp and verify
Fees and document rules above are accurate as of June 2026 (Schengen child fee free under-6 / €45 for 6–11 per VFS and consulate notices; US and UK standard fees apply to minors; US notarised-consent preference per US Embassy India). Child-visa rules and consent requirements change and vary by consulate — always verify on the official portal and VFS/BLS checklist for your destination before applying. Sources: VFS Global India common information sheet; US Embassy India parental-consent guidance; travel.state.gov travel-with-minors page; Passport Seva (passportindia.gov.in).
Frequently asked questions
Does a baby need its own visa to travel from India?
Yes. Every child, including a newborn, needs their own Indian passport and their own visa for the destination. There is no travelling on a parent's visa. Many countries waive the fee for young children, but you still file a full application. Verify on the official portal.
Is the Schengen visa free for children?
As of 2026, the Schengen visa fee is free for children under 6, €45 for ages 6–11, and €90 from age 12 (per VFS/consulate notices). A VFS service charge still applies, and you must submit the full application with the child's documents.
Do I need a consent letter if my child travels with only one parent?
Usually yes. Most countries want a notarised consent letter from the non-travelling parent, with a copy of that parent's passport/ID, when a child travels with one parent, relatives, or alone. The US prefers a notarised letter in English. Check the destination's checklist.
What extra documents does a child's visa application need?
Typically the child's birth certificate (naming both parents), copies of both parents' passports, parents' visa/status proof, a spec-compliant child photo, a parental consent letter where required, and proof of funds/sponsorship via the parents. Bring originals to the VFS appointment.
Do infants pay the full US visa fee?
Yes, infants pay the same MRV visa fee as adults and need their own US visa. Some young applicants may be eligible for interview-waiver routes, but the fee is the same. Confirm current rules and fees on the US Embassy India and travel.state.gov sites.
Can a child travel on a photocopy of the parent's documents?
No. The child needs their own original passport and visa. For the application, consulates want the child's birth certificate and copies of both parents' passports, but the child must travel on their own valid travel documents that match the ticket name exactly.