The Ministry of External Affairs has relaxed the rules for the issue of passport for minor children (0-18 years) in a bid to streamline the application procedure.
The need for production of the original passports of the parent(s) has been done away with, and now parent(s) can submit only photo copies of their passports while submitting the applications of their minor children.
In case both parents do not hold valid passports, any of the prescribed acceptable proofs can be submitted, according to Regional Passport Officer N.L.P. Choudary.
The presence of both the parents and their consent while submission of their passport application of minor child has been relaxed as follows: if both parents are able to visit the PSK (Passport Seva Kendra), they have to give their consent for passport of their minor child in the form of Annexure-H (on plain paper).
If either parent resides abroad, consent on Annexure-H should be given duly attested by the Indian Mission abroad.
If only one parent is able to visit the PSK for any reasons like marital discord or physical unavailability of the other parent for submission of application, he/she (parent submitting application at PSK) has to give consent for passport of minor child in the form of Annexure-G (sworn before the Judicial Magistrate or Executive Magistrate).
Single parents with whom the child is residing needs to submit Annexure-C if the details and whereabouts of the other parent is not known. The single parent has the option of mentioning the name of the other parent or not.
The Passport Officer noted that the Ministry had revised the wording of the Annexure – C. G. H. The new annexure will be uploaded on the passport portal shortly.
