What are the different possibilities for a single parent to apply passport for a minor?
There are some special cases where minors require a passport with a single parent. The government of India has made some special provisions for them so that they do not remain devoid of a passport. These are:
- Exclusion of father/mother name from a minor passport in the case of single-parent custody: the Ministry of External Affairs has now made it a provision for minors to provide the names of either their father or mother or a legal guardian. They are not required to mention the names of both their parents to get their passports issued.
- Divorce pending cases: if the separation case is still pending before the court, the concerned parent is required to get permission from the court to apply for the minor’s passport without asking the other parent. You can either present a declaration with a valid reason in the form of Annexure-C.
In this scenario, the minor requires a passport if he/she wants to stay with one of the parents who is already working or staying abroad.
- Single divorced parent with exclusive custody of a child without the other parent having visitation rights: in this case, the custody of the child is given to one of the parents where the other parent does not have the rights to visit the child. Here, no consent of the other parent is required. However, you need to submit a certified copy of the court order and Annexure C. The copy should be signed by the single parent.
- Single separated parent: this is the scenario where the parents have got separated without a formal divorce. Here, the parent who has been given custody of the child can submit a declaration form in the form of Annexure C.
- Unwed mother’s child: unwed mothers can obtain a declaration in Annexure C or D for their children, the name of whose father is either known or unknown. These could be children born after crimes like sexual assault. You can leave the name of the father blank.
- Children born outside the wedlock: children who were born outside of wedlock i.e., their biological parents being different from the official parents can get their passports if both the biological parents sign the declaration in the form of Annexure D. In this case, the prerequisite is that the biological parents should accept the parentage and assure that the child was born without any legal mention of their marriage.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a mother apply for a child’s passport without the father’s consent?
A mother can apply for a child’s passport without the father’s consent if she has single custody of the child. You are required to submit some strong evidence of the sole custody of the minor.
- Who signs a minor’s passport?
If the passport application is submitted for a minor passport, both the parents are supposed to sign the passport. However, in the case of a single parent, both signatures are not required.
- How do I get a passport for my 7-month-old?
The procedure is the same to get a passport for your 7-month-old. However, the documents required are slightly different. They are as follows:
- Birth certificate of the baby
- Proof of current address
- Passport photo of the baby on white background
- Appointment receipt
- Marriage certificate of the parents
- Annexure H (filled and signed) obtained from Passport Seva Kendra