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Are you gearing up for an overseas vacation or business trip? Do you plan to take your child along? Unsure about the prerequisites for obtaining a child's passport? What are the procedures for child passport issuance in 2019? Dive into the following article to resolve your queries.
Documentation and procedures for child passport application
I. What is a Child Passport?
A child passport is an international identification document for individuals under 14 years old. It comes in two types corresponding to two different age ranges:
- Passport for ages 0 - 9: You can apply for a passport jointly with parents (or guardians) or separately.
- Passport for ages 10 - 14: Apply for an individual passport similar to adults.
II. How Do Child Passports Differ from Adult Passports?
Child passports differ from adult passports as follows:
* No need for personal appearance
Children do not need to be physically present when applying for a passport. Instead, parents (guardians) can complete the process and sign on their behalf.
* Passport Duration for Children
Generally, passports for all ages are similar, but in terms of validity, children's passports differ from adults'. Passports for children aged 0 - 14 have a validity period of 5 years, specifically:
- Passport validity for children is 5 years and cannot be extended.
- If a child's passport is issued jointly with parents, its validity is adjusted to 5 years from the date of adding the child to the passport. For example, if your passport was issued on 11/11/2018, it will be valid until 11/11/2028. However, if you request to add a child's passport on 15/06/2018, your passport will only be valid until 15/06/2023.
III. Passport/Child Passport Application: Requirements and Procedures
Guidelines for completing a child passport application form, passport application procedures
Compared to adult passport applications, applying for a child's passport is much more complex as children do not have ID cards, especially due to rapid changes in appearance. Therefore, when applying for a child's passport, you need confirmation from the local police. There are two options: joint application or individual application. For joint applications, guardians can substitute for parents but must provide legal relationship documents.
1. Documents Required for Child Passport Application
- Completed passport application form for the child, with attached photo and confirmation request
- Copy and original birth certificate
- 2 passport photos sized 3x4 (if applying jointly with parents) or 4x6 (if applying individually), taken within 3 months, parents' photos must have white background, sized 4x6
- Parent's ID card (guardian's ID, caregiver's ID ...)
- Household registration book (KT3) if registered outside the province or household registration book if registered within the same province/city of your usual residence
2. Child Passport Application Procedures
* Scenario 1: Applying for an Individual Passport for Children Aged 0 - 14
- Step 1: Fill in all necessary information on the application form including the child's details, parents' declaration, signature, and full name, then attach a 4x6 photo of the child.
- Step 2: Obtain confirmation from the local police department at the Commune or Ward where you are currently residing or temporarily staying if you have a household registration book from another province. Stamp the photo with the official seal.
- Step 3: Prepare all necessary documents as mentioned above
- Step 4: Submit your application to the immigration management office, along with a fee of 200,000 Vietnamese Dong
- Step 5: The authorities will receive your application and provide you with an appointment for passport collection
- Step 6: You can opt for home delivery or collect your passport at the designated time stated on the appointment letter
* Scenario 2: Applying for a Child Passport Jointly with Parents (Guardians, Caregivers)
- Step 1: Fill out the passport application form: Provide complete information for both the child and yourself, sign and clearly write your full name; attach a 4x6 photo of the parent(s) and a 3x4 photo of the child.
- Step 2: Obtain confirmation from the local police department at the Commune or Ward
- Step 3: Submit your documents to the immigration office along with a fee of 250,000 Vietnamese Dong.
- Step 4: The authorities will confirm and provide an appointment for passport collection.
- Step 5: You can opt for express delivery service to your home or collect your passport at the immigration office according to the appointment letter.
IV. How Long Does it Take to Get a Passport in 2019?
The processing time for child passports is similar to that for adults:
- Not exceeding 8 days when applying for a passport at the immigration management office (counted from the date of document submission)
- Not exceeding 5 days when applying for a passport at the immigration management department (counted from the date of document submission)
- Receive your passport within 1 or 2 days after document submission if you opt for expedited service.
Similar to adults, children need their own passports when traveling abroad, regardless of their age. Even newborns can be issued passports if necessary, but the validity is limited to 5 years. To expedite the passport application process for children, ensure you have all the necessary documents and follow the procedures outlined above.
For your first passport application, it's essential to understand what documents are required for a passport. Knowing how long it takes to prepare the required paperwork ensures that your travel plans for studying or working abroad aren't delayed due to passport issues.
