Ruqayyah Snyder
Applying for a baby's passport in Australia involves several steps and requirements. The application process includes filling out the correct forms and providing necessary documents, such as the child's birth certificate, name change documentation, court orders, and passport photos that comply with the guidelines. It is important to ensure that all sections of the application form are accurately completed and signed by the relevant individuals. This typically includes the parents and, in some cases, a guarantor who meets specific criteria. Consent from those with parental responsibility is also essential. The process may vary depending on whether the application is made in Australia or overseas, and there are different provisions for children of different age groups.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can lodge the application? | A person with parental responsibility for the child. If no one with parental responsibility consents to the child having a passport, then a person with caring responsibilities can lodge the application. |
| Where to get the application form? | Application forms are available online. If you cannot complete an online form, collect a blank form at a participating Australia Post outlet. Ask for the 'Application for an Australian Passport - Child' form. For children, the form is purple. |
| What to do if the child is 16 or 17 years old? | The child must come with you when you lodge the application. If the child is located at a long distance, you can provide written authorization to another adult to lodge the application on your behalf. |
| What documents are required? | Two passport-sized photos, parental photo ID, proof of address, name change documentation (if applicable), birth certificate, court orders (if applicable), citizenship certificate (if applicable), translation of documents not in English, and any other documents requested on the application form. |
| Who can be a guarantor? | An adult Australian citizen who has known the child for at least one year or since birth if the child is under one year old. The guarantor must sign Section 11 of the application form and endorse the back of a passport photo. |
| What is the processing time? | Allow a minimum of 6 weeks to receive the child's passport. Applications without consent from everyone with parental responsibility may take much longer. |
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What You'll Learn
Application form and consent
To apply for an Australian passport for your baby, you will need to fill out an 'Application for an Australian Passport - Child' form. You can do this online or, if you are unable to, you can collect a blank form from a participating Australia Post outlet. The form for children is purple.
Application Form
When filling out the form, you will need to provide the following information:
- The child's name in Section 12, which must match the name in Section 2 (including middle names).
- The parents' names as they appear on the child's birth certificate in Section 13A and 14A.
- The parents' current names in Section 13B and 14B. If these differ from the names on the birth certificate, you will need to provide evidence of the name change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.
- The signature of one parent in Section 15, signed in front of a witness who is not related to the family and does not live with either parent.
- If the child is aged 10 or over and applying in Australia, their signature in Section 16.
- If one parent is completing the form on behalf of the child, they will need to fill out Section 17.
Consent
Consent from everyone with parental responsibility is required for a child passport. All consenting parties must sign Section 15 of the form in front of a witness. If they are unable to do so because they are in different parts of the world, you can follow the instructions provided by the Australian Passport Office.
If there is only one parent listed on the birth certificate, or if you are unable to obtain consent from all parties with parental responsibility, you may need to provide supplementary information.
Guarantor
You will also need a guarantor to sign Section 11 of the form and endorse the back of one of the child's passport photos. The guarantor must be an adult Australian citizen who has known the child for at least one year (or since birth if the child is under one year old). They cannot be related to the child or the child's parents and must not be in a de facto relationship with a person who has parental responsibility for the child.
Supporting Documents
In addition to the completed application form and passport photos, you will need to provide the following supporting documents:
- The guarantor's Australian passport or citizenship certificate.
- The lodging parent's valid government-issued photo ID and proof of address.
- Any court orders or additional passport forms required to establish who has parental responsibility for the child.
- If the child's name is changing, an approved name change document.
- If the parents' names have changed since the child's birth, name change documentation such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.
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Guarantor requirements
When applying for a baby passport in Australia, you will need a guarantor unless you are qualifying for a passport renewal. Here are the requirements that a guarantor must meet:
- The guarantor must be an adult Australian citizen who has known the child for more than one year or since the child was born if the child is younger than one year old.
- The guarantor must be related in some way to the child, to a person who has parental responsibility for the child, or be in a de facto relationship with the person who has parental responsibility, or live at the same address as the child or a person with parental responsibility.
- The guarantor must sign Section 11 of the application form.
- The guarantor must endorse the back of a passport photo by writing, "This is a true photo of [the child's full name]" and signing in black pen. This must be done within six months of the interview date.
- The guarantor must not be related to the applicant's family by birth or marriage.
- The guarantor must be eligible.
- The guarantor cannot be a member of passport staff.
If you are applying for a baby passport from outside of Australia, you must provide a guarantor. You can obtain a guarantor from a country where you previously lived, such as Australia.
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Parental responsibility
Firstly, it is important to know that the Australian Passport Office defines "parental responsibility" according to subsection 11(5) of the Australian Passports Act 2005. Generally, this means that a person has parental responsibility if their name is listed on the child's full birth certificate. This indicates that the person has legal rights and obligations regarding the child, including the right to make decisions about the child's welfare and future. However, it is important to note that only an Australian family court can remove or change the parental responsibility of a parent named on a full birth certificate. In some cases, people not named on the birth certificate, such as welfare agencies, may also have been granted parental responsibility by the court.
When applying for a baby's passport, the parental responsibility holders must provide consent. This means that everyone with parental responsibility must sign the relevant sections of the application form (Sections 15, 16, and 17) in front of a witness. The witness cannot be related to the child by birth or marriage and should not be in a de facto relationship with any person who has parental responsibility or lives at the same address. If parents are in different locations, they can sign and scan the relevant pages to submit with the application. This process ensures that all individuals with parental responsibility are involved in the decision-making process and agree to the issuance of the passport.
In certain situations, additional documentation may be required to establish parental responsibility. For example, if the parents' current names differ from those on the child's birth certificate, name change documentation, such as a marriage certificate or court order, must be provided. This is also necessary if the child's name has legally changed. Additionally, if there are any court orders related to the child, they must be disclosed, as they may impact parental responsibility and consent for international travel.
Obtaining a baby's passport in Australia requires careful consideration of parental responsibility. By understanding the legal definition, obtaining the necessary consents, and providing the required documentation, parents and guardians can ensure a smooth application process and secure a passport for their child.
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Supporting documents
When applying for a baby's passport in Australia, you will need to provide supporting documents along with the completed application form. Here is a list of the supporting documents you may need to include:
- Consent from all parties with parental responsibility: Everyone who is giving consent must sign Section 15 of the form in front of a witness. If the child is aged 10 or older, they must also sign Section 16 of the form.
- Passport photos: You will need to provide two passport-sized photos that comply with the photo guidelines. One of these must be endorsed by the guarantor, who should write "This is a true photo of [child's full name]" on the back and sign it using a black pen.
- Proof of identity for the lodging parent: The lodging parent will need to provide one piece of valid government-issued photo ID.
- Proof of address for the lodging parent: This should be the parent's US address unless they are passing through the US as a tourist, in which case they should use their regular overseas address.
- Name change documentation for parents: If the parent's current name differs from the name on the child's birth certificate, provide a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order to explain the name change.
- Name change documentation for the child: If the child's name is changing, provide an approved name change document.
- Court orders related to the child: Provide all court orders issued in relation to the child.
- Supplementary information: If the child was adopted, born via surrogacy, has only one parent on the birth certificate, or you cannot obtain consent from all parties with parental responsibility, you may need to provide additional information.
- Parental documentation: Provide one parent's Australian passport, which was valid at the time of the child's birth, or the child's Australian citizenship certificate.
- Translations: If any documents are not in English, provide translations from an approved translator.
- Guarantor signature: A guarantor, who meets the eligibility requirements, must sign Section 11 of the application form.
Please note that you should carefully review the application form and the official Australian government website for a comprehensive list of required documents, as the specific requirements may vary depending on your individual circumstances.
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Passport photos
The Australian Passport Office has specific guidelines for passport photos. You will need to provide two identical printed photographs, taken within the last six months. The photos must be 35mm to 40mm wide and 45mm to 50mm high, with the size of the face from chin to crown between 32mm and 36mm. The background should be plain white or light grey, and the lighting uniform with no shadows or reflections. The child's face must be centred, looking straight at the camera, and the photo must show their full head from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead, with the edges visible. No part of the face should be obscured by jewellery or reflections from rings or studs.
If your child is under one year old, their eyes do not need to be open and facing the camera, and their mouth does not need to be closed. If you need to support their head with your hand, make sure it is not visible in the photo.
It is recommended that you get your child's passport photo taken by a professional passport photo provider, such as a post office, camera store, or pharmacy. You can also use a service like Visafoto, which can format your photos to meet the guidelines.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need to submit the following:
- A completed ''Application for an Australian Passport - Child' form.
- Two passport-sized photos that comply with the photo guidelines.
- One parent's Australian passport that was valid at the time of the child's birth or an Australian citizenship certificate for the child.
- Name change documentation for the parents if their names differ from the child's birth certificate.
- Translations of any documents not in English from an approved translator.
- If the child's name is changing, an approved name change document.
- All court orders issued in relation to the child.
- If the child was adopted, born as a result of surrogacy, has one parent only on the birth certificate, or you are unable to obtain the consent of all parties with parental responsibility, you may need to provide supplementary information.
- One piece of valid government-issued photo ID for the lodging parent.
- Proof of address for the lodging parent.
A guarantor must be an adult Australian citizen who has known the child for more than one year (or since birth if the child is younger than one year old). They cannot be related to the child or the child's parents in any way.
Yes, consent is required from everyone with parental responsibility for the child. If consent cannot be obtained from everyone with parental responsibility, you may need to provide supplementary information.
Please allow a minimum of six weeks to receive your child's passport. An application without consent from everyone with parental responsibility will take much longer. If you are in a hurry, there are options for urgent applications, but these are only available at the time of lodgement.
