A child passport application is more than routine paperwork. It’s a legal declaration. Parents, or those with parental responsibility, must provide accurate information and complete consent correctly. Making false or misleading claims may be a breach of passport law and, in serious cases, may become a fraud offence.
The requirements for child passport applications are there to help keep children safe from risks like child abduction.
If the application you complete for a child is false or incomplete, there are consequences, these could be:
- Delays in processing the application
- The application is rejected and a refund may not be provided. You will need to submit and pay for a new application
- Referral for further investigation in serious cases.
Here are the four main issues we see and how to avoid them:
1. Parental consent
Each parent must give their own consent. You can’t sign for someone else even if you’ve talked about it or have an agreement.
2. Signatures
You must sign with ink on paper. We don’t accept digital or scanned signatures.
3. Witnesses
A witness is an eligible adult who must watch the parent sign the declaration in person and cannot witness the signature after the event. They cannot be a relative, be in a relationship with a parent or live at the same address.
4. Guarantors
A guarantor is required to physically complete Section 11 of the application and must meet the eligibility requirements. A witness and guarantor can be the same person if eligible.
We work hard to process child applications as quickly as possible. You can help by submitting a complete and accurate application.
If you don't have full parental consent or a relevant Australian court order, you can ask us to assess your child passport application under ‘special circumstances’. See Parental consent for further information.