Consent for Children

What are the requirements for parents' or guardians' consent to passport applications for children under 18 years of age?

Section 7 of the application deals with parental consent for children.

When applying for a passport for all children under 18 years of age, the consent of all guardians is required, unless the child is married. Guardianship should not be confused with custody, which involves the day to day caring of the child. This consent must be witnessed.

Parents/guardians must:

• Fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 of the passport application form in the presence of a witness.

The witness must:

• Complete, sign and stamp section 7, including a work landline phone number - mobile phone numbers will not be accepted
• Sign each column separately if they witness both parents/guardians' signatures

Your consent witness can be a:

• Police Officer
• Member of clergy
• Medical doctor
• Lawyer
• Bank manager/assistant bank manager
• Elected public representative
• Peace commissioner
• School principal/vice principal
• Accountant

Parents are married or were married

Both parents may fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 in the presence of a suitable witness provided the father is still a guardian

Parents are unmarried but the father has been appointed a guardian

Both parents may fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 in the presence of a suitable witness.

Where the consent of one parent is not available:

The following possibilities may arise where one parent is unwilling or unavailable to give their consent for their child's passport to be issued:

(i) Parent are married or were married

If one parent is unwilling or unavailable to give their consent for their child's passport to be issued, a court order dispensing with that parent's consent will be required to proceed with the child's application. This Court Order should direct the Passport Service to dispense with the consent of the unwilling/unavailable parent and allow the Passport Service to issue a passport to your child.

(ii) Parents were married but one parent is deceased

The living parent may fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 in the presence of a suitable witness.

The original death certificate of the deceased parent together with a Sole Guardian Affidavit form (AFF1) must be submitted. This affidavit should be completed in the presence of a solicitor/commissioner for oaths confirming that the living parent is the dole legal guardian of the child. Print an AFF1 form.

(iii) Only the number is named on child's birth certificate

The mother of the child must fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 of the passport application form in the presence of a suitable witness.

She must also complete a sworn affidavit form (AFF1) in the presence of a solicitor/commissioner for oaths, confirming her as the sole legal guardian. Print an AFF1 form

Parents are not married but both are named on child's birth certificate

Child born in Ireland: 

Both parents may fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 in the presence of a suitable witness.

If the mother is the sole legal guardian of the child, she must complete a sworn affidavit form (AFF1) in the presence of a solicitor/commissioner for oaths. Print an AFF1 form.

If the child's father has been granted guardianship rights from the courts, or both parents have completed a Statutory Declaration stating that the father has become a joint-guardian, then the consent of the father is required.

For more information on a Statutory Declaration, contact a solicitor or commissioner for oaths.

Child born in Northern Ireland or Great Britain

If the child's father is named on the birth certificate and the birth was jointly registered by both parents, the father is deemed to have parental responsibility (guardianship) of this child, irrespective of the marital status of the parents.

This was passed into law in the following jurisdictions on the following dates:

• Northern Ireland: 15 April 2002
• England and Wales: 1 December 2003
• Scotland: 4 May 2006

Before this legislation, only the mother was considered an automatic guardian.

Born before legislation

If the child was born before the above dates and the mother is the sole legal guardian of the child, she must complete a sworn affidavit form (AFF1) in the presence of a solicitor/commissioner for oaths. Print an AFF1 form.

Born after legislation

If the child was born in one of these countries after the above dates, both parents must fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 in the presence of a suitable witness.

Please contact us if your circumstances are not listed.