When You’ll Need a Passport for Your Child and How to Apply for One

Quick Overview

• When a child needs a passport: Every child must have their own travel document. An ID card is sufficient for many European countries, but a passport is required for other destinations.
• Where to apply for a passport: A legal guardian must apply for a passport for a child under 15 in person with the child at the appropriate government office.
• How much does it cost: A standard passport for a child under 15 costs 100 Kč.
• How long does it take to process: The standard processing time is 30 days; in the Czech Republic, you can also request expedited processing.
• How long is the passport valid: Passports for children under 15 are issued for 5 years; for those 15 and older, they are issued for 10 years.

Are you traveling with a child without the other parent and unsure whether you need their written consent? Our attorneys will help you prepare a document tailored to your specific trip and advise you on how to avoid legal complications.

When is a passport required for children?

Every child, including newborns, must have their own valid travel document when traveling abroad. In many European countries, an ID card is sufficient, while a passport is required for other destinations. It’s not just a matter of whether the country is in the European Union or the Schengen Area. Before you leave, be sure to check the entry requirements for your destination country as well as for any countries you’ll be traveling through.

The bottom line is this: If you’re not 100 percent sure where you’ll end up going or which countries you’ll be passing through, it’s better to get a passport for your children as well. It doesn’t cost much, is valid for five years, and will save you a lot of stress.

If a child is traveling with only one parent, Czech law generally does not require written consent from the other parent for a typical short-term vacation. However, some foreign countries may require or recommend it. It’s a good idea to prepare this consent, especially for trips outside the EU, longer stays, or when the child is accompanied by grandparents or another person. The document should include the child’s identification information, the accompanying person’s details, the destination, and the dates of the trip. Depending on the destination’s requirements, an officially certified signature or translation may also be appropriate or necessary.

Real-life example: A mother is traveling with her child on vacation abroad, but they have different last names. Although both have valid travel documents, questions may arise during a check regarding their family relationship or the other parent’s consent. A pre-prepared travel consent form and a copy of the birth certificate can help prevent such complications.

How to Apply for a Child’s Passport, Step by Step

The process of applying for a child’s passport has several specific requirements. First and foremost, a child under the age of 15 cannot submit the application on their own. The application must therefore be submitted by a legal guardian, which is usually a parent. If you are applying for a passport for a child under 15, you must appear in person, accompanied by the child.

An official will take the child’s photo and collect the necessary information. Children under 12 do not need to provide fingerprints, so processing their passports is usually faster. Don’t forget to bring the child’s birth certificate and the legal guardian’s identification document. In some cases, you will also need proof of citizenship (if the child was born abroad and has not yet been registered in the Czech civil registry, if the parents do not have permanent residence in the Czech Republic or are newly naturalized, or if the child is adopted or in foster care).

A passport is also required for a baby

You might be thinking that your baby is only a few weeks or months old and can’t travel on their own, so why would they need their own passport? But the answer is simple—because without it, you won’t be allowed to cross the border with your baby. A baby’s passport is a fully valid travel document, just like an adult’s passport. Even if it seems to you that not even the baby’s grandmother would recognize the baby in the photo, officials see it differently.

The baby’s photo must be current and meet technical requirements—the face should be shown in a frontal view, with eyes open, and without distracting objects such as a pacifier or a parent’s hand. In practice, this means that taking the photo may be more challenging, but even a baby must go through this process.

A baby’s passport is valid for the same period as for other children under 15, i.e., 5 years. However, there is one important recommendation for newborns: given the rapid development and changes in a child’s appearance, it is better to renew the passport more frequently, especially if you travel with the child often.

How Biometric Data Is Handled for a Child’s Passport

According to the Travel Documents Act, biometric data (i.e., fingerprints) are collected from children over 12 years of age. For younger children, only a digital photograph is recorded. This means that if you’re applying for a passport for a child under 12, the process is simpler.

All children’s passports contain a chip that stores identification data. This chip is used to verify the authenticity of the document and the holder’s identity. When you pick up the passport, you can ask to have the chip’s functionality checked, which is recommended before a long trip or a flight outside the EU.

Details such as the validity period and passport number are also important

As we’ve already mentioned,a child’s passport isvalid for 5 years. This period cannot be extended in any way; once it expires, you must submit a new application, and the authorities will issue you a brand-new passport. It’s important to keep track of the expiration date, as some countries require that the passport remain valid for several months after entry.

In addition to the expiration date, be sure to note down the passport number. This is a unique identifier that you’ll need when booking flights, hotels, or visas, or when filling out travel forms. If your passport is lost or stolen, having your passport number on hand will make it much easier to communicate with authorities and the embassy.

We recommend storing your passport number securely separate from the passport itself, such as in a secure cloud storage service or as an encrypted note on your phone.

What to Do If Your Child’s Passport Is Lost or Damaged?

Have you lost your child’s passport while abroad? Don’t delay— contact the nearest Czech diplomatic mission immediately. Request a replacement travel document that will allow your child to return to the Czech Republic. Upon your return, submit a new application for a passport without delay.

Has the passport been damaged? Check whether the document is legible and whether the chip is functioning. If the passport is wet, torn, or otherwise visibly damaged, it is considered invalid, so request a replacement before your planned trip, even if it is still valid.

Losing a passport can significantly complicate a trip, especially if a child is traveling without both parents. Furthermore, if you are facing a dispute over consent for the child to travel, our attorneys will help you clarify the parents’ rights and suggest the next steps.

How long does it take to process a child’s passport?

The authorities typically issue a passport for a child under 15 years of age within 30 days for a fee of 100 CZK. If you need the passport sooner, you can request expedited processing within 5 business days for 1,000 Kč or within 24 hours on a business day for 2,000 Kč. For express processing, the pickup location is also important—a passport issued within 24 hours on a business day can only be picked up at the Ministry of the Interior.

An expedited passport for a child cannot be processed abroad, but only within the Czech Republic. Consider expedited processing only in truly necessary situations, because, for example, the photo and fingerprints cannot be arranged in advance.

Summary

A child’s passport is an important part of preparing for a trip abroad, but not every destination requires one—sometimes an ID card is sufficient. A legal guardian must apply in person, accompanied by the child, for a passport for a child under 15 years of age. Standard processing costs 100 CZK and takes up to 30 days; express options are more expensive. A child’s passport is valid for 5 years; for children aged 15 and older, it is issued for 10 years. Before traveling, it is important to verify the document’s validity, the destination’s entry requirements, and whether consent from the other parent is needed. If a child loses their passport abroad, you must contact a Czech diplomatic mission.