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Child passport queries
If you have any queries about a child’s passport or an application for a child’s passport, you should first contact the Department of Foreign Affairs Passport Office.
The Courts Service can only provide information on situations where there is a court’s involvement in a child passport issue. These issues often relate to who signs for the passport and who looks after it.
You might want to get legal advice to better understand your particular situation.
Why apply to the court regarding a child’s passport?
You may need to apply to the court if there is disagreement or difficulty about a child’s passport. Common situations include:
One guardian refuses to sign
If there are two guardians, both need to sign the application form for a child’s passport. If one guardian refuses to sign, you can apply to the court to have the passport issued without their signature.
One guardian cannot be found
If a guardian cannot be contacted, you can apply to the court to have the child’s passport issued without their signature.
Access to a child’s passport
A court may put in place conditions about where the child’s passport is kept. For example, the passport may be held by the court, or by a named person appointed by the court, and released only under certain conditions. A guardian may need to apply to the court to have the passport released. The court will always consider the best interests of the child.
How to apply
How to apply — a step-by-step guide to applications regarding child passport issues.
