Emergency passport: temporary passport for a minor

Verified 06 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

In France

A temporary passport may be issued urgently on medical or humanitarian grounds. The prefectural services decide on the issue according to the situation. The passport that is issued is valid only for 1 year. We present you the information to know.

In order to be granted an emergency passport, the minor must justify an urgent displacement, in particular for humanitarian or medical reasons. For example, serious illness or death of a family member.

Warning  

Emergency issuance is granted on an exceptional basis and has no automatic character.

Île-de-France

In Paris

You can go, without an appointment, to a borough town hall with the necessary documents for your request.

Who shall I contact

The minor and his legal representative must show up set at the counter. Their presence is indispensable.

The legal representative must exercise parental authority. It could be the father, the mother or the guardian. He has to show his own ID.

In another municipality

The procedure can be done at the prefecture of your choice. However, some prefectures require a visit to the town hall beforehand.

Ask the town hall first.

The minor and his legal representative must show up set at the counter. Their presence is indispensable.

The legal representative must exercise parental authority. It could be the father, the mother or the guardian. He has to show his own ID.

Other region

The process is done at the prefecture of your choice.

Who shall I contact

The minor and his legal representative must show up set at the counter. Their presence is indispensable.

The legal representative must exercise parental authority. It could be the father, the mother or the guardian. He has to show his own ID.

The documents to be provided depend on the identity documents already held by the minor.

You have to present the documents originals.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

The minor already has a passport

His passport is valid
  • Passport of the minor
  • Identification of the legal representative
  • Proof of address
  • 1 photo ID less than 6 months and conforms to standards
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate).
Passport is expired
Expiry date: less than 5 years
  • Passport of the minor
  • Identification of the legal representative
  • Proof of address
  • 1 photo ID less than 6 months and conforms to standards
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate).
Expiry date: more than 5 years

The minor has no passport

He's got an ID card
The card is valid
  • Minor's identity card
  • Identification of the legal representative
  • Proof of address
  • 1 photo ID less than 6 months and conforms to standards
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate).
The card has been expired for less than 5 years
  • Minor's identity card
  • Identification of the legal representative
  • Proof of address
  • 1 photo ID less than 6 months and conforms to standards
  • Tax stamp of €30 (it can be bought online)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the displacement and requested by the prefecture (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate).
The card has been expired for more than 5 years
The minor does not have an identity card

FYI  

If a minor wishes to use a common name (double name) that is not yet on an identity document, other documents may be requested to justify this the use of the name of the other parent.

The cost of an emergency passport for a minor is €30 (tax stamp price).

If the application is accepted, the passport can be handed over immediately or take a few days.

If the passport is not manufactured immediately, a receipt is given. It must be presented at the time of withdrawal.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Before 12 years

The legal guardian must go to the ticket office to collect the passport.

The legal guardian signs the passport on the spot accompanied by the mention the father, the mother or the guardian.

Between 12 and 13 years

The legal representative must go to the counter with his child to collect the passport.

The legal guardian signs the passport on the spot accompanied by the mention the father, the mother or the guardian.

From 13 years

The legal representative must go to the counter with his child to collect the passport.

If the child's legal guardian agrees, the child can sign the passport.

Otherwise, it is the legal person responsible who signs the passport with the mention the father, the mother or the guardian.

If the child had a passport, it must be returned. If it included a visa, it may be retained for the duration of the validity of the visa.

The passport is valid 1 year.

Abroad

A temporary passport may be issued urgently on medical or humanitarian grounds. The authorities decide on the issue according to the situation. The passport that is issued is valid only for 1 year. We present you the information to know.

It is possible to apply for a passport for a minor regardless of age (even a baby), provided that he is a French citizen.

To benefit from this emergency issue, the minor must justify an urgent displacement, in particular for humanitarian or medical reasons. For example, serious illness or death of a family member.

Warning  

Emergency issuance is granted on an exceptional basis and has no automatic character.

You have to go to the French embassy or consulate. Find out in advance about the reception modalities.

The minor and his legal representative must show up set at the counter. Their presence is indispensable.

The legal representative must exercise parental authority. It could be the father, the mother or the guardian. He has to show his own ID.

The documents to be provided depend on the identity documents already held by the minor.

You have to present the documents originals.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

The minor already has a passport

The passport is valid
  • Passport of the minor
  • Identification of the legal representative
  • Proof of address
  • 1 photo ID less than 6 months and conforms to standards
  • €90 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulate)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate,...).
Passport is expired
Expiry date: less than 5 years
  • Passport of the minor
  • Identification of the legal representative
  • Proof of address
  • 1 photo ID less than 6 months and conforms to standards
  • €90 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulate)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate,...).
Expiry date: more than 5 years
  • Minor's recent ID card (valid or expired for less than 5 years)
  • In the absence of an identity card or if it is older, it is necessary to check whether the civil status of the place of birth is dematerialized. If it is not the case, you must provide a birth certificate of less than 3 months.
  • Proof of French nationality in special circumstances (e.g. birth abroad of foreign-born parents)
  • Identification of the legal representative
  • Proof of address
  • 1 photo ID less than 6 months and conforms to standards
  • €90 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulate)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate,...).

The minor has no passport

He has a valid ID card
  • Minor's identity card
  • Identification of the legal representative
  • Proof of address
  • 1 photo ID less than 6 months and conforms to standards
  • €90 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulate)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate,...).
He has an expired ID card
The card has been expired for less than 5 years
  • Minor's identity card
  • Identification of the legal representative
  • Proof of address
  • 1 photo ID less than 6 months and conforms to standards
  • €90 cash, money order, check or credit card (depending on the consulate)
  • Any document justifying the urgency of the trip (for example, death certificate, hospitalization certificate,...).
The card has been expired for more than 5 years
The minor does not have an identity card

FYI  

If a minor wishes to use a common name (double name) that is not yet on an identity document, other documents may be requested to justify this the use of the name of the other parent.

The cost of an emergency passport for a minor abroad is €90.

You can pay in cash. Some consulates also accept payment by credit card, check or bank transfer. Visit the consulate's website to find out how to pay.

If the application is accepted, the passport can be handed over immediately or take a few days.

If the passport is not manufactured immediately, a receipt is given. It must be presented at the time of withdrawal.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Before 12 years

The legal guardian must go to the ticket office to collect the passport.

The legal guardian signs the passport on the spot accompanied by the mention the father, the mother or the guardian.

Between 12 and 13 years

The legal representative must go to the counter with his child to collect the passport.

The legal guardian signs the passport on the spot accompanied by the mention the father, the mother or the guardian.

From 13 years

The legal representative must go to the counter with his child to collect the passport.

If the child's legal guardian agrees, the child can sign the passport.

Otherwise, it is the legal person responsible who signs the passport with the mention the father, the mother or the guardian.

The passport is valid 1 year.