Passport of a minor: first application - Abroad

Verified 29 septembre 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior

Your situation

  • Demand abroad
  • The minor does not have an identity card
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Step-by-step approach

The minor and his legal representative must travel to the French embassy or consulate of the country in which they wish to apply.

The service may require that the file be filed only by appointment.

It is necessary to inquire with the embassy or consulate of France.

Documents to be provided

You have to present the documents originals.

The documents to be provided vary according to whether the minor already has an identity card or not:

If the legal representative is a guardian, other documents must be presented to prove the exercise of parental authority.

FYI  

If the 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.

Decide how to withdraw the passport

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In the European Union, Norway, the United Kingdom or Switzerland

You can request that the passport be sent to you by mail. But you have to be registered at register of foreigners from the same country, have an email address and be able to transmit files via the internet.

If you request the sending by post, you must provide at the time of filing the file, in addition to the necessary supporting documents, a postage-paid envelope purchased from the authorized service provider in the country. Inquiries must be made with the consulate to determine the authorized service provider, the size of the envelope to be provided and the postage required.

If you do not indicate anything at the time of filing, you will have to withdraw the passport instead of filing the file.

If you prefer to withdraw it from a authorized honorary consul, this must be indicated at the counter when the application is submitted.

Elsewhere in the world

In some countries, you can request that the passport be sent to you by post. But you have to be registered at register of foreigners from the same country, have an email address and be able to transmit files via the internet.

In this case, at the time of submission of the application, a postage-paid envelope purchased from the authorized service provider in the country must be provided in addition to the necessary supporting documents. Inquiries must be made with the consulate to determine the authorized service provider, the size of the envelope to be provided and the postage required.

If you do not indicate anything at the time of filing, you will have to withdraw the passport instead of filing the file.

If you prefer to withdraw it from a authorized honorary consul, this must be indicated at the counter when the application is submitted.

  • If the minor is between 0 and 14 years old, the tax stamp costs €27
  • If the minor is between 15 and 17 years old, the tax stamp costs €52.

The purchase of the tax stamp can be done online :

Online purchase of the tax stamp - Passport

The tax stamp can also be purchased directly on-site in cash. Some consulates also accept payment by credit card, check or bank transfer. It is recommended to consult the consulate's website to find out how to pay.

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 passport is not made on site. It cannot therefore be issued immediately.

Manufacturing times depend on the location and period of the request. For example, as the summer holidays approach, delays may be longer.

When a mobile phone number has been indicated during the application, an SMS is sent once the passport is available.

It is possible to follow the progress of the application on the website of theANTS: titleContent :

Track the status of a passport application

The passport that is issued is a biometric passport.

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On site

Before 12 years

The legal representative must be present either at the place of filing of the file or with a authorized honorary consul or a head of diplomatic or consular post to collect the passport.

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

A minor's passport is valid for 5 years.

Between 12 and 13 years

The legal representative must be present either at the place of filing of the file or with a authorized honorary consul or a head of diplomatic or consular post with his child to collect the passport.

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

A minor's passport is valid for 5 years.

If they become of legal age before their expiry date, they can continue to use them and do not need to apply for a new passport.

From 13 years

The legal representative must be present either at the place of filing of the file or with a authorized honorary consul or a head of diplomatic or consular post with his child to collect the passport.

If his legal representative agrees, the minor can sign the passport.

Otherwise, it is the legal representative who signs on the spot accompanied by the mention the father, the mother or the guardian.

A minor's passport is valid for 5 years.

If they become of legal age before their expiry date, they can continue to use them and do not need to apply for a new passport.

By mail

If the receipt of the passport by post was requested when the file was submitted, a sending notification email, including a secret code, is sent to you.

The receipt of the passport must then be confirmed via the following online service:

Declare receipt of passport

A minor's passport is valid for 5 years.

If they become of legal age before their expiry date, they can continue to use them and do not need to apply for a new passport.

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