Do I need a passport for a child under one year old?
In Russia, according to Law No. 114-FZ of July 18, 1996 and Decree No. 13 of the Government of the Russian Federation of January 19, 2010, if a citizen of the Russian Federation has a need to travel abroad for treatment, work, recreation or for any other reason, he needs international passport (identity card). A foreign passport will also be required for a child under 2 years old. The only difference from adults is that persons under 14 years of age also need to carry a birth certificate.
You shouldn’t get a child’s passport immediately after the arrival of a new family member, because... appearance changes quickly. Therefore, it is better to issue a child’s international passport immediately a couple of months before the planned trip.
Why does a child need a passport?
A foreign passport is a document that allows travel outside the Russian Federation, movement within the territory of other countries and entry back into Russia.
Do not confuse the internal passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, which is a symbol of coming of age, gives rights and responsibilities and indicates independence and civic maturity.
The function of a foreign passport for adults and children is proof of identity and citizenship in other countries.
Does a minor, especially a child under 2 years old, need a foreign passport?
Yes, definitely needed!
From March 1, 2010, Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 13 of January 19, 2010 established the procedure for a child’s departure from the territory of the Russian Federation. This right is given only by a personal foreign passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.
The procedure for the departure of a minor citizen with parents or other accompanying adults (relatives, guardians, teachers, etc.), or without parents, is regulated by Art. 20 and Art. 21 of Federal Law No. 114 - Federal Law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation” dated August 15, 1996, as amended, with instructions and regulations of the Main Directorate of Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Border Service of the FSB.
If at the time of departure the child is not yet 14 years old and he was included in the old-style parental passport before March 1, 2010, it is allowed to cross the Russian border without a foreign passport.
However, difficulties may arise with entering another country. Without going through passport control of the country where you were going to go, you will have to return back. Plans will be disrupted and the trip will not take place.
To avoid unpleasant situations, it is easier to issue a foreign passport for each traveler. Moreover, if the parents have new-style biometric passports, which do not include any information about the children.
Some CIS countries provide preferential conditions for minor children. You can cross the border and enter Belarus, Moldova, Armenia and Kazakhstan without a passport. It is enough to have a stamp on Russian citizenship on the baby’s birth certificate.
Even if the child has his own foreign passport, he must take his birth certificate with him. Border services in many countries require this document, especially if the child and parent have different surnames.
A foreign passport can be issued for children of any age, even in the first month of life.
Choosing a passport for a child: which type is preferable
There are two versions of this document - an old-style international passport and a biometric one. Both are legal but have some differences.
Biometric:
- there is an electronic chip with information about the owner;
- valid for 10 years;
- registration cost 2500 rubles;
- the child’s personal presence is required during registration;
- there is no possibility of quick registration;
- expedited customs clearance.
Old style passport:
- valid for 5 years (relevant when issuing a passport for an infant);
- costs less (1000 rub.);
- the child’s personal presence is not required during registration;
- There is a possibility of urgent registration.
How to choose which international passport to get for your child. It's simple. You should understand why you need it. If you travel frequently, choose biometric. This will significantly speed up border crossing. Although, of course, it will have to be changed ahead of schedule - the child will grow up and change his appearance.
If trips are not frequent, it is more logical to choose an old-style international passport for your child.
Which international passport is better?
There are two types of foreign passports in the Russian Federation: old and new. Both have the same legal force.
Parents can choose for themselves which type of passport to issue for their child, depending on their personal wishes, financial capabilities, time frame and number of foreign trips.
New passport
This is a biometric passport. It contains a special microcircuit (electronic chip) with the following information:
— personal data (digital photo, full name, date and place of birth);
— passport data (passport number, date of issue and expiration date);
— biometric data (iris pattern, fingerprints).
For children under 12 years of age, fingerprinting (fingerprinting) is not required.
Biometric passport, as opposed to a “simple” one:
- consists of 46 pages;
- takes longer to process;
- issued for a period of 10 years;
- Expensive;
- The presence of the child in the relevant authorities when submitting documents is mandatory.
Despite the fact that a biometric passport has a multi-stage security system, it is preferable to apply for an old format passport.
If the microcircuit fails, there are unapproved, but working ICAO recommendations - treat it as normal, not biometric, since the data specified in the passport is unchanged.
Old style passport
There are no restrictions, special rules regarding this document or differences in the passport control procedure at the border. The passport is valid for the entire period specified on it, and you can save time and money.
Children grow and change quickly, especially in the first five years. You can “update” the document before the expiration date if the child’s appearance has changed significantly.
For example, if the first passport was received at two weeks of age and the photo shows a baby, then at 2-3 years the baby looks different.
For children, it is more profitable to take an old-style passport because:
- the passport will be ready faster, which is especially convenient if the foreign trip is spontaneous and there is little time for preparation;
- it is inexpensive, which is important if you have to issue travel documents for several children at once;
- When registering (submitting an application and issuing a passport), the presence of a child is not necessary;
- a sufficient number of sheets for visas and border service marks (36 pages);
- The period during which the issued passport is valid is 5 years.
Some regional (or district) migration departments are not equipped with the appropriate equipment and issue old-style international passports.
In others, on the contrary, they issue biometric cards to everyone, citing the fact that soon only they will be valid, and this is indeed the case.
What documents are needed for a child’s passport?
In order not to waste a lot of time on registration, you should find out in advance what documents are needed for a foreign passport for a newborn child up to one year:
- birth certificate, original and copy must include a record of Russian citizenship;
- passports of parents or legal representatives with copies of all pages;
- application, questionnaire for parents to receive a document;
- receipt confirming payment of the duty;
- 4 photographs measuring 3.5 by 4.5 cm.
The procedure for obtaining a passport for a child under 1 year of age is almost the same as for an adult. The only documents required for a foreign passport are submitted by parents or guardians.
Among these documents is an application form. This form must be filled out exclusively in block letters, legibly and without corrections. Filling out on a computer is allowed. A GUVM employee pastes the photo onto the application form.
In addition to the above, additional documents may be required for registration. For example:
- guardians must provide documents confirming guardianship;
- if the parent and child have different surnames, you may need a certificate of marriage or divorce, a document on change of surname;
- document on Russian citizenship, if this information is not on the birth certificate.
What type of passport should I choose?
Since 2010, migration legislation in Russia has provided for two types of this document: regular and biometric. The difference in such passports is significant. The most basic thing is the use of radio frequency fingerprint identification. The new type of document has an increased degree of security during registration, but there is also a high probability of damage to the microchip sewn into the plastic sheet.
In addition to the validity period (the biometric passport is designed for 10 years of use and is equipped with additional pages), the new document does not contain a field for entering information about children. In a regular international passport, which is valid for 5 years, on pages 34 and 35 the fields are intended for entering information about children.
Old style
If a child is traveling with his parents, it is enough to simply supplement the package with a birth certificate when submitting documents for a foreign passport. However, if the document was ready before the birth of the child, the owner is faced with the question: either order a new foreign passport, entering the baby on the appropriate pages, or make a separate document for the child. In this case, it is cheaper and more practical to ask not for a passport with a modern chip, but for a regular one.
Biometric
It is not advisable to issue such a document for newborns. Firstly, they grow quickly and their appearance often changes - at the control point the child may not be identified by a passport that was received 5 or 9 years ago. Secondly, this option is more expensive. No one is included in the new type of parent document. At what age do children get a biometric passport? Federal Law-114 states that the procedure is possible from birth until the age of 14 years. After this, the minor child has civil responsibility, receives a passport and can even work and get married. Accordingly, the list of documents for a teenager’s international passport will be slightly changed.
Where can I get a child passport?
How to get a foreign passport and where to apply? There are several options:
- Contacting the Department for Migration Issues (GUVM) according to registration or residence is not always convenient, especially for young parents because You can stand in line all day.
- In special centers (MFC) according to registration or residence - here you can sign up in advance and come at the appointed time.
- Online, on the State Services website.
How to apply for a foreign passport through State Services? The procedure is quite simple:
- the child should be photographed (this photograph is not for a document, but for an application);
- fill out the electronic application form;
- select the method of receiving notifications that is convenient for you in the settings;
- receive a notification that your application has been accepted;
- pay the fee according to the receipt sent to you;
- then you will receive an invitation to the GUVM branch of your choice to submit original documents;
- at the reception, the electronic data will be verified with the original documents and the child will be photographed;
- receive notifications that the document is ready;
- get a passport.
Instructions for obtaining a document
How to get a foreign passport for a child, what to do? Firstly, you need to know that only a parent or legal representative can handle the registration of a passport. No reason can allow giving the right to issue a passport for a child to another third party.
To submit documents, you can contact the MFC (multifunctional center), the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (federal migration service) or the State Services website. Here you can choose any convenient option. For example, the MFC is good because you can find out all the information in one window and submit documents here. You won’t have to go to different offices looking for certificates. The only caveat: you will need to receive a passport at the Main Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. By filling out an application and submitting it through the State Services portal, a citizen frees himself from unnecessary visits to various organizations. But at the same time, of course, you must have the entire package of documents on hand.
Package of required documents:
- A completed application form.
- Photocopies of parents' passports.
- Two photos.
- Birth certificate and its copy.
- If you already have a foreign passport, you must provide it.
The person submitting the documents (parents or guardian) must fill out a form. Be sure to fill out the form in block letters; you can also fill it out on a computer and then print it out. It is worth noting that corrections, errors, typos, strikeouts, and corrections by a proofreader are strictly prohibited. The form is printed on one sheet of paper on both sides. Be sure to make copies of your parents' passports.
You must pay the state fee. This can be done at branches of Sberbank of Russia or using the State Services portal. The cost of a new passport for a child is 2,500 rubles. An old passport will cost much less - 1000 rubles. It is worth noting that the State Services portal provides a discount of 30% of the cost of the passport. In this case, you need to pay online through the State Services portal itself.
Are there any requirements for photographs? Yes, I have. First of all, the photo must be clear and without any defects. Photo paper should be matte. The background for the photo must be white. All these nuances are known in photo studios, where you can take photographs without any problems. If a biometric passport is being issued for a child, then his presence will be required to take a photo right in the center where documents will be submitted.
It is necessary to say separately about glasses. If the child wears them constantly, then there is no need to take them off. But if he wears them periodically (puts them on when reading), then the photo should be taken without them. Eyes in glasses should be clearly visible, the frame itself should not distort the face.
Regarding photographing newborns, we need to say something separately. Not all photographers can cope with such a task as photographing a baby. The most important thing here is to catch the right moment so that the child looks at the camera and holds his head. It is almost impossible to force him to do this. It is clear that the parent is holding the child in his arms. But the photo should not show the hands or any other parts of the parent’s body. Photo size is 3.5 by 4.5 cm.
They will issue a foreign passport for a child in the same way as for an adult. It takes a month to prepare a new passport. The documents must be submitted at the place of registration, otherwise the production time may be extended to three months.
Since situations vary, it may happen that a passport is needed urgently. For example, a child needs urgent treatment abroad. In this case, a foreign passport for children is prepared urgently, within three days (old-style passport). But when submitting documents, you must provide papers that will confirm the fact that you urgently need to go abroad.
Does registration affect the issuance of a child’s passport?
Registration of a foreign passport can be carried out according to registration and place of actual residence. Contacting the place of registration only affects how long it will take to prepare the document. So usually the application is considered up to 4 months, and at the place of registration up to 30 days. Also, the number of requests may affect the speed of consideration of the request. In the summer and before the New Year holidays, as a rule, there are more of them, and the passport will take longer to process.
Deadlines
How long does it take to get a passport for a one-year-old child? Since the current legislation does not contain any clarifications regarding the timing of issuing a foreign passport issued in the name of a minor, in this situation one should be guided by the norms of Article 10 of Federal Law No. 114, which applies to the procedure for issuing travel documents in the general manner, regardless of the citizen’s age . Thus, the period for issuing a “children’s” international passport at the place of registration cannot exceed 30 days.
Do children need to be included in their parents’ international passport when they have been issued a biometric one?
If parents have an old-style international passport, they can enter information about their children into it and paste their photographs there (of course, with the certification of a government official). This document does not give the actual right for a child to leave the Russian Federation, but in practice it still works. Registration takes several days, and it costs much less.
When traveling to Turkey, Egypt, Israel, problems will most likely not arise at the border, but they may not allow you into the Eurozone countries.
It is not necessary to include the child in your document, if the child has his own passport, but it is possible if desired.
Choosing a foreign passport
To correctly determine which international passport is best for a child aged 1 year, you need to take into account whether one of the parents has a valid old-style international passport. If parents do not have foreign passports at all, then they can do the following.
- Each family member (including a child) is issued a separate biometric passport.
- Parents apply for separate old-style international passports for themselves, and the child is entered into the passport of the mother or father.
Each of the options mentioned has certain advantages. This does not limit the possibility of crossing the border with or without a child.
Child's passport photo
For an old-style document, you need to provide 4 photographs of 3.5 by 4.5 cm. A photo of a child on a foreign passport is carried out according to certain rules.
The photo should be taken from the front, the child without pacifiers, toys and foreign objects, the head without a headdress. The baby should not cry, his mouth should be closed, and his eyes, on the contrary, should be wide open.
Also, other people and their body parts, including parents, should not be included in the photo. The image for a biometric passport is made directly at the place of issue.
A foreign passport is not the only document for leaving the Russian Federation. It must be accompanied by a birth certificate, permission from parents if the child is traveling with one of the parents, and a power of attorney for accompanying persons if the child is traveling without parents.
Take care of all the documents in advance and enjoy your stay.
Biometric passport or old-style passport?
If the child is under 14 years old, then the easiest and cheapest way is to enter data into the parent’s passport. But if we are talking about a separate passport, then what should it be? It all depends on the wishes of the parents. They can choose to issue either an old-style passport or a new one. It is worth saying that if the child is still too young, then it is more advisable to make a passport for 5 years, that is, the old model. Why? Because a child grows and changes quite quickly. In this regard, photographs of a child at one year old and at five years old can be very different. In this regard, problems may arise when crossing the border.
If the child is already old enough, then you can make a biometric passport. The validity of this document is 10 years, but it also costs more. Many, of course, are not bothered by this factor.
