By The Escape desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
Every Singaporean child, even a newborn, travels on their own passport. For children under 16, it is valid for five years, and it costs the same as an adult’s: S$70 online or S$80 at a counter (as of October 2026). The first passport is free if you apply through MyICA on or before the baby’s first birthday. Children under six cannot use Changi’s automated immigration lanes. When a child travels with only one parent, or with grandparents or a school group, bring a signed consent letter from the absent parent or parents, plus the child’s birth certificate. Some countries and airlines ask for proof that the trip is agreed, and the rules differ by destination.
Most family trips never meet a single question at the border. The letter is the five-minute insurance policy for the one time someone does ask.
Quick facts
- Each child needs their own passport.
- Under-16 passports last five years; up to nine months of unused validity can carry over on renewal.
- Fee: S$70 online, S$80 at a counter or overseas mission.
- Newborns: the first passport is free if applied for via MyICA on or before the first birthday.
- Children aged six and above must collect their passport in person with a parent.
- Travelling with one parent? Carry a consent letter and the birth certificate.
Getting your child’s passport
| Situation | Fee (Oct 2026) | Validity | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn, first passport, applied via MyICA by first birthday | Free | 5 years | Parent may collect; child need not attend |
| Child under 6 | S$70 online / S$80 counter | 5 years | Parent may collect; child need not attend |
| Child aged 6 to 15 | S$70 online / S$80 counter | 5 years | Child must attend in person |
| Aged 16 and above | S$70 online / S$80 counter | 10 years | In person |
To collect a child’s passport, bring the child’s original birth certificate, any current passport, and the consenting parent’s NRIC or passport. Because children’s passports only last five years, they run out sooner than you expect. Many countries want six months’ validity left on arrival, so check the expiry date before you book, not at the airport.
Travelling with one parent: the consent letter
Border officers and airlines around the world watch for child abduction and trafficking, so a child travelling with one parent, or without parents, may be asked whether the trip has the other parent’s blessing. Some countries require a consent letter, some recommend one, and some ask for it to be notarised. Singapore does not publish a single template, so check your destination’s embassy or immigration website before you go. A well-written letter usually includes:
- The child’s full name, date of birth and passport number.
- The travelling adult’s full name, passport number and relationship to the child.
- The destination or destinations and the travel dates.
- A clear sentence that the absent parent consents to the trip.
- The absent parent’s full name, address, phone number and email, so an officer can call.
- The absent parent’s signature and the date, with a copy of their passport or NRIC attached.
Also carry the child’s birth certificate, which proves who the parents are, especially if the child’s surname differs from the travelling parent’s. If you are divorced or separated, take a copy of any custody or court order and check its terms: some orders limit taking a child out of Singapore without the other parent’s consent or the court’s permission. When in doubt, ask your family lawyer before booking.
Worked example: Siti takes her two children, aged 4 and 9, to Melbourne for the June holidays while her husband stays at work. Her folder holds three passports, two birth certificates, one consent letter signed by her husband covering both children, and a copy of his passport. Total cost: a few minutes and a printer.
At the airport with children
- Changi immigration: children under six cannot use the automated lanes, so the family goes to the assisted lanes together.
- Visas and travel authorisations: children usually need their own, and pay their own fees. Australia’s ETA and New Zealand’s NZeTA are per person, babies included.
- Children flying alone: airlines run their own unaccompanied-minor services with age limits and fees; book it directly with the airline.
- Lost passport: a parent can report a child’s lost passport to ICA online.
The WahLiao Verdict
Apply for your baby’s passport before the first birthday to get it free, and diarise every child’s expiry date, because five years passes faster than you think. Whenever one parent travels alone with the children, carry a signed consent letter and the birth certificates in the same folder as the passports. You will probably never be asked; if you are, you will be through in a minute.
Questions people ask
Does my baby need a passport?
Yes. Every child travels on their own passport, and the first one is free if you apply via MyICA on or before the first birthday.
How long is a child’s passport valid?
Five years for citizens under 16. On renewal, up to nine months of the old passport’s remaining validity can be carried over.
Does the consent letter need to be notarised?
It depends on the destination. Some countries ask for a notarised or certified letter; others accept a signed one. Check the destination’s embassy website.
Can my child use the automated lanes at Changi?
Not if they are under six. Older children can use them with you.
Sources: ICA, passport fees, children’s validity and newborn fee waiver; ICA, collecting a child’s passport; ICA, reporting a lost passport for children under 16. The Escape explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Renewing Your Singapore Passport · Changi Airport Departures · Back to The Escape
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