Getting a Thai Passport for a Baby Under 1: Do Both Parents Need to Go, and How to Get a Photo That Passes

Your little one’s first trip might be to visit relatives abroad, or just a short getaway during maternity leave. But the moment you look up the steps for a child’s passport, you hit the words “a minor requires consent” and get confused about how many of you need to go and which documents you need.

We have summarized it from the documents of the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: what a baby needs for a Thai passport, what to do if the father or mother cannot go, plus tips for getting a little one’s photo to pass on the first try.

From what age can a baby get a passport?

Quick Answer: From birth, as long as the birth has been registered and you have the birth certificate. Every child under 20 is a minor under Thai law and can only get a 5-year passport.

So the first job to finish is registering your baby’s birth within 15 days, because the original birth certificate is the main document for a child’s passport. Do not worry about an ID card: children under 7 can use the birth certificate instead.

What documents do I need?

Quick Answer: Your child’s original birth certificate, the original ID cards of both father and mother, and documents showing parental authority based on your family’s situation.

Family situation	Extra documents	Who signs consent
Parents legally married, living together	A document showing your relationship, such as a marriage certificate	Father and mother
Parents not legally married	P.K.14 (ป.ค.14), certificate of parental authority, from the district office	Mother alone
Parents divorced	Divorce certificate and divorce record stating parental authority	The parent with parental authority, or both if shared
Court order gives the father or someone else parental authority	Court order	The person with parental authority under the court order

In every case you need the original birth certificate, and the previous passport if your child had one. If the parents are not legally married but the father has registered legitimation of the child, the legal status changes. Read more in Registering legitimation of a child, then call the passport office to be sure which documents you need.

Do both parents need to go? What if one cannot?

Quick Answer: As a rule, both must go, because the parents have to sign consent in front of an officer. If either cannot go, they need a consent letter from the district office (อำเภอ or สำนักงานเขต) or the local registration office instead.

The Department of Consular Affairs document states that “the father and mother must come to sign consent in front of an officer on the day the application is received.” But if not both of you can go, there are still options:

• One parent cannot go: the parent who cannot go first gets a “consent letter for a minor to obtain a passport” at the district office (อำเภอ or สำนักงานเขต) or local registration office. The other parent then brings that letter, along with a copy of the consenting parent’s ID card, to apply.
• Living abroad: you can make the consent letter at a Thai embassy or consulate general. Each one requires an appointment and has its own fees.
• Neither parent can go: you need consent letters from both father and mother, and a power of attorney authorizing an adult who has reached legal age to take your child instead.

Whichever applies, your child must always go too, because their photo and data are taken at the application counter.

How much is the fee, and how long does it take?

Quick Answer: A regular 5-year passport is 1,000 baht, express is 3,000 baht, and EMS delivery is an extra 40 baht. Minors cannot get a 10-year passport.

Type	Fee	Time (per Department of Consular Affairs)
Regular (valid 5 years)	1,000 baht	Within 2 working days, not counting the day you apply
Express	3,000 baht	Same day, if you apply before 11:30 a.m.
EMS postal delivery	Extra 40 baht	About 3 to 7 working days

Temporary passport offices in the provinces, such as Chiang Mai and Phuket, may take longer than Bangkok, and some do not offer express service. If you have already booked tickets, apply 2 to 3 weeks ahead so you are not left on edge. And remember to check with your airline or destination country how much remaining validity they require on the passport.

How do I book a queue online?

Quick Answer: Book in advance through the Department of Consular Affairs online queue system (Q Passport), choose the office, date and time that suit you, then take your baby to the appointment.

Follow these steps:

1. Go to the Department of Consular Affairs Q Passport booking system (qpassport.in.th)
2. Register, and choose to book a queue in your child’s name
3. Choose the passport office, date and time
4. Save the booking confirmation on your phone, and arrive a little before your appointment

With a baby, try to pick a morning slot, or a time when your baby is usually awake and in a good mood, and avoid the early afternoon when they start getting sleepy. Also watch out for websites that are not official. Some have very similar names but are not run by the Department of Consular Affairs. Going through the link on the Department of Consular Affairs website directly is the safest.

How do I get a baby’s passport photo to pass?

Quick Answer: The officer takes the photo at the application counter. What parents can do is bring their baby awake and fed, dress them in a top darker than the background, and help them face straight ahead with eyes open, without hands or toys in the shot.

Tips passed on by parents who have been through it:

• Feed a little before your turn. A full baby is usually in a better mood, but do not feed until they fall asleep at the breast.
• Dress them in a plain, dark top to contrast with the light background. Avoid white tops, hats, headbands and hair bands that cover the forehead.
• The person holding the baby wears the same color as the background, or keeps their hands out of the frame. If you need to support the head, do it from behind so your hands do not show.
• Someone else helps get their attention. Stand behind the camera, make sounds or shake a rattle so your baby looks straight at the camera.
• Stay calm, you can take several shots. The officers have seen plenty of babies and will help check whether the photo is usable.

Bring diapers, milk, a swaddle and a favorite toy, because waiting in a queue with a baby always takes longer than you expect.

A quick checklist before you leave home

Quick Answer: Original birth certificate, parents’ original ID cards, parental authority documents, consent letter if any, queue booking confirmation and money for the fee.

• Your child’s original birth certificate
• Original ID cards of father and mother (or of the person with parental authority)
• Marriage certificate / P.K.14 (ป.ค.14) / divorce certificate / court order, depending on your family’s situation
• Consent letter from the district office, if the father or mother cannot go
• Queue booking confirmation
• Fee of 1,000 baht (or 3,000 baht for express), plus 40 baht for EMS delivery
• Your child’s name in English, spelled exactly as you want it
• Diaper bag, milk and a favorite toy

If you have already named your baby but are still unsure about the English spelling, settle it before you go, because it has to match across every travel document for a long time. Read more about naming in Choosing an auspicious baby name, and what to check before registering the birth.

Your child’s first passport is the start of many trips you will take together. We hope the first one is fun and smooth.