🛂 Can I get my child's passport with just one parent?

With conditions

Quick answer

Usually not with just one parent — issuing a child a passport requires the consent of both parents. The myth is that one parent decides alone and sends the child abroad. The application and collection of a biometric passport for children under 16 are done in the presence of a parent, legal guardian or a person authorised by power of attorney, with the parent's ID, the coupon and the family certificate. As a rule the consent of both parents is required; when one is absent, a notarised consent is needed or, failing agreement, a court authorisation. A child's passport is valid 5 years (against 10 years for adults), because the face changes fast. Documents are now produced by the state company IdentiTek, which replaced Aleat. The application coupon is about 7,500 lek, while the expedited procedure costs 18,000 lek — amounts in new lek, not the old tenfold.

📋 The rules

The application and collection of a passport for children under 16 are done in the presence of a parent, legal guardian or a person authorised by power of attorney.
As a rule the consent of both parents is required; when one is absent, a notarised consent or a court authorisation is needed.
The required documents include a valid ID of the parent, the application coupon and the family certificate.
A child's passport (under 16) is valid 5 years, while an adult's is valid 10 years.
The coupon is about 7,500 lek with the normal procedure and 18,000 lek with the expedited one (2–3 days).

🔓 Exceptions

For a child under guardianship or with a single legal parent, the application is made by the guardian or the parent with parental rights, with the relevant documents.
When the parents do not agree, issuing the document or leaving the country is decided by the court, in the child's best interest.
Fingerprints are taken from age 12 upwards; for younger children the biometric process is partial, but the presence remains mandatory.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The main risk is not a fine, but a block: without the consent of both parents the application does not proceed, and the child stays without a document exactly when you need to travel. If one parent takes the child abroad without the other's consent, not only can the border stop them, but a legal conflict also opens over custody and leaving the country, settled in court. An inaccurate address or civil-status record of the parent can delay the process, because it is tied to the family certificate. The coupon costs about 7,500 lek (or 18,000 lek for the expedited procedure), and the passport expires for a child every 5 years, so renewal comes more often than for adults. Mind the figures: 7,500 new lek is often heard as 75,000 old lek — it is the same payment, not the tenfold.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I get my child's passport by myself?

As a rule no: issuing a child a passport requires the consent of both parents, and the application is made in the presence of a parent or guardian. When one parent is absent, a notarised consent is needed or, failing agreement, a court authorisation.

How long is a child's passport valid?

A passport for children under 16 is valid 5 years, unlike the 10 years of an adult's passport. This is because a child's appearance changes fast, so renewal for children comes more often than for adults.

How much does the application coupon cost?

The application coupon is about 7,500 lek with the normal procedure and 18,000 lek with the expedited 2–3 day procedure. The amounts are in new lek, so the “75,000 lek” you might hear is the old value, not the real payment today.

What documents are needed for the child?

You need a valid ID of the parent, the application coupon and the family certificate, and the child must be present. For children aged 12 and over, fingerprints are also taken as part of the biometric data.

What if the parents do not agree?

When the parents do not agree on the document or on leaving the country, the matter is settled by the court, which decides in the child's best interest. Until then, an application without the consent of both parents or without a court authorisation usually does not proceed.

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