Getting a passport

The list adapts to you

When you add it, the checklist asks a couple of questions and keeps only the items that fit your situation.

• Who is this for? For myselfFor a child

What's inside

1. Choose the passport type

   A 10-year biometric passport costs more and takes longer to process but needs renewing less often. A shorter-validity passport is cheaper and quicker to get if you travel rarely — check what your country offers.

2. Check your current passport's validity

   Many countries require 3–6 months of validity beyond your trip dates. Check the expiry date early and plan the renewal with a buffer, not at the last minute.

3. Submit your application online

   Submitting through your local government portal usually means no queues and sometimes a lower fee for online payment. Check your government's website for the current process.

4. Pay the passport fee

   The fee depends on passport type and applicant's age, and amounts change over time — check the current fee on your government portal before paying.

5. Get your photo taken to spec

   Photo requirements (background, size, no smiling or glasses) are strict, and a mismatch can delay your application. A photo studio near the application office usually knows the exact current specs.

6. Book your appointment

   Book your appointment ahead of time — convenient slots fill up fast, especially before peak travel season.

7. Gather the required documents

   The full list depends on passport type and your situation (name changes, prior passports, etc.) — check your government portal's checklist right before applying, since requirements do get updated.

8. Factor in processing time

   Processing time varies by where and how you apply — expedited options exist but cost more. Build in a buffer and avoid applying right before your departure date.

9. Decide what to do with your old passport

   If your old passport has valid visas in it, ask whether you can keep it back (cancelled) alongside the new one — some countries still accept an old visa with a valid new passport.

10. Check every detail on the spot when you collect it

    Check your name, date of birth, number and expiry date before you leave the counter. A typo caught on the spot gets fixed for free — caught later, it usually means a whole new application and fee.

11. Track the application status

    Status is usually visible in your online account — no need to call or show up in person, just check back every few days.

12. Save a photo of the new passport to the cloud

    Photograph the data page and save it to cloud storage. It's a lifesaver if the passport gets lost on a trip or you need the details without the physical document.

13. Get the child their own passport For a child

    A child can no longer be added to a parent's passport — they need their own document, at any age.

14. Apply with the child's birth certificate For a child

    A parent submits the application with their own passport plus the child's birth certificate — bring the original, not a copy.

15. Check whether the child needs to be present For a child

    For a biometric passport the child's presence is usually required in person — confirm this ahead of time so you don't make a wasted trip.

16. Take the child's photo in advance For a child

    A compliant photo (no smiling, looking straight ahead) is a challenge with a small child. Taking it at home, calm and with several tries, is often faster than a photo studio.

17. Think about which passport type suits the child For a child

    For young children, a shorter-validity passport can make more sense than a 10-year one: kids change in appearance faster than a decade, and a cheaper document is less painful to renew.