Child’s passport
Federal Minister can issue passport for child. A passport will not be issued to a child unless each responsible parent consents or there is an order of the Court about international travel.
The Minister has discretion to issue if:
1. case is exceptional;
2. child’s welfare would be adversely affected if not permitted to travel;
3. child needs to travel urgently because of family crisis and parent cannot be contacted within reasonable period.
The Minister may decline to exercise the discretion as the matter ought be properly considered by the Court.
Note that if there is concern that a responsible parent may take this route to avoid the non-consenting parent a Child Passport Alert can be filed.



