Requirements for Child Travelling with One Parent Australia?

This article will discuss the essentials and requirements for child travelling with one parent Australia.

Travelling with children and family is a valuable experience, especially for the little ones. Travelling allows for dedicated time to connect and strengthen family bonds. 

Moreover, children will have exposure to different cultures, people, and ways of life broadening worldviews and fostering empathy. That’s why it’s important to know the requirements for child travelling with one parent Australia.  

Applying for a Passport for Child Travelling with One Parent Australia 

The primary step you need to take when you’re planning to travel with your child is to apply for a child passport. The Australian Passport Office (APO) provides a 5-step guide on how to apply for a passport for child travelling with one parent Australia:

1. Gather original documents and two passport photos.
2. Ask someone to be the child’s guarantor.
3. Fill in the application.
4. Lodge your application and pay the fee.
5. Wait for the passport.

Document and Passport Photos for Child Travelling with One Parent Australia

For the first step, you need to prepare the following documents and photos:

• The child’s full birth certificate (the child’s age is important in this document)
• Evidence that the child is an Australian citizen
• Documents that prove any change of name
• Any court orders and additional passport forms that the Australian Passport Office (APO) may require to establish who has parental responsibility for the child
• All applications must include two passport-sized photos that comply with photo guidelines.

IMPORTANT: Evidence of Australian Citizenship 

The Child’s Guarantor

Who is a child’s guarantor? When applying in Australia, your guarantor must be an adult Australian citizen who has known the child:

• for more than one year, or 
• since the child was born if they are younger than one year old.

However, your guarantor can’t have any ties to the child or the person who is responsible for the child. They also can’t be in a relationship with the person who is responsible for the child or live at the same address as the child or the person who is responsible for the child.

Lastly, the guarantor must sign section 11 of the application form (see more on this below). The guarantor must also sign the back of a passport photo and say, “This is a real photo of [the child’s full name].” and signing in black pen.

Application Form 

You can apply through the Australian Passport Office’s online platform. Moreover, APO’s system will generate an application form which you must print.  The application form will specify the papers you need to submit with your printed application.

However, in case you can’t complete your application online, you may pick up a blank application form at a participating Australia Post location.  ‘Application for an Australian Passport – Child’ is the form you should request. The form is purple in colour.

Lodging Your Application 

Before you lodge the application, you must have parental authority for the child. Generally speaking, the person who has parental authority over the child must submit the application for the child’s passport.

The rules provide that a person who doesn’t have parental responsibility for the child, but who does have caring responsibilities, can lodge a passport application. This is allowed if no one with parental responsibility consents to the child having a passport, or if no one has parental responsibility for the child.

The child’s application and passport fee can be submitted in Australia at any participating Australia Post location. Note that it might be necessary for you to schedule an appointment, which can be done online with Australia Post.

Make sure to bring the following documents:

1. The original documentation asked on the application form
2. Your completed application form, and
3. Passport photos of your child.

It will also be necessary for you to carry identification that has your name, photo, signature, and residential address on it, like a driver’s licence. When submitting an application, the child who is 16 or 17 years old must accompany you.

Your child’s current passport will be cancelled when their application is reviewed if you are in Australia.  It follows that they won’t be able to utilise it for travel. You should contact the APO at 131 232 to see if the old passport is still valid if they must travel before the new passport arrives. 

Once your application is submitted, please wait for at least six weeks to get your child’s passport. However, without approval from all parents, a child passport application requires substantially more time.

MORE INFORMATION: Lodging a Child Passport Application

Formalising Travel Arrangements for Child Travelling with One Parent Australia

If your situation falls under the category ‘child travelling with one parent Australia,’ you need to formalise your travel arrangements.  Regarding travel and/or passports, if the other parent (or other party to the parenting order or parenting proceedings) consents, you can:

1. obtain official written approval before departing.
2. apply for a passport together, and/or
3. jointly request consent orders for passports and/or travel from the court.

However, if you can’t reach an agreement despite going through a family dispute resolution process, you may ask the court to make a parenting order which includes:

• an order that allows you to take (or send) your child outside Australia, or
• an order prohibiting the other party or another person from taking (or sending) your child outside Australia and requesting that the AFP add the child’s name to the Family Law Watchlist. 
• an order about passports.

Tips for Child Travelling with One Parent Australia

If you have a child travelling with only one parent Australia, you need to keep a few things in mind:

1. Reduce the number of baggage you carry. You’re a prime target for burglars if you’re carrying a lot of luggage and the kids divert your attention.
2. Verify all equipment’s safety requirements before using it. It’s possible that foreign pools, balconies, cribs, car seats, and play equipment don’t match Australian norms.
3. Prior to your trip, find out what limits apply to carry-on bags. To find out the rules, check in advance with your airline.
4. When you are organising your trip for your child, always inquire with your travel agency or travel agent, the airline, or a government official. This way, you can find out whether there are any specific documents you need.
5. Recognise the views of the community regarding nursing in public.

What if the Child Is Travelling Alone?

Sometimes, children may want to travel alone with no parent or guardian. Some instances where children may travel alone are school trips or if they are with other relatives. However, it’s paramount that children travelling alone must have a child travel consent letter. Guardians or the child’s parent or parents must both sign this letter that they agree to let their child travel alone.

If you think someone may try to take your child out of Australia without your consent, report it to the relevant government agencies. You may also approach family lawyer so they can help you get a court order to register your children on the Family Law Watchlist of the Australian Federal Police. They may also help you submit a Child Alert Request with the Australian Passport Office.

Related Articles:

1. Minors Travelling Overseas Without a Parent
2. What Is Parental Consent to Travel Overseas With Children?

Schedule a Consultation with JB Solicitors’ Family Lawyer

JB Solicitors’ family lawyers specialise in all matters related to family law including child custody, parenting orders, and child travelling with one parent Australia disputes. We can help you reach an agreement with the other parent outside of court. This can be cost-effective if communication is possible. 

For more information, contact us today.