Getting a passport for your child is a special kind of fun. You wade neck-deep through forms and documents, fill them out with what you hope is an acceptable shade of ink and appropriate font, somehow succeed in getting that elusive photo of your infant sitting upright, and stand in line for hours feeling yourself age. In fact, the entire process leaves you certain that the only thing worse than applying for a passport is having to do it twice.

Unfortunately, some Canadian parents have had to do just that because they signed their child’s passport—either by mistake, or at the insistence of an airline or border official. Turns out, that little twitch of the pen actually invalidates the passport. So next time you’re are at the check-in counter—freshly marinated in sunscreen for that tropical getaway—you may not get to board until you replace the ruined passport, buy new tickets, and reapply the sunscreen. Ugly, right?

Parents should never sign their child’s passport

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada—the authority responsible for rule-making in this area—if the child is:

  • 0-10 years: Parent MUST NOT sign
  • 11-15 years: Child SHOULD sign
  • 16 years and over: Child MUST sign
Never sign. Just don’t. Stay away! DANGER!

Consider taking a copy of the official passport instructions with you when you travel (available here). In the event an airline or border official asks you to sign your child’s passport, you can present these and hopefully pass with your document intact, saving you time, money and sunscreen.

Considerations:

  • This rule applies to Canadian passports. The requirements may be different for those issued by other countries. In this case, check with the issuing authority as to what to do.
  • A crayon scribble won’t pass as a signature, so if your child’s ability to sign is in doubt, leave it blank (unless s/he is 16 or older).

Categories:  Children, International Travel