Traveling abroad with kids is super easy now — here’s how to apply for a passport for your baby under two years old

KT&e Xiaoyu = Tangtang

So many airlines are offering flight promotions lately — I’m itching to book something already!! Planning to take Tangtang abroad this summer vacation or by the end of the year. Of course, before scrambling for tickets, I had to make sure our family of three all have valid passports. KT and I’s passports are still within the validity period, so no problem there — but Tangtang doesn’t have one yet. This article will share how I personally applied for a passport for my baby under two years old, and honestly, it’s really not difficult at all!!

To protect citizens’ rights and prevent unauthorized passport applications, as of July 1st, 2011 (Year 100), individuals applying for a regular passport for the first time who are unable to apply in person at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Bureau of Consular Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the Consular Affairs Bureau) or at the Central, Yunlin–Chiayi–Tainan, Southern, or Eastern Offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the Four Foreign Ministry Offices) must also...

Here are some FAQs related to identity verification. If you still plan to go through a travel agency to apply on your behalf, you can click in to read more in detail.

Also, it's recommended that you first review the simplified checklist of required documents for domestic applicants applying for a passport.

Now, let me share my preparation process for personally applying for Tangtang’s passport:

When applying for a baby’s passport, you must prepare a color passport photo with a white background. To save money, you can take the photo at home yourself — just make sure the background is a plain white wall, then use software to adjust lighting, etc., and format it to passport size before getting it printed (if you’re interested, just search online — lots of parents generously share tips!).

But getting Tangtang to sit still for me to take the picture? That’s basically impossible!! I’d probably get so annoyed I’d flip the table. Plus, I was worried that any small mistake could lead to the passport application being rejected, making all my hard work on the DIY photo useless. So, I decided to go with a professional photo studio instead.

To those who choose to do it themselves, I strongly recommend...

First, go to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Bureau of Consular Affairs, move your mouse cursor over “Passport.”

The following screen will appear — then click “Online Appointment for Passport Application.”

The next screen will show up — click “I want to make an appointment.”

Click “Agree.”

Enter your baby’s ID number, a parent’s email address (come on, does the baby have one!? XD), and the captcha code, then click “Confirm Submission.”

Next, select the location, and it will show the nearest available date along with all the available time slots. Each time slot is half an hour long, with five slots per half-hour.

I went onto the website on April 15th (Wednesday) to book a slot for the next day, April 16th (Thursday) from 10:30–11:00 AM — and I got it super smoothly!! Office workers often go during their lunch break, so the lunchtime slots are more popular — remember to book early!!

Fill in the relevant details.

Select “Apply in Person.”

After a successful booking, the following information will be shown, and the system will automatically send an email to your inbox too — so thoughtful~

Don’t forget this either!!

Application form download: Go to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Bureau of Consular Affairs, move your mouse cursor over “Passport.”

The following screen will appear — then click “Application Form Download Area.”

Click the first option, “Regular Passport Application Form.”

Click “Format 1.”

You can also download “Sample Fill-in 2” for reference, to help avoid mistakes.

The application form has a front and back side — all the blue-gray sections can be directly filled in on the computer. After filling it out, just print it out. Isn’t that super convenient!?

The sample front and back sides are as follows:

Prepare all the required documents–

1. Original and one copy of the household registration booklet. Or an original certified copy of the household registration issued within the last three months.
2. Two-sided application form (two pages in total).
3. Two color photos with white background. (For attaching to the application form)
4. Original ID card and one copy of both sides (for attaching to the application form) of either parent or legal guardian. (I’m taking Tiantian to apply for her passport in person, so I used my own ID card.)
5. Fee: NT$900. (No need to show cash here, haha)

Attach your baby’s photo and one copy of both sides of the parent or guardian’s ID card. Don’t forget to sign the bottom of the back of the application form in person. The child’s signature can be signed by the parent—I wrote “(signed by mother)” next to Tiantian’s name.

Phew~~ Finally got everything ready. I live in Taichung, so I can go to the MOFA Central Taiwan Office to apply—think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is really considerate, their service hours don’t pause at noon, and they even extend office hours until 8 PM every Wednesday.

Here you can find information about various domestic application locations.

At 10:30 AM on April 16th, I arrived right on time at the MOFA Central Taiwan Office Up!

It’s located on the 1F of Lianming Building. There’s a parking lot behind.

Wow… so many people… Don’t worry if your documents aren’t complete—the entrance has photocopiers and instant photo machines available for a fee—but seeing such a crowd really makes you wonder how long you’ll have to wait, so I think it’s better to prepare all documents at home first for peace of mind.

First, use this machine to check in—just enter your baby’s ID number. After successful check-in, a number slip will pop out. Since online appointments are handled exclusively at counter 13, just wait for your name to be called.

The screen nearby updates immediately after check-in. No one’s there for online appointments—does nobody know about this service?

It took less than 1 minute before it was Tiantian’s turn—I hadn’t even warmed the seat yet. The staff finished processing the application in less than 2 minutes and informed me that I could collect the passport after four working days: starting from April 22nd (Wednesday) (maximum retention period is three months). (You can also go to the post office across the street to arrange for mailing the passport.)

Then you’ll receive a payment slip and need to go to the adjacent payment counter to pay. Once payment is completed, the passport application process is done. Don’t lose the payment stub—you’ll need it along with your ID to collect the passport later.

The whole passport application process took only about 5 minutes~~~ No exaggeration. I had finished applying for the passport, but inside it was still that~~~ crowded. ……… Isn’t it an economic downturn!?

Date: 2015/04/22 Wed. Finally got Tiantian’s passport.

One moment she was crying and clinging to me, the next she was happily chasing after me—it’s like she changes moods as easily as flipping a page…

I went to the Central Taiwan Office to collect the passport on Wednesday evening. The crowd there was super~~~~~~ packed, probably about twice as many as on a regular weekday morning. The instant photo and photocopier machines outside also had huge lines—what a terrifying crowd. I only waited 15 minutes to complete the collection. Super fast~ So going home to prepare the documents in advance and making an online appointment to apply for the passport is definitely the smart move.
(Recommended reading:)

That’s it—applying for a passport in person is really simple and time-saving. Hope it helps parents who want to travel abroad with their kids.