Statutory Overview & Passport Framework
A Singapore passport can be applied for online for a Singapore Citizen child. ICA currently waives the first passport application fee for newborn Singapore Citizens when the application is submitted through MyICA on or before the child's first birthday. The ordinary online passport application fee is S$70 when the waiver does not apply; an over-the-counter application at the ICA Services Centre or a Singapore Overseas Mission is S$80. Passports issued to citizens below 16 years old are valid for 5 years. For a newborn born in Singapore, birth registration is a separate process: the birth must be registered through LifeSG within 42 days and the digital birth certificate costs S$18. LifeSG does not replace the ICA passport application service.
Step-by-Step ICA MyICA Application & Collection Workflow
Confirm the child is a Singapore Citizen
A Singapore passport is issued to Singapore Citizens. For a Singapore-born child, complete the applicable birth-registration and citizenship formalities first. For an overseas-born child, check the separate citizenship-by-descent process.
Register a Singapore Birth Through LifeSG if Applicable
For a child born in Singapore, register the birth within 42 days through LifeSG. The current registration fee is S$18 and a digital birth certificate is issued.
Prepare the Child's Passport Photograph
Use a recent colour photograph that meets ICA's current passport photo specifications. For online submission, ICA currently recommends 400 × 514 pixels and accepts jpg, jpeg, heic, heif and png files up to 8MB.
Apply Through ICA MyICA
For Singapore Citizens residing in Singapore, use ICA's online passport service with Singpass. The newborn fee waiver requires the first-passport application to be submitted through MyICA on or before the child's first birthday.
Check the Fee Before Submission
Eligible newborn first-passport applications submitted through MyICA by the child's first birthday receive the fee waiver. Otherwise, the current online fee is S$70; an over-counter application at ICA Services Centre or a Singapore Overseas Mission is S$80.
Wait for ICA's Processing Outcome
For local applications, ICA states that processing takes around one to two weeks from receipt of the application. It may take up to four weeks where the photo does not meet requirements or the application involves changes to the principal name or surname.
Collect the Passport According to the Notification
Follow the collection venue and appointment instructions in ICA's notification. For a child below 16 at the point of application, ICA's collection guidance requires the child's original or digital birth certificate and the physical or digital IC of the parent who consented to the application, along with the child's current passport if it is still valid.
Official Statutory & Government Sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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