Singapore First Passport Application Guide for Newborns & Children 2026

Complete guide to applying for a newborn baby's first Singapore passport. Explains 1st-year fee waiver scheme, 5-year validity, & infant photo rules.

Statutory Overview & Passport Framework

Newborn babies born to Singapore citizen parents are entitled to apply for their first Singapore passport with a statutory fee waiver under the ICA First Passport Scheme. If the online application is submitted via MyICA before the child's first birthday (1st year of birth), the standard S$70 passport fee is 100% waived. Passports issued to children under 16 years of age have a validity period of 5 years to account for rapid changes in facial features. Parents must submit a digital photograph of the newborn adhering to ICA infant guidelines (eyes open, plain white background, head supported without parent's hands visible).

Key Passport Rules & Statutory Criteria

100% Fee Waiver Scheme for Applications in 1st YearS$0 Fee Waiver

First passport fee of S$70 is waived for citizen infants if application is submitted before 1st birthday.

5-Year Passport Validity Period for Children Under 165-Year Validity

Child passports are valid for 5 years due to rapid growth and changing facial features.

ICA Newborn Digital Photo Rules (Eyes Open, Plain White Background)Infant Photo Rules

Infant must have eyes open, face looking forward, plain white backdrop, no parent hands/toys visible.

Automatic Citizenship Verification via LifeSG AppLifeSG Integration

Parents registering birth via LifeSG app can seamlessly transition to first passport application.

Qualification Rules & Travel Compliance

Child must be a Singapore Citizen by birth or descent.

At least one parent must be a Singapore Citizen at the time of the child's birth.

Application must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian using their Singpass account.

Fee waiver applies strictly to the child's first passport applied within the first year of life.

ICA Application & Verification Checklist

ICA Passports Act (Cap. 220) First Passport Scheme Circulars

Child's Digital Official Singapore Birth Certificate

Parent's Singpass Account Access & Marriage Certificate

Digital Passport Photo of Newborn (Meeting ICA Infant Standards)

Step-by-Step ICA MyICA Application & Collection Workflow

Register Child's Birth via LifeSG App

Log into ICA MyICA Portal with Parent Singpass

Access MyICA portal and select 'Apply for First Passport for Child'.

Upload Infant Digital Passport Photo

Upload compliant infant photo taken on white sheet with eyes open and clear facial view.

Enjoy 100% S$0 Fee Waiver (If Applied in 1st Year)

System automatically applies S$0 fee waiver upon verifying child's birth date.

Collect Child's First Passport at SingPost / ICA

Parent collects child's passport at designated SingPost outlet or ICA Building.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes. Under the ICA First Passport Scheme, the S$70 passport fee is 100% waived for Singapore citizen babies if the application is submitted online before the child's first birthday.

Passports issued to children under 16 years of age are valid for 5 years.

Lay the baby flat on a plain white sheet, ensure lighting is even without shadows, capture full face with eyes open looking straight at the camera, and ensure no hands, pillows, or toys are visible.

Yes. When registering your child's birth on the LifeSG app, you can seamlessly apply for your baby's first passport at the same time.

No. For children under 6 years of age, parents can collect the passport on their behalf without bringing the child along.

If you apply after the child turns 1 year old, the S$0 fee waiver no longer applies, and the standard online fee of S$70 must be paid.