All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 (“The Act”). Section 14 of the Act provides, among other things, that for a passport to issue to a child under 18 years of age, the consent of all the child’s guardians must be received by the Passport Service.
Passport applications for children have specific witnessing requirements in respect of establishing the child applicant’s identity and establishing that consent for the issuance of a passport from all the child’s guardians has been granted.
I am advised by the Passport Service that the Embassy through which the application was originally lodged has been unable to contact witness noted on the application form through the phone number provided. Staff at the Embassy are currently attempting to contact the witness by alternative means so that the witnessing of the application can be verified but in the event that this is not possible in the coming week the Embassy will be in touch with the child's guardians so that an alternative witness can be provided.