How to Renew an Indian Passport in the USA for a Minor

To renew an Indian passport in the USA for a minor, file a re-issue application through the Passport Seva portal, complete the matching submission on VFS Global, and send the notarized paperwork to the VFS center serving the consulate that covers your state. Standard service costs $71 and generally takes six to eight weeks from the day VFS receives a complete packet.¹ VFS Global processes all Indian passport applications in the United States on behalf of the Government of India, so there is no way to apply directly with a consulate.

The Two-Portal Application Flow

The application runs through two separate websites, and both have to be completed before anything gets mailed.²

Start at the Government of India’s Passport Seva portal. Fill out the online form and select “Re-issue” as the application type. Enter the child’s details exactly as they appear on the current passport. If a name, date of birth, or other particular has changed since the last issuance, also select “Change in Existing Personal Particulars” and be ready to attach supporting documents. During this step you must upload the child’s photograph and signature digitally. This upload is mandatory; VFS returns mailed applications that skip it, unprocessed.

Once the government form is complete, log in to VFS Global. This is where you pay fees and choose between mailing the packet or booking an in-person appointment. The VFS system produces a checklist that acts as the cover page for your physical documents. Print it, fill it out, and place it on top when you assemble the packet.

Documents You Need

Gathering paperwork is the slowest part of the process, and a single missing item will send the packet back. For a standard minor re-issue you need:³

The minor’s current original Indian passport, plus photocopies of its first five and last two pages.
A color copy of the minor’s proof of legal U.S. status: Green Card, valid visa, EAD, I-797A approval notice, or work/study permit. This copy must be notarized.
Proof of residential address, such as a utility bill or lease naming a parent, matching the state you are applying from.
A copy of the minor’s birth certificate linking the child to the parents on the application.
Two 2×2 inch color photographs taken within the last six months on a white or off-white background. The child appears alone, full frontal view, eyes open, neutral expression. Babies under one year do not need their eyes open.
The Affidavit for Change of Appearance and Signature, with a 2×2 photo affixed and the affidavit notarized.⁴
Annexure D, the consent declaration signed by both parents. Notarized.⁵
Annexure E, the standard applicant declaration. A parent signs on behalf of a young child.⁶

Every signature on the forms must be original ink. Photocopied or digitally printed signatures get the packet returned. Parents’ signatures should also match the signatures on their own passports.

Notarization: Where Most Applications Fail

Several documents must carry a U.S. Notary Public stamp and signature, and the consulate rejects packets that are missing any of them.³ The items that need notarization are Annexure D (or Annexure C, where it applies), the Affidavit for Change of Appearance and Signature, and all copies of legal status documents such as the Green Card, visa, EAD, or I-797A.

One detail catches many families: the expiration date on the notary’s stamp cannot be manually corrected or whited out. If the stamp shows a handwritten correction to the expiry date, the consulate treats the document as invalid. Notary fees vary by state but generally run from $2 to $25 per signature.

When Only One Parent Can Sign

Standard applications assume both parents consent on Annexure D. If one parent cannot sign, use Annexure C instead. It covers situations like a parent living or traveling abroad, divorce or judicial separation with assigned custody, an active custody dispute, willful refusal, or abandonment. Each scenario needs its own supporting evidence, such as a court order or proof of the other parent’s travel.⁷

If the absent parent lives abroad but can still consent, they submit their own Annexure D notarized in that country, along with a notarized No Objection Letter.³

Which Consulate Handles Your State

Your packet has to go to the VFS center for the Indian consulate that covers your state of residence. Sending to the wrong one is a common reason applications come back unprocessed. As of August 2025, eight consulates and the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C. divide the country, with San Francisco temporarily also covering the Los Angeles jurisdiction.⁸ The other jurisdictions are Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, and Seattle. Confirm the assignment on the VFS registration screen before you pay.

Mailing or Visiting a VFS Center

Most families use the mail option. Superscribe the envelope with the application type so it reaches the right processing team, and provide your own prepaid incoming courier label (FedEx, UPS, or similar) to send the packet in. Return shipping for a completed passport is covered by the VFS service fee, but return shipping for a rejected or incomplete packet is not, so it is wise to enclose a second prepaid label for that scenario.⁹

For in-person submission, book an appointment on the VFS portal and bring the printed government application, all supporting documents, your appointment confirmation, and payment receipt. Either way, finalize the submission on the VFS portal before mailing or arriving. That step locks the digital record and tells the consulate to expect the paperwork.

What It Costs

The standard fee breakdown for a minor re-issue is:¹⁰

Consular fee (minor under 15): $50
Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): $2
VFS Global service fee: $19
Total: $71

Notarization and outgoing courier costs are on top of that.

Expedited Tatkal Service

If you need the passport faster, Tatkal service adds a $150 surcharge, bringing the total to roughly $221 for a minor under 15.¹⁰ Documents are largely the same, but the envelope must be labeled “MINOR TATKAL – PASSPORT RE-ISSUANCE.”¹¹ Tatkal is not available where the current passport is lost, stolen, or severely damaged.

Processing Time and Tracking

Standard re-issue for a minor generally takes six to eight weeks from the date VFS receives a complete packet.¹ Some applications trigger police verification in India, where local authorities visit the Indian address listed on the form. When that happens, expect at least another 30 days.¹²

Track the application on the Passport Seva portal using the Application Reference Number and the child’s date of birth. Once printed, the new passport ships back through the courier along with the old one, which will have been canceled by hole-punching or stamping. Check every field on the new passport as soon as it arrives, because fixing errors later means starting a new application.

How Long the New Passport Is Valid

A minor’s Indian passport is valid for five years or until the child turns 18, whichever comes first. A passport issued to a 16-year-old will expire at age 18, not five years later. For applicants between 15 and 18, there is a second option: a full 10-year validity passport instead of the age-18 cap. Children under 15 get only the five-year version.¹³

If the Passport Is Lost or Damaged

A lost, stolen, or badly damaged passport still goes through the “re-issue” category, but the reason changes and extra documents are required:¹⁴

An original police report filed with the local U.S. police department after discovering the loss.
Annexure F, an affidavit explaining how and where the passport was lost or damaged.
Proof of address and date of birth.
Photocopies of the first two and last two pages of the old passport if you have them, including the ECR/Non-ECR page. Not mandatory for lost passports, but useful.

Report the loss to both the nearest police station and the Indian mission as soon as you can. If you do not have the old passport’s number or date of issue, contact the relevant consulate for guidance. Because Tatkal is not available in these cases, plan for the full six-to-eight-week timeline or longer.

1
Consulate General of India, Houston. FAQ on Passport
2
VFS Global. Apply for Passport Services
3
VFS Global. Minor Checklist – Re-issue of Passport
4
VFS Global. Affidavit for Change in Appearance and Signature
5
Passport Seva. Annexure D
6
VFS Global. Annexure E
7
Passport Seva. Annexure C
8
Consulate General of India, San Francisco, USA. Consulates In US
9
VFS Global. Courier Label Requirements
10
VFS Global. Passport Information
11
VFS Global. Minor Tatkal Checklist
12
Consulate General of India, San Francisco, USA. FAQs on Passport
13
Consulate General of India, New York. FAQ on Passport
14
Passport Seva. Lost and Damaged Passports