Every child who travels abroad needs their own passport, even a new baby. The first part of this post is for Ugandan parents applying for a child’s passport. The second part, on consent letters and airlines, is useful for any family flying into or out of Uganda, including visitors.
Documents for a Ugandan child’s passport
The application goes through the same portal as an adult’s, passports.go.ug, and the steps are the same (form, bank payment, appointment, enrolment). Our step-by-step guide walks through them. For minors, the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control lists:
- The child’s birth certificate
- The parents’ National IDs
- The parents’ passports, if they have them
- A letter of consent from the parents
- An adoption order from the High Court of Uganda, if the child is adopted
The fee is the same as for an adult: UGX 250,000 for the standard 48-page passport as of 2026, with UGX 150,000 extra for express. See our fees and processing times post for the rest.
Things that hold up children’s applications
- Names that don’t match. If the birth certificate spells the child’s or a parent’s name differently from the National IDs, expect questions. Sort it out before you apply.
- An old-style or handwritten birth certificate. If yours is old or damaged, ask the passport office whether it will be accepted, and bring the best version you have plus a copy.
- One parent unavailable. If a parent has died, lives abroad or isn’t in the picture, bring what explains it: a death certificate, a court order on custody, or a signed consent with a copy of their ID. Ask at the passport office what they’ll accept in your case.
- A second nationality. The directorate’s own FAQ warns that failing to declare a child’s foreign passport can lead to the Ugandan passport being confiscated. If your child holds another country’s passport, raise it with the directorate before you apply.
Bring the child to the appointment. Their photo and, depending on age, fingerprints are taken at enrolment, the same as for adults. A parent should come too, with their original ID.
Renewing a child’s passport abroad
Ugandan missions that handle e-passport renewals ask for broadly the same papers. The embassy in Washington, for example, lists the child’s old passport, the birth certificate, a consent letter from a parent and a copy of that parent’s passport or National ID. Check your own mission’s list, as they differ slightly.
Travelling with a minor: consent letters
This section is general advice for any family, Ugandan or visiting. A passport proves who a child is. It doesn’t prove the adult with them has permission to take them abroad. When a child travels with only one parent, with grandparents, or with a school or church group, border officers and airline staff are entitled to ask questions. Child trafficking and parental abduction are real problems, and officers take them seriously.
A simple consent letter from the parent or parents who aren’t travelling goes a long way. It should include:
- The child’s full name, date of birth and passport number
- The full name of the adult they’re travelling with, and that person’s passport number
- Where they’re going and the travel dates
- The non-travelling parent’s name, signature, phone number and a copy of their ID or passport
Having it signed in front of a lawyer or commissioner for oaths makes it stronger. Carry the child’s birth certificate too, especially if your surnames differ. Canada’s government publishes a good sample consent letter that works as a template anywhere.
Some countries go further and set formal rules for minors entering or leaving. South Africa is the best-known example. Check the embassy website of every country on your route, including transit stops, before you book.
Children flying alone
Airlines have their own rules for unaccompanied minors, and they differ by age and carrier. Uganda Airlines, for instance, accepts children from 7 years old as unaccompanied minors for a service charge, and a parent or guardian must fill in and sign an indemnity form when the ticket is bought. The adult dropping the child off and the one collecting them both show a valid photo ID. Other airlines set different ages and fees, so always check with the carrier before you pay for the ticket, and never book a child alone on separate tickets with different airlines.
Practical tips for family trips
- Apply for children’s passports early. School holidays are the busiest time at passport offices.
- Carry copies of birth certificates and consent letters in your hand luggage, not your checked bag.
- Visitors bringing children on safari should check age limits for activities. Gorilla trekking, for example, is only for those aged 15 and over. Our packing list covers what little ones need.
We book a lot of family travel from Kampala, and we’re happy to check your documents before you fly. See our passports and air tickets page, or send us your dates and the children’s ages and we’ll help you plan.
