Rationale for Singapore citizen minors’ applications for new or replacement passports without parental consent

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs why Singapore Citizens aged 16 and above and are still considered minors can apply for a new or replacement passport on their own without parental consent.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. The Passports Regulations 2007 requires a passport application to be accompanied by parental consent only when the child is below 16 years of age.

2. The age cutoff is consistent with section 361 of the Penal Code which criminalises kidnapping from lawful guardianship, if a minor below 16 years of age is removed from a lawful guardian without the guardian’s consent.

3. This age cutoff seeks to strike a balance between requiring parents to consent (when applicant is below 16) and giving parents the discretion within family arrangements to allow their children to apply for a passport (when aged 16 and above).