Marcelo OliveiraTraveling within Brazil with a parent: bring the child’s document and proof of filiation. Traveling abroad with only one parent: also arrange authorization from the other. With grandparents, the difference is decisive: in Brazil, proven kinship waives authorization for children under 16; abroad, grandparents are third parties and need the appropriate authorization. For Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Peru, the RG or CIN can replace the passport for tourism travel, including for children.
✓ Verified on 10/03/2026 — documents, fee, and validity at the Federal Police; authorizations at the CNJ; acceptance of identity documents on the official GOL and LATAM pages.
| Standard passport | R$ 257.25; payment generated by the official PF service |
|---|---|
| Child validity | From 1 to 5 years, depending on age at appointment |
| Domestic travel | Authorization depends on the accompanying adult for children under 16 |
| International travel | Authorization depends on the accompanying adult for minors under 18 |
| Tourism with RG/CIN | Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Peru accept Brazilian identity cards; condition and identification matter |
How to get a child’s passport
The child needs a CPF, identification, and authorization for issuance; the absence of one parent must be resolved before the appointment at the Federal Police.
On the official document list, a birth certificate can identify children under 12. From that age on, bring accepted photo identification. Also present the accompanying adults’ documents, any previous passport, and the certificates needed to prove names or data.
With both parents present, the simple form is filled out at home and signed at the appointment. With only one, bring the absent parent’s appropriate authorization, with notarized signature or another instrument accepted by the PF. If neither attends, the accompanying person needs the specific powers required. If more than two parents are registered, all must authorize. A death certificate, registration with a single parent, or a court decision may justify a waiver depending on the case.
The PF photo guidelines require a recent 5 × 7 cm photo for children under 5, with the face visible and a white background. Even with a photo, the child must appear. Fill out the official request, pay, wait for clearance, and schedule; an available time slot doesn’t mean the document will be ready before an already-purchased ticket.
Fee and validity by age
The standard fee is the same for babies and adults; child validity ranges from 1 to 5 years depending on age on the day of the appointment.
The official PF fee is the same for babies and adults. Generate the charge after submitting the form: the service offers the payment methods indicated by the PF, including boleto and PagTesouro. Pay the boleto using the barcode; converting the boleto data into a transfer or PIX outside PagTesouro prevents proper clearance. Loss of a previous valid passport may require an additional fee.
| Age at appointment | Validity | Standard fee / rule verified on 10/03/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 1 year | R$ 257.25; loss of a valid previous passport can raise the total to R$ 514.50 |
| 1 to under 2 years | 2 years | Same amount; validity increases with age |
| 2 to under 3 years | 3 years | The relevant age is at the appointment, not at travel |
| 3 to under 4 years | 4 years | Also check the minimum validity required by the destination |
| 4 to under 18 years | 5 years | Remains usable after age 18 if still valid |
Source: validity by age at the PF. Validity is not extended. Before booking, check the destination’s requirement for the document’s remaining validity period; it’s not enough for it to expire after departure.
Domestic travel: parents, grandparents, or alone
For children under 16, traveling with one parent or with adult grandparents waives authorization in Brazil, as long as documents prove the relationship.
CNJ Resolution 295/2019 also allows an ascendant or collateral relative up to the third degree, such as a sibling or uncle/aunt. The relationship must be demonstrated: the certificate can help when surnames or the accompanying adult’s data don’t make kinship obvious.
With another adult, authorization from the mother, father, or guardian is required, via public deed or private document with notarized signature. Traveling unaccompanied, a minor under 16 can also use this authorization. Another waiver is travel to a contiguous district within the same state or within the same metropolitan region. From age 16 onward, this national requirement no longer applies; identification and boarding rules remain.
If traveling by plane, legal authorization doesn’t replace the airline’s minimum age and escort service rules. Check both before buying. To choose a family trip, there are suggestions in January vacations with kids and in Carnival hotels with recreation.
International travel: who needs to authorize
For Brazilian minors under 18 residing in Brazil, traveling abroad with only one parent requires authorization from the absent parent; with grandparents or alone, from both.
CNJ Resolution 131/2011 covers international departure. With both parents, authorization is waived. A 16- or 17-year-old traveling alone still needs it to leave Brazil, even though the national authorization doesn’t apply.
Grandparents don’t get the same waiver as on domestic trips. Bringing the birth certificate proves kinship but doesn’t replace consent. For a Brazilian minor residing abroad, there are specific rules for returning to the country of residence with a consular certificate. Check that case separately.
If there is death, suspension, or loss of parental authority, bring documentation proving the situation. The CNJ international rule provides for a judicial authorization scenario for departure with a foreign resident who is not a parent. If there is opposition from a guardian or a situation outside the waivers, contact the Child and Youth Court before traveling.
CNJ template and authorization in the passport
Use the form corresponding to the trip, identify the child and accompanying adults, and arrange the required notarized signature, with express validity and necessary copies.
The CNJ offers the international template. For this paper authorization, bring two original copies: one is retained by the PF. The signature can be notarized by similarity or authenticity. The validity period must be stated; if omitted, the rule considers two years. These details are in the official CNJ guidelines.
When applying for a passport, parents can choose printed authorization: type 1 allows travel with either parent; type 2 also authorizes traveling unaccompanied; type 3 issues without travel authorization. Check the notation in the booklet, since authorizing issuance isn’t necessarily authorizing departure. The PF states that this choice cannot be changed after the appointment without requesting a new passport.
Anyone planning to travel using an RG must bring separate authorization when required: the identity card doesn’t contain the passport’s printed permission. A photo of a signature or a document simply signed on a phone doesn’t equal a notarized signature. GOL clarifies that a gov.br signature doesn’t replace this formality; electronic travel authorization must follow the proper notarial procedure.
Can you travel with just an RG to Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay? What about children?
Yes, Brazilians traveling for tourism can use accepted identity documents in these four countries, and Peru also accepts RG or CIN; children need their own document.
LATAM lists Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Peru among destinations that accept RG or CIN from Brazilians. The PF requires identity documents in good condition, with a photo that fully identifies the holder, and states that a driver’s license, professional card, and birth certificate are not valid for international entry.
That’s why the certificate that identifies a baby on a domestic flight doesn’t work for entry into a foreign country. It can supplement proof of filiation, but the child travels with a passport or accepted identity document. Authorization still depends on the accompanying adult, even when the destination waives the passport.
GOL warns that it refuses old, laminated, or damaged RGs and children’s RGs without a birth certificate. The airline doesn’t define a time limit in years for considering an RG old; when in doubt, bring a recent document. If the photo is of a baby and the child has changed a lot, get a recent document or use a valid passport. Also check connections: passing through a country that requires a passport changes the route’s documentation.
To choose between the two most common destinations for this question, see Santiago or Buenos Aires on a first trip.
What to check before boarding
First choose the document accepted for the entire route, then check who is accompanying the child; only then prepare the authorization that matches the trip.
Compare names on the reservation and documents, passport or identity validity, proof of filiation, and guardian consent. Set aside the required originals and keep a backup copy elsewhere. Entry rules and Brazilian authorization answer different questions: meeting one doesn’t eliminate the other.
For international travel, also see where travel insurance is mandatory. For those traveling with a baby, the guide to boarding passes, strollers, and luggage on flights with a baby helps finalize preparations. If the trip involves an absent guardian or an old document, resolve that issue before booking non-refundable reservations.
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Frequently asked questions
Does a baby need their own passport?
Yes, when the destination requires a passport, the baby needs their own document. For tourism in countries that accept Brazilian identity documents, they can use their RG or CIN, along with the authorization required by the accompanying adult.
Do grandparents need authorization to travel with their grandchild?
Within Brazil, for children under 16, adult grandparents waive authorization if they documentarily prove kinship. Abroad, they need authorization from the parents, unless there is sufficient authorization in the passport or a specific legal situation.
Does sole custody waive the other parent’s signature?
Sole custody alone doesn’t equal loss of parental authority. For passports and international departure, check the content of the court decision; the PF requires a document supporting the waiver or specific authorization.
Can a child enter Peru with a birth certificate?
A birth certificate doesn’t replace a travel document for entry into Peru. A Brazilian child needs a passport or an RG/CIN accepted for tourism, plus the applicable authorization.
Is the passport valid until the child turns 18?
No. Child passport validity depends on age at the PF appointment and ranges from 1 to 5 years. A still-valid document can continue to be used after age 18.