Who legally owns a child's passport?

Answer

Determining the legal ownership of a child's passport is not straightforward. Generally, the individual or individuals with parental responsibility for the child are considered the legal owners of the passport. This responsibility typically lies with the child's parents, although in certain situations, other family members or legal guardians may also have parental responsibility.

In cases of parental separation, it is common for the parent who the child primarily resides with to retain possession of the passport. This is because a passport cannot be divided between two parties. However, the decision regarding passport custody ultimately depends on the parents' agreement and what is deemed most practical and appropriate given the circumstances.