Ecuadorian passport for minors in Valencia: 90 € in cash

In short: the Consulate of Ecuador in Valencia handles the Ecuadorian passport for minors by appointment, with the child present. It covers a first passport and renewal after expiry, loss or theft, or damage or missing pages. It costs 90 € in cash and delivery takes about 30 days.

In person or by representative? The child has to attend in person, and so do both parents. If one parent cannot attend, a notarial power of attorney (an authorisation signed before a notary) is needed that expressly authorises getting the Ecuadorian passport; the details are under special cases below. If the child is older than 7 and the fingerprints need updating in two stages, both parents have to be present at both (see the fingerprints section).

Reasons to apply. The page speaks of «passport renewal» and separates four cases:

• First time: children who will get their passport for the first time.
• Expiry: an expired passport or one that has lost validity.
• Loss or theft.
• Damage or missing pages.

What to bring. General requirements, according to the consulate's two pages:

• Appointment.
• For the child: attendance in person and Ecuadorian birth registration.
• For the parents: both must attend, with a valid passport or identity card (cédula).

Special cases. In these cases additional documents are needed:

• One parent absent: notarial power of attorney that expressly authorises getting the Ecuadorian passport. If it was signed before a Spanish notary, it must carry the apostille of the Colegio de Notarios (an apostille is the seal that gives a document validity in another country).
• Power of attorney issued more than a year ago: a certificate from the Notaría, the Consulate or the Embassy, as applicable, stating that the special power has not been revoked.
• Sole parental authority (only one parent has the legal authority over the child): an Ecuadorian or Spanish court ruling, apostilled, recording this fact.
• Adoption: the corresponding court judgment or ruling.
• A parent whose whereabouts are unknown (nobody knows where they are): an Ecuadorian or Spanish court ruling, apostilled, that records this and authorises the other parent to get the child's Ecuadorian passport.

If your case is not on this list, ask the consulate when you book.

Fingerprints for children older than 7. The biometric passport requires these children to have updated fingerprints, and the summary page says this may need two stages. The requirements page describes them like this:

• First stage, fingerprint update: done on the day of the appointment and sent to Ecuador. It can take between 24 and 48 hours. The consulate then assigns a new appointment to continue.
• Second stage, passport issue: with the fingerprints updated and the appointment reassigned, the child's passport is issued.

Both parents have to be present at both stages.

Cost and timing. 90 €, paid in cash: the consulate is improving its payment methods and, for now, takes cash only. Free for minors with a disability of 30 % or more; for that exemption you must show the CONADIS or Ecuadorian Ministry of Public Health card, or the disability cédula. The summary page gives a delivery time of about 30 days. The requirements page says the time depends on service availability and recommends starting the procedure in advance.

Appointment. It is compulsory and is booked on the Cancillería appointment platform. Phone, address and opening hours: on the consulate website.

In Spain. If you need the child's passport for an immigration procedure, our TIE guide lists the passport among the documents for the fingerprint appointment.

Steps:

1. Check the requirements on the consulate requirements page and prepare the additional documents if your case is special.
2. Book the appointment on the Cancillería appointment platform.
3. Go to the appointment with the child, both parents (or one with a notarial power of attorney) and the documents. Bring 90 € in cash.
4. If the child is older than 7, the fingerprints may need updating in two stages: in that case the consulate assigns a new appointment after the update; go again with both parents.
5. Wait for delivery: about 30 days.

Official sources: Consulate of Ecuador in Valencia, minors and requirements for minors' passports.

Informational only; check the official source and a professional for your specific case.