Online passport renewal expanded to minors under 18 with prior e-passport issuance history
Parents can apply through Government24, reducing the need to visit district offices in person
Gangdong-gu in Seoul said parents and legal guardians can now apply online through the Government24 portal to renew passports for their minor children, following an expansion of the online renewal system to cover minors under 18.
Previously, only adults with a prior electronic passport on record were eligible to apply for renewal online. Under an amendment to the Passport Act, minors under 18 who have a prior electronic passport issuance history are now also eligible.
To apply, a parent or legal guardian logs into Government24, completes identity verification, and selects the online passport renewal service. Instructions provided during the application process guide applicants through subsequent steps, including passport collection.
The district said it expects the change to ease the burden on guardians who previously had to visit a civil affairs counter in person to renew a minor child's passport.
Because applications can be submitted at any time and from any location, residents who found it difficult to visit a weekday service window due to their children's school schedules or their own work commitments will benefit from greater administrative convenience, the district said.
"With the expansion of online passport renewal to minors, we expect residents to face significantly less time and logistical burden when renewing passports," Gangdong-gu District Mayor Lee Su-hee said. "We will continue to actively promote civil service systems that residents can use with ease, and work to deliver administrative services that make a real difference in everyday life."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
