Any parent or guardian can be forgiven for being a bit confused, and a
bit nervous, when it comes to applying for a child's passport. So here
are some of the most common questions answered.
What age can my child have a passport?
What age can my child have a passport?
A child can have a passport from birth. If you intend to travel with your children they must have their own valid passport. So whether your child is one month old, five years or 15 they must have their own passport. Laws changed in 1998, when children under 16 were included on their parent's passport, in line with International Law and child abduction prevention.
How much is a UK child's passport?
The cost of your child's first passport is £49, this is for the standard service and takes approximately three weeks. If you want to fast-track the service, which takes a week, then it will cost £96.50.
How long will it take to get my child's passport back?
The IPS, the Government Department who issue passports, states that their standard service will take approximately three weeks – this is if the passport form and photograph are correct. The fast-track service costs more but you will get your passport back in one week, assuming your paperwork and photo are correct.
The Post Office offers a ‘Check & Send' Service which takes two weeks. There is an additional charge for this but the Post Office Clerk will check your paper work and photo is correct, thus avoiding any delays once the IPS has received it.
Tracking your child's passport progress
You can track the progress of your passport application by going online, or calling 0300 222 0000, and quoting the unique bar code number on the passport application form.
How long is a child passport valid for?
A child's passport – a child being deemed as 15 and under – will be valid for 5 years.
What documentation do I need to apply for my child's passport?
For a child born or adopted in the UK you will need to send with your child's application form their birth or adoption certificate – the original, not a photocopy. You will also need to include one of the parent's current passport numbers – there is a section for this on the form. If the parents' passports have expired then it will need to be sent with the application. Or a birth certificate for either parent.
If your child was born or adopted outside of the UK
please see
the official direct.gov.uk website – click the ‘travel and transport'
section and go to the ‘Passport' link.
Who needs to sign my child's passport application form?
The parent, or guardian, will need to sign the application form.
If you are divorced and are applying for a passport for your child then either parent can sign, unless there is a court order preventing this. Other court order documentation, whereby access and such like is granted, should be sent along with the application form.
If the parents are not married the mother can sign. The father can sign if he has a parental responsibility order or agreement. This needs to be sent with the application. Or if he is named on the birth certificate.
Can I renew my child's passport early, i.e. it still has time left on it but expires whilst we are travelling?
Who needs to sign my child's passport application form?
The parent, or guardian, will need to sign the application form.
If you are divorced and are applying for a passport for your child then either parent can sign, unless there is a court order preventing this. Other court order documentation, whereby access and such like is granted, should be sent along with the application form.
If the parents are not married the mother can sign. The father can sign if he has a parental responsibility order or agreement. This needs to be sent with the application. Or if he is named on the birth certificate.
Can I renew my child's passport early, i.e. it still has time left on it but expires whilst we are travelling?
You can renew your child's passport at any time providing it is a standard five year passport, has not been damaged and you do not need to change any information on it, for example their name or national status.
Any time left on the new passport, up to a maximum of nine months, will be added to the new passport.
My child is about to turn 16, do they need to apply for an adult passport?
If your child's passport has yet to expire but the child is due to turn 16 you do not have to apply for an adult's passport until their current child's passport expires. So, for example, if the child turns 16 and there is still 3 years left on their child's passport they do not need to renew/apply for an adult's passport until they are 19 years old, once it has expired.
