Passports - What you need to know

20 March 2008

Adult UK passport applications.
If you do not have a passport or your passport needs renewing, you should apply as early as possible. It is more expensive to fast track an application. It is strongly recommended that you do not book any travel before your new passport arrives.

Applications should be processed in around three weeks from when they arrive at the passport office. This does not include postage time and applications can take longer at busy times. You can also request a form on line from the UK passport office.

Once you have your application form simply folow the instructions on the form and return to the passport office. You may prefer to use the Check and Send service offered by Post Offices and WorldChoice travel agents.

Passports for babies and children up to the age of 16.
In the past babies and children could be included on a parent or guardian’s passport. The law has now changed and babies and children up to 16 who are not already on a parent’s or guardian’s passport must have their own child passport if they are going to travel abroad.

A child passport is valid for five years. When it runs out you can renew it for another five years, and so on. If your child is under 16 they cannot apply for an adult passport. For example, a 15-year-old who needs a passport must apply for a 5-year child passport. They can use this until it runs out, in this case when the ‘child’ is 20.

When a child reaches 16 the next passport they apply for once their current 5-year child passport runs out should be a 10-year adult passport.

What if my child is already on my passport?

Before October 1998 many children were included on adult passports. If your child is on your passport they can continue to travel with you in this way until:

they reach 16 and need to apply for their own adult passport or
the passport on which they are included runs out or
they are issued with their own passport or
the passport on which they are included is sent back to be changed in some way.

Important note: Children travelling to the USA need to have their own passport. For more details check the UK passport office website for latest news.

First UK child passport.
To apply for a first 5-year child passport your child must be under 16 and either:

a British citizen
a British overseas territories citizen
a British overseas citizen or
a British subject.

If you are not sure whether your child belongs to one of these groups you can check the rules and eligibility, contact your local passport office or call their Adviceline on 0870 521 0410.

Renewal of child passport
You can apply to renew your child’s passport if:

their last passport was a standard 5-year child passport and
you still have their last passport and
it is not damaged and
you do not need to change their name or national status

and

their passport is full or
it has run out or
it will run out within the next nine months.

If you do not still have their last passport you should follow the instructions for applying for a first 5-year child passport.

Fees and how to pay.

You can pay by:

cheque (payable to ‘UK Passport Service’ and crossed ‘A/C payee’)
postal order
credit/debit card.

You can also pay by cash, if you go to a high street partner or make an appointment to visit your local Passport Office for an urgent application. Please do not send cash through the post.

For more information on fees and a breakdown of how they are spent see how much does it cost?

Checklist

When you apply for a first 5-year child passport please include:

completed application form*
two identical passport photos, one certified
documents that prove the child is British
payment.

When you apply to renew a child passport please include:

completed application form*
two identical passport photos, certified if necessary
the child’s current or last passport
payment.

*Note: if you use the online application form, it will be printed out and sent to you to sign. When you post it back to the passport office you should also send your child’s documents/last passport and photos.

And remember, when the passport arrives, check it carefully. Please make a note of the passport number or take a photocopy of the page showing your child’s details and keep it in a safe place.