Traveling is one of the most enriching experiences a child can have, and as a parent, it is essential to ensure that your child has all the necessary travel documents. One such document is a passport. In the UK, every child, including newborns, requires their passport when traveling overseas. In this article, we will be discussing all the necessary information you need to know about getting a passport for your child in the UK
When Does Your Child Need a Passport?
Your child needs a passport when traveling outside the UK, including Ireland. Therefore, if you are planning to travel abroad with your child, you need to ensure that you apply for a passport in advance. Additionally, some countries require that visitors have at least six months validity on their passports beyond the dates of their trips. Therefore, it is important to apply for a passport well in advance, even if you are not planning to travel immediately.
How to Make a UK Passport for Baby?
There are two ways you can apply for your baby’s UK passport, online and by the post office. All of them are convenient and reliable. So, one can choose the preferable method without worry. In both, there are requirements to get the process completed. You will require the following documents:
For a digital application, you will need:
- Two passport pictures of the baby,
- A baby’s certificate of registration,
- Birth or adoption certificate,
- A digital referee who will confirm your child’s identity.
- If applicable, you will require to submit the date of the parent’s marriage,
- The passport or birth certificates of the parents, and grandparents` documents.
If you prefer a paper check, the necessities are similar to those required in digital applications. Still, here, you will not need a digital referee to confirm the baby’s identity. Instead, a counter signatory will sign your baby’s photos and application documents. All these documents are required in their original form.
Certified translations will be needed if the documents are not written in English or Welsh. The cost of the process is £49 for the digital application and £58.50 for the paper check.
How to Apply for your Child’s Passport
Someone with parental responsibility for the child must apply for the passport. Allow up to 10 weeks to get the passport. It takes longer to apply by post than online. You can either apply online on the official UK government site or you can apply by post in two ways:
- Getting a paper form from a Post Office that offers the Passport Check and Send service;
- Contacting the Passport Adviceline to get a form posted to you.
Fill in sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9 of the form. Your child needs to sign section 6 if they’re 12 or over. You need to get someone else, known as your ‘countersignatory’, to fill in section 10 and certify your child’s photo. Read the booklet that comes with the form if you need help with your application.
To send in your application, you can either:
- Post your form, photos and documents using the pre-printed envelope that comes with the form;
- Take your form, photos and documents to the Post Office if you want to use the Passport Check and Send service.
Signing the application
Someone with parental responsibility must sign the form.
If your child is 12 to 15 they need to sign the form too.
Cost of a Child’s Passport in the UK
The cost of a child’s passport in the UK varies depending on how you apply for it. If you apply online, the standard cost for a child’s passport is £53.50. If you apply by post, the fee increases to £64. However, if you need the passport urgently, you can use the one-week Fast Track service, which costs £122.
Processing Time of a child’s passport
The estimated processing time for a standard child passport application is 10 weeks when applying by post or through the Post Office’s Check & Send service, and 6 weeks when applying online. However, it’s important to note that these processing times are only estimates and may vary based on individual circumstances. Alternatively, you can use the Fast Track service If you need it urgently.
Validity of a child’s passport
The validity of a child’s passport depends on their age at the time of issuance. For children under 16, the passport is valid for 5 years, while for those 16 and above, it is valid for 10 years. However, you should note that a child’s passport can only be renewed by post and not online.
How to Get Your Child’s Passport Fast in the UK
As mentioned earlier, the Fast Track service is a way to get your child’s passport fast. However, there is another way to expedite the application process without paying the premium fees. Taking an approved baby passport photo can help you get your application processed quickly. However, taking a good passport photo that meets the ICAO requirements can be tricky.
To ensure that your child’s passport photo meets the requirements, you can use the Smartphone iD app. Our app uses expert knowledge and artificial intelligence to help you take the perfect photo that ticks all the necessary boxes, facilitating the application process.
Here are some tips to help you take an approved baby passport photo:
- Make sure your baby is awake and alert.
- Place your baby on a plain white or cream background.
- Ensure that there are no shadows or glare on the photo.
- Your baby should be facing forward, and their eyes should be open.
- There should be no other people, objects, or toys in the photo.
Once you have taken the photo, you can apply for your child’s passport online and upload the photo. This way, you can get your child’s passport processed quickly without paying the premium fees.
Conclusion
Getting a passport for your child is essential when traveling overseas. Applying in advance and online is faster and more convenient. Remember to take an approved baby passport photo to speed up your application process.
