Find below some useful information about the application or renewal of a child’s British passport.

 Children’s passport varies in many ways from that adult passport in terms of cost it is cheaper to get and also lasts half the time of an adult passport.

For any British citizen to travel abroad, a passport is a must have, thus, parents can file an application for their children’s passport from birth till they are 15 years of age.

Though there is Fast Track service for those needing it urgently, under normal circumstances, it takes only three weeks to get it ready.

For all British nationals residing in the UK, they can either apply, renew or update thier child’s passport online https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport or via post.

Or else parents can collect a paper form from the nearest Post Office and post it or use the Check and Send service.

Children aged 12 or over, will need to complete section six of the form. Also, a counter-signatory will need to sign the form if:

·         they’re aged 11 or under

·         they’ve never had a British passport before

·         they can’t be recognised from the photo in their old passport

·         their old passport has been lost, stolen or damaged

Along with the application form, you’ll have to send in passport photos and identification documents.

The same passport photo rules apply for a child’s passport as to an adult’s. Therefore, the submission of original identification documents is needed as an evidence that the child is indeed a British national e.g. birth certificate.

Meanwhile, a 15 year old child, who is going to be 16 within the next three weeks, must apply for a 10-year adult passport.

But the HM Passport Office advises: “Your child can use their child passport until it expires, even if they’re over 18.”

Finally, the cost of getting a child’s passport if done online or by post is £46, while those using the Post Office Passport Check and Send service, will pay £55.75. Which can be paid by credit card, debit card, cheque or postal order.