Pass the passport controls

• Passport basics
• Plan ahead
• Passport requirements
• Photo rules
• Where to get one
• How much it costs
• When do you need your passport?
• Passport checklist
• Passport hell.. and back. Read, and be warned, by this mum's struggle to get a baby passport!

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Passport basics
Since 6 October 1998, children under 16 years of age have had to possess their own passport, rather than be added on to their parents'. A child passport lasts for five years and then must be renewed every five years until the child has reached the age of 16, when they will be eligible for the ten-year adult passport. Adults can apply for the ten-year adult passport. Passports must be renewed every five years for children under 16 and every ten years for adults over 16.

Plan ahead

It's not difficult to get a passport for your child but you need to ensure that you leave enough time between applying for it and the departure date for your holiday! People often forget about passports until a few months or weeks before they are meant to go away, which can cause stress for everyone involved. Normally, passport applications can be turned around within two or three weeks from when you've sent the application off but during peak times - such as school holidays (particularly the summer and Christmas breaks) - this can be considerably longer. You also need to factor in time to prepare all the necessary paperwork that goes with an application. So if you want to go away in July, for example, you'd best apply by May at the latest.

babyworld tip: Try to plan as far ahead as possible to avoid stress. Apply for passports for summer holidays in the preceding winter or spring, or in spring or summer for winter holidays.

Passport requirements
There are various things that you will need for your first passport application. They are:
For your first ten-year adult passport you need:

• an original birth certificate: if you were born after 31 December 1982, you will need to provide an original of your FULL birth certificate, showing details of your parentage
• if you were born outside the UK, your original Certificate of Registration or Naturalisation
• if you're married and have changed your name, you will need your marriage certificate (photocopies are not accepted)
• two recent identical photos of yourself taken within the last month (see below for further details on photos)

For your child's first five-year passport you'll need:


• their full birth or adoption certificate, showing both parents' details (if you don't have this then contact the Registration Services in your area)
• evidence of one parent's nationality or immigration status when the child was born, such as either the mum's or dad's birth certificate, Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or passport valid at the time of the birth
• two recent identical photos of your child, taken within the last month (see below for full details on photos).

babyworld tip: There are more guidelines for parents and children born outside the UK. Please visit the IPS website for more information or call the Passport Adviceline on 0870 521 0410.

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