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When applying for a child’s first British passport, the documents required will depend on the child’s nationality, birthplace and family circumstances.
However, most applications require:
- Full Birth Or Adoption Certificate Showing The Parents’ Details
- Proof Of The Child’s British Nationality
- A Digital Photo For An Online Application
- Two Printed Photos For A Paper Application
- Any Valid Foreign Passports Belonging To The Child
- Relevant Court Orders Concerning The Child
- Certified Translations For Documents Not In English Or Welsh
The first child passport requirements state that applicants must send original documents or official copies of certificates. Photocopies are not accepted, including certified photocopies, and laminated documents cannot be submitted.
Online applicants are told which supporting documents to send after completing the application. Paper applicants must follow the document list supplied with the form.
Last Update: 31.08.2026
Documents Required for Most Applications
The child’s full birth or adoption certificate is one of the main documents required for a first passport. It must be the full version showing the child’s details and information about the parents.
HM Passport Office may also require proof that the child is British.
Depending on the circumstances, this could include:
- Parent’s British Passport Details
- Parent’s Full Birth Certificate
- British Registration Certificate
- British Naturalisation Certificate
- Evidence Of A Parent’s Immigration Status When The Child Was Born
A UK birth certificate does not always prove that a child is British. Nationality can depend on when the child was born and the immigration or citizenship status of the parents at that time.
The rules covered by Citizens Advice on British citizenship for children can help families understand whether citizenship was acquired automatically or requires registration.
Additional Documents That May Be Requested
Some families will need to provide additional evidence because of the child’s birthplace, nationality or family arrangements.
Additional documents may include:
- Valid Passports From Other Countries Held By The Child
- Court Orders About Parental Responsibility Or Living Arrangements
- Parents’ Marriage Or Civil Partnership Certificate
- Grandparents’ Birth Or Marriage Documents
- Evidence Of A Child’s Change Of Name
- Certified Translations Of Foreign Documents
When the name requested for the passport differs from the child’s birth certificate, HM Passport Office may request a deed poll, evidence showing the new name in use and a signed agreement from everyone with parental responsibility.
Child Passport Document Checklist
| Document | Online Application | Paper Application | When Required |
| Full Birth Or Adoption Certificate | As Instructed | Required | First Applications |
| Proof Of British Nationality | As Instructed | Required | Where Nationality Must Be Confirmed |
| Child’s Passport Photo | One Digital Photo | Two Printed Photos | Every Application |
| Foreign Passports | As Instructed | Required If Held | When The Child Has Another Passport |
| Court Orders | If Applicable | If Applicable | Relevant Family Or Residency Cases |
| Certified Translation | If Applicable | If Applicable | Documents Not In English Or Welsh |
| Evidence Of A Name Change | If Applicable | If Applicable | When Names Do Not Match |
Applicants should check that names, dates and places of birth are consistent across every document. Even a minor difference may lead to HM Passport Office requesting further evidence.
What Age Does a Child Need a Passport in the UK?
There is no minimum age for a British passport. A newborn baby can receive a passport once the birth has been registered and the required documents are available.
Children generally need their own passport when travelling outside the UK. They cannot travel using a parent’s passport or be added to a parent’s new passport.
A child passport application is used for anyone under 16. If the child is already 16 or will turn 16 within three weeks, the first adult passport process may apply instead.
The same HM Passport Office application process applies in Northern Ireland, with NIDirect passport information covering British child passports and the relevant application services.
How Long Does a Child Passport Last?
A British child passport is valid for five years. This applies to babies and all other children under 16.
The shorter validity period reflects how quickly a child’s appearance can change. Time remaining on an existing child passport is not normally added to a replacement or renewed passport.
Parents should check the entry requirements of the destination before travelling. Some countries require a passport to remain valid for a particular period after the planned arrival or departure date.
How Much Does a Child’s First Passport Cost in 2026?
Child passport fees increased on 8 April 2026. Applying online remains less expensive than using a paper application.
| Application Service | Current Fee |
| Standard Online Application | £66.50 |
| Standard Paper Application | £80 |
| One-Week Fast Track | £156.50 |
| One-Week Fast Track, 54 Pages | £170.50 |
These fees apply to applications made from within the UK. Different fees and delivery charges apply when submitting an application from another country.
The application fee covers the assessment of the application rather than guaranteeing that a passport will be issued. Applicants should therefore check the information and documents carefully before submitting them.
How to Apply for a Child’s First Passport?
A parent or another person with parental responsibility can apply online or by using a paper form. Both methods require supporting documents and someone who can confirm the child’s identity.
Applying Online
An online child passport application requires:
- Digital Passport Photo Of The Child
- Supporting Documents
- Credit Or Debit Card
- Details Of Both Parents
- Details Of An Eligible Identity Confirmer
After the form has been submitted and paid for, the identity confirmer receives an email from HM Passport Office. They complete the confirmation online and do not need to sign a printed photograph.
HM Passport Office will then tell the applicant where to send the supporting documents. The processing period does not begin until those documents have been received.
Applying With a Paper Form
Paper application forms can be obtained from a Post Office offering Passport Check and Send or requested through the Passport Adviceline. The application form is not downloaded and printed at home.
The applicant must normally:
- Complete Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 And 9
- Provide Two New Passport Photos
- Arrange For A Countersignatory To Complete Section 10
- Ask The Countersignatory To Certify One Photo
- Include The Required Supporting Documents
- Provide The Correct Payment Details
A child aged 12 to 15 must sign section 6 of the paper form. Someone with parental responsibility must also sign the application.
The completed form, photos and documents can be posted using the supplied envelope or submitted through the Post Office Check and Send service for an additional charge.
Who Can Apply for a Child’s Passport?
The application must be completed by someone with parental responsibility for the child. This is commonly a parent, guardian or another person who has obtained parental responsibility through an agreement or court order.
Both parents’ details normally need to be provided, even when only one parent completes the application. If the other parent’s details cannot be supplied, the applicant must explain why.
This may apply when:
- Only One Parent Is Named On The Birth Certificate
- The Child Was Adopted By One Person
- The Other Parent Cannot Be Located
- A Court Order Affects Parental Responsibility
- Providing The Details Would Create A Safeguarding Concern
The passport application and permission to take a child abroad are separate issues. Depending on the family circumstances, permission from everyone with parental responsibility may still be required before travelling with the child.
Who Can Confirm a Child’s Identity?
Someone other than the applying parent or guardian must confirm the child’s identity. This is completed digitally for online applications and through a countersignatory for paper applications.
Identity Confirmation for Online Applications
The person confirming the identity must generally:
- Be Aged 18 Or Over
- Live In The UK
- Hold A Current British Or Irish Passport
- Have Known The Applying Parent Or Guardian For At Least Two Years
- Know The Applicant As A Friend, Neighbour Or Colleague
- Work In Or Be Retired From A Recognised Profession
They cannot be related to the applicant, be in a relationship with them or live at the same address. They should agree to act as the identity confirmer before their name and email address are entered on the application.
Recognised professions include teachers, nurses, accountants, solicitors, police officers, pharmacists, journalists, engineers with professional qualifications and directors or managers of limited companies.
Countersigning a Paper Application
A paper application requires a countersignatory to complete section 10 and certify one of the child’s photographs. The countersignatory must meet the relevant identity and professional requirements.
They must write the required statement on the back of one photograph, add their signature and date it. They may be contacted by HM Passport Office to confirm the information supplied.
The countersignatory should not alter the photograph, write across the child’s face or use a signature that extends beyond the available space.
Child and Baby Passport Photo Requirements
A new photograph must be supplied with every first child passport application. The photograph should have been taken during the previous month and must provide a clear and accurate image of the child.
General Photo Requirements for Children
A digital passport photograph must:
- Be Clear And In Focus
- Be In Colour
- Use A Plain Light-Coloured Background
- Show No Other People Or Objects
- Contain No Shadows On The Face Or Background
- Be Unaltered By Editing Software
- Be At Least 600 Pixels Wide And 750 Pixels High
- Have A File Size Between 50KB And 10MB
The child must appear alone. Toys, dummies and other objects should not be visible.
When taking the photograph at home, the image should include the child’s head, shoulders and upper body. It should not be manually cropped because the online passport service performs the final cropping.
Photo Rules for Children Under Six
Children under six do not have to look directly at the camera or maintain a completely plain expression. However, their face must still be clearly visible and nothing should cover their eyes or facial features.
Good lighting and a plain background can reduce the likelihood of the photograph being rejected.
Photo Rules for Babies Under One
Babies under one do not need to have their eyes open. They can be supported during the photograph, but the supporting person or hand must not appear in the final image.
A baby can be placed on a plain light-coloured sheet and photographed from above. The sheet should be smooth enough to prevent heavy shadows around the head.
How Long Does a Child’s First Passport Take?
HM Passport Office says passports are usually received within three weeks. The processing time starts when the supporting documents arrive, rather than when the online form is submitted.
The application may take longer if:
- Additional Documents Are Required
- The Child’s Nationality Needs Further Checks
- Information On The Documents Does Not Match
- The Identity Confirmer Does Not Respond
- The Passport Photo Is Rejected
- An Interview Is Required
Parents should apply well before the intended travel date and should not book travel until the passport has arrived.
Can You Get a Child’s First Passport Urgently?
A child’s first passport is eligible for the one-week Fast Track service. The service requires an appointment at a passport office, where the child’s documents must be left for checking.
A standard child passport using Fast Track costs £156.50. A 54-page child passport costs £170.50. The new passport is delivered approximately one week after the appointment.
The one-day Premium service cannot be used for a child’s first passport. It is limited to eligible adult passport renewals.
Common Reasons Child Passport Applications Are Delayed
Many delays occur because information is missing or does not match the supporting evidence.
Before submitting the application, check for the following issues:
- Missing Original Documents
- Short Birth Certificates Without Parents’ Details
- Photocopied Or Laminated Certificates
- Unacceptable Passport Photos
- Missing Foreign Passports
- Incorrect Parent Information
- Uncompleted Identity Confirmation
- Missing Court Orders
- Untranslated Foreign Documents
- Differences Between Names Or Dates
Applicants should respond promptly if HM Passport Office requests additional information. Sending documents that were not requested may complicate the application rather than speed it up.
Conclusion
Applying for a child’s first passport in the UK requires a full birth or adoption certificate, proof of British nationality, a suitable photograph and an eligible person to confirm the child’s identity.
Foreign passports, court orders, translations and additional family documents may also be required in certain cases.
Online applications currently cost £66.50, while paper applications cost £80. Checking every document carefully, using an acceptable photograph and arranging identity confirmation in advance can reduce the risk of delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Both Parents Have to Sign a Child’s Passport Application?
No. One person with parental responsibility normally completes the application, although both parents’ details are usually required.
Can One Parent Apply for a Child’s First Passport?
Yes. One parent can apply if they have parental responsibility, but they may need to explain why the other parent’s details cannot be provided.
Does a Child Need Their Original Birth Certificate?
HM Passport Office requires the full original birth or adoption certificate or an official certificate copy. Photocopies and laminated certificates are not accepted.
Can a Baby Get a Passport Immediately After Birth?
A baby can receive a passport once the birth has been registered and the full birth certificate and other required documents are available.
Does a Child Need to Sign the Passport Application?
A child aged 12 to 15 must sign section 6 of a paper application. Younger children do not sign the application.
Can Parents Track a Child Passport Application?
Yes. Parents can track the application using the reference provided by HM Passport Office after it has been submitted.
Should Travel Be Booked Before the Passport Arrives?
No. Travel should not be booked until the child’s passport has been received because applications can take longer when additional checks are required.
