How to apply for your 4-5 year old’s new passport!

If you live in the U.K. and you have a child about to turn 5 or has turned 5 this year, it is important to note that a child’s first passport is only valid for 5 years. You will need to renew their passport once they turn 5.

Depending on when your child was born, their first passport may expire before or after the summer. If your child’s first passport expires after the summer, it is important to keep this in mind:

• Summer holiday travels: most countries require a passport to be valid for 3 – 6 months after the date you leave that country, for you to be allowed in. Passport validity is strict and can easily mess your holiday plans. So prepare in advance to avoid losing your summer holidays!

  
  

This means, even if your child’s first passport doesn’t expire until December of that year, you could still be unable to enter your dream summer holiday country due to passport validity.

To avoid this, apply for your child’s passport renewal by June or early July to maximise your chances to travel during the summer holidays.

When to apply for your child’s passport renewal: by first week of July latest for the summer holidays (if passport expiry date is after July)

Where to apply for your child’s passport renewal: head to the gov.co.uk website to apply for your child’s passport renewal here.

How much it costs: £61.50 for a standard 34 pages passport

How long it takes: up to 3 weeks

What you’ll need to apply: a digital passport photo of your child. You can take this with your phone. The website gives you guidance on how to capture your child’s passport photo.

What you’ll need to send in: after submitting your child’s passport renewal application online, you will need to:

1. Provide details of someone who can confirm their identity – this person cannot be someone living with you or who is related to you by birth or marriage. They also must be 18 or older, living in the U.K. British, working in one of the specified professions, and need to have known you for 2+ years

2. You will need to provide this person’s email address and full name online when applying.

3. Send your child’s first passport to the passport office after step a has been completed – you will get an email on where to send it to once someone has confirmed your child’s identity.

   
   

To check passport validity requirements for where you intend to go on your summer holidays, click here.

If you realise you’re running out of time and need a passport urgently, you could pay £145 for a 1 week fast track service instead. 

Rule of thumb: always remember to check your child’s passport expiry date before booking any holidays!

Happy travels!