Families with holiday plans for the coming months are being urged by HM Passport Office to check their children’s travel documents well ahead of departure dates.
The government agency took to X and issued the warning: “Travelling with children this spring/summer? Renew their passport in good time. ChildPassport PlanAhead”.
British residents heading overseas must ensure all passports remain valid, with adult documents lasting a decade whilst those issued to children expire after just five years.
Official guidance strongly recommends against booking any travel arrangements before securing a valid passport, noting that replacement documents will carry different numbers to previous ones.
Families are being reminded to check their passport as soon as possible
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Applications typically require approximately three weeks to process, though this timeframe can occasionally extend during busier periods.
Those applying online for a child’s passport will pay £61.50, with paper applications costing £74.
Adult passport renewals are priced at £94.50 through the digital route, increasing to £107 for those who prefer postal submissions.
Travellers requiring their documents more urgently can access a premium fast-track service, which delivers within one week for £145 for children’s passports.
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A 54-page frequent traveller version is available at £158 for those who regularly journey abroad. However, travel expert Jamie Fraser at Wild Packs cautioned that expedited appointments “are not always guaranteed and appointments can be limited during peak travel periods”.
When submitting a passport application for a child, an individual with parental responsibility must handle the process. Both parents’ details are required as part of the application, though exceptions exist for certain circumstances.
If information about one parent cannot be supplied, applicants must provide an explanation, such as cases where only a single parent is listed on the birth certificate or where adoption involved just one parent.
Additionally, anyone aged 11 or above is generally required to sign their passport personally. Until this signature is completed, the document cannot be used for travel purposes, rendering it invalid at border control.
The Passport Office has urged Britons to take action
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PAMr Fraser also highlighted that everyday wear and tear on passports can cause difficulties when passing through automated scanners or facing checks at airport borders.
Ensuring documents remain in good condition is therefore essential, with damaged passports potentially requiring replacement before travel. Blank pages present another consideration for frequent travellers, as stamps and visas need space at the rear of the document.
Passports filled with markings from previous journeys could result in being turned away at borders if insufficient room remains for new entry stamps.
HM Passport Office reiterated its advice: “Do not book travel until you have a valid passport – your new passport will not have the same number as your old one.”