Immigration Corner | How to renew a child’s UK passport

Dear Mr Bassie,

Please advise me on how I can renew my child’s United Kingdom passport. Any assistance would be much appreciated.

DD

Dear DD,

Persons can apply to renew a child United Kingdom passport online or by post. Please note that if the child’s passport has expired, he/she must renew it before travelling. They should not book travel until they have a valid passport because the new passport will not have the same number as the old one.

If the child’s name or other personal details have changed, the passport cannot be renewed. They must apply for a new passport instead.

TO RENEW A PASSPORT BEFORE IT EXPIRES

How much time the child needs left on their passport will depend on the country they are planning to visit. Persons should check the entry requirements of the country they are travelling to. Time left on your child’s old passport will not be added to their new one.

If the child’s passport is burgundy or has ‘European Union’ on the cover, it can still be used as long as it has enough time left on it.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

To renew a child’s passport, persons will need

• The child’s old passport.

• Any valid passports from a different country the child has. Send either a colour photocopy of each page (including blank ones) or the physical passport.

• Any court orders relating to the child (for example, which describe parental responsibility or residency arrangements).

Persons will also need either digital or printed photos of the child.

TO RENEW ONLINE

It cost £57.50. Persons can pay with a credit or debit card.

They will need

• A digital photo of your child (or a device that takes digital photos).

• The supporting documents.

ASK SOMEONE TO CONFIRM THE CHILD’S IDENTITY

If the child is under 12 years old, persons will need to ask someone to confirm their identity after submitting the application.

Let the person who is confirming the identity know that they will receive an email from HM Passport Office telling them what to do. They will confirm the child’s identity online. They do not need to sign a printed photo. It is advisable to find out who can confirm the child’s identity and what they will need to do.

RENEW BY POST

It costs £69 to renew by post. Persons will need to fill in a paper application form. They can get a paper form by either going to a post office that has a Passport Check and Send service or calling the Passport Adviceline. The person should fill in sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9 of the form. Please note that the child needs to sign Section 6 if they are 12 years or over.

If the child is under 12 years old or cannot be recognised from their old passport photo, they will need to get someone else, known as a ‘countersignatory’, to fill in Section 10 and countersign the form and certify the child’s photo. Persons should read the booklet that comes with the form if they need help with the application.

To send the application, persons can either post the form, photos, and documents using the pre-printed envelope that comes with the form or take the form, photos, and documents to the post office if they want to use the Passport Check and Send service.

SIGNING THE APPLICATION

Please note that someone with parental responsibility must sign the form. If the child is 12 to 15 years old, they need to sign the form, too.

COUNTERSIGNING THE APPLICATION

If the child is under 12 years old, they will need to get their application and one of their photos countersigned.

If the child is 12 or over, persons only need to do this if they cannot be recognised from the photo in their current passport.

CHOOSE HOW ANY DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED SHOULD BE RETURNED

Persons’ documents will be sent back to them by normal post, but they can pay an extra £5 to get them sent by secure delivery. They should choose this service on the application if they want to use it.

GETTING THE PASSPORT

Please be aware that the child’s new passport will be sent by courier or Royal Mail. They will either post it through the letterbox, hand it to the person who made the application at home, or leave a card or post a letter saying how they can get it. However, it will not say the package is the passport.

Good luck.

John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com