Monday 10th December 2007
From 10 December 2007 the biggest changes in policy to child passport applications, since 1998, take effect. There are three main changes:
1. 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to apply for a passport without seeking parental consent; and
2. 16 and 17-year-olds can change their name without parental consent.
This decision brings us into line with modern legal practices and recognises the fact that many 16 and 17-year-olds are already taking day-to-day responsibility for their lives. At 16, compulsory education ends and National Insurance numbers are issued. It is also the age at which the Child Abduction Act 1984 no longer applies. For applicants resident in Scotland, the change brings passport practice in line with relevant Scottish law.
However, parental consent will still be needed where a court order requires it or the young person has a learning or understanding disability.
3. There is a new requirement that under-12 passport renewals obtain a countersignature confirming that the new photo is of the same child as the baby in the original passport photo.
This will help to identity children so that passports cannot be used to aid kidnapping or human trafficking.
