In the past babies and children could be included on a parent or guardian’s passport. The law has now changed and babies and children up to 16 who are not already on a parent’s or guardian's passport must have their own child passport if they are going to travel abroad. Why have the rules changed?
A child passport is valid for five years. When it runs out you can renew it for another five years, and so on.
If your child is under 16 they cannot apply for an adult passport. For example, a 15-year-old who needs a passport must apply for a 5-year child passport. They can use this until it runs out, in this case when the ‘child’ is 20.
When a child reaches 16 the next passport they apply for once their current 5-year child passport runs out should be a 10-year renewal adult passport.
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