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UK in the USA
London 12:42, 16 May 2012
Washington, DC 07:42, 16 May 2012
   
Last updated at 13:55 (UK time) 6 Feb 2012

Steps to apply for a child passport

Where can I apply?

See the information for the country you are applying from on the How to apply page.

What form do I need to fill in?

If you are applying for a first child passport you should use a pink Child (C2) form [PDF, 1MB] overseas. We accept forms printed in black and white. If printing on any paper size other than A4 please scale the document to paper size or reduce the size of the document by 5%.

Please ensure that you read the Child (C2) guidance notes accompanying this form to help you complete the application form correctly.

Smart Passport application form

Or you can use our new Smart Passport application form. This can be used for adult, child and BNO applications. You can fill it in online, but you will need to print it so you can sign it. It will prompt you to answer the questions and will help us to produce your passport more quickly and efficiently.

Do NOT use the Smart Passport application form if:

You will need Adobe Acrobat software to download these forms & notes.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat installed on your PC, please go to the Adobe website to download.

Tips for completing the C2 form

  • Please ensure that you include the address to which you would like your passport to be sent. If the delivery address is different to your residential address, please clearly state your residential address under 'Other information.' We cannot send passports to the UK or to any other country outside the country from which you have made your application.
  • Complete sections 1a,  1b*, 2, 3, 4*, 5,  6*,  7 and 8 (*if applicable)
  • All pages of the application must be initialled.  
  • Children over the age of 12 must sign the form. Please ensure that your child signs WITHIN the border (i.e. the white area of the box). Otherwise the signature will not be read by the scanner and cannot be transferred onto the new passport and we will be unable to process your application.
  • Please note that the consent of both parents may be requested.
  • First time passport applications for children under 16 must be countersigned. The passport application must be countersigned at section 8 by someone who has known the parent or carer for at least two years. They must be over 18, hold a current British  or Irish (or be a Commonwealth Citizen if none of these options are possible) passport, be willing to write their passport number on the form.  They should work in a recognised profession or otherwise have good standing in the community. This is to help confirm the identity of the child. The counter signatories will also need to endorse one of the photographs.

What passport photographs do I need?

You need to provide

  • two identical passport sized photographs. These must comply with the IPS Rules for Photographs (PDF 693KB). 
  • One photograph (not both) will need to be countersigned by the person who also countersigns your form at section 9. This is done this by writing on the back “I certify that this is a true likeness of [Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms or other titled followed by your full name]”. They must sign and date this statement. It is not acceptable to just sign and date the photograph. 

What supporting documents do I need?

You should submit the following documentation (only original documents – photocopies are not acceptable) to apply for your first UK passport.  

IMPORTANT: As well as the documents listed here, please check the How to apply page for your country to see if there are any additional documents required locally.

The supporting documentation you provide is very important for first time applications and varies depending on when you were born.

If the child was: Born in the UK

You must include:

  • Child's original UK long version birth certificate; AND
  • Original Deed Poll/Statutory Declaration if the child's name has been changed since birth, together with 3 original forms of identification in the child's new name; AND
  • A photocopy of the parent's current ID (eg: driving licence, bank statement, student card, household bill)
  • Copies of parents’ passports; AND
  • Parents' original birth certificates and marriage certificate and if the father only was a British Citizen at the time of the child’s birth and not the mother, and the child was born before 1 July 2006, the parents’ marriage certificate must be provided if the child was born after 30 June 2006 the British Citizen father’s name must appear on the child’s birth certificate; AND
  • Parent’s Home Office certificates of registration or naturalisation, or evidence that at the time of the birth of the child at least one was a British Citizen.
If the child was : Born outside the UK

You must include:

  • The child's travel document (if applicable); AND
    The child's original registration certificate from the Home Office; OR
  • The child's original consular birth certificate; OR
  • The child’s full foreign birth certificate and the mother’s original UK long version birth certificate or original naturalisation/registration certificate; or the father’s original UK long version birth certificate or original naturalisation/registration certificate, and if the father only was a British Citizen at the time of the birth of the child’s birth and not the mother and the child was born before 1 July 2006 the parents’ marriage certificate must be provided – if the child was born after 30 June 2006 the father’s details must appear on the child’s birth certificate; AND
  • Original Deed Poll/Statutory Declaration if the child’s name has been changed since birth, together with 3 original forms of identification in the child’s new name; AND
  • Copy of  parents' passports.

Payment and delivery

Please see the specific details for the country you are applying from on the How to apply page.

Will I be called for interview about my child?

We will assess your application, including checking the integrity of the documents supplied, and decide whether or not we need to call you for interview. We will let you know if an interview is required.

How do I check the progress of my child's application?

  • We do not have an online tracking facility and cannot send email notification that we have received your application given the huge volume of applications we receive each year. Your first point of enquiry should be your courier company. 
  • We strongly recommend that you wait at least two weeks after the standard processing times before contacting us to check on your application. (contact details are available on the How to Apply page.)
  • Please do not call us to seek regular updates about the progress of your application as this will slow down the processing of all applications and divert our efforts to process your application on time. It may also cost you money.
  • If you are collecting your passport we will let you know when it is ready.

What do I do once I have received my child's passport?

Please check the personal details in your new passport immediately on receipt.  If you see any errors you should return the passport with the original supporting documents from your application to the issuing Regional Passport Processing Centre within 6 months so that we can correct any errors on the data page free of charge. Please enclose a covering letter highlighting the problem.  If you contact us after six months of receipt of your passport, you will need to apply for a new passport and pay the relevant fee.

 


   

Important Announcement

From 5 March 2012 ‘in person’ British passport services will no longer be available at the British Embassy in Washington DC.


See also


Related documents


Processing time

We aim to process passport renewals within four weeks, under normal circumstances. But this timing but does not allow for any additional delays to delivery times beyond our control. If you need to travel urgently, please see the Urgent travel page.
 

Passport photographs

If the photographs do not meet the IPS standards (PDF 693KB), you will be required to supply new ones and your application will be delayed. Note: Photographs should have been taken within the last three months.