UK passport renewal child Explained: Process, Fees and Timing (2026)

UK passport renewal child applications run through HM Passport Office on a fixed schedule — every five years, with a strict process for parental consent, photos and supporting documents. If you are travelling with under-16s in 2026, you will almost certainly need a passport renewal sooner than expected because the document only lasts five years for children, half the adult validity. This guide walks parents and guardians through every fee, timeline and document required.

TL;DR: A standard online child passport renewal costs £57.50 and takes about three weeks. Both parents (or those with parental responsibility) must consent, and the child must provide a fresh passport-compliant photo. Apply at least eight weeks before any planned travel, and update any linked UK ETA before travel.

Quick Facts — UK passport renewal child 2026	Detail
Standard online fee	£57.50
Paper form fee	£69.00
Fast Track (1 week)	£140.50
Standard processing time	~3 weeks
Validity of renewed child passport	5 years
Apply at	gov.uk/renew-child-passport

Combine this guide with our UK visa for children rules and regulations article and our child travel consent form UK explainer so that your travel pack is complete before booking flights.

When to renew your child’s UK passport

The Home Office issues child passports for exactly five years from the date of issue — there is no rolling over of extra validity. You should start the renewal process at least eight weeks before any planned departure. Many destinations require at least six months of validity from the date of arrival, so a passport that expires in seven months may technically still be “valid” but be refused at the boarding gate.

Renewal is also mandatory if your child has changed appearance significantly (most children under 6 will look very different from their last photo), if the passport is damaged, or if there is a name change following adoption, deed poll or court order. Check our UK visa processing times guide for adjacent timing on travel documents.

Trigger for renewal	Action required
Passport within 6 months of expiry	Renew via standard online service
Passport already expired	Apply as if it is a renewal — same fee
Lost or stolen child passport	Report online, then apply as new
Major appearance change (under-6s)	Renew with new photo even if not at 5-year mark
Name change after adoption / deed poll	Renew with supporting court documents

How to apply for a UK child passport renewal step by step

The fastest and cheapest route is the online service on GOV.UK. You will need the existing passport, a payment card, a phone for the photo upload and the personal details of both parents. Pair this with our step-by-step visitor visa application guide if the renewal is part of a broader travel arrangement.

1. Gather the existing passport and birth certificate. You will be asked for the child’s previous passport number and the full long-form birth certificate if it is the first renewal at age 6 or older. Have these in hand before starting.
2. Take a compliant passport photo. HMPO accepts photos taken on a smartphone if they meet the technical rules: plain background, neutral expression, eyes open, no toys or props. Use the GOV.UK photo checker before paying — 22% of renewal applications are paused for non-compliant photos.
3. Start the online application. Choose “Renew a child’s passport” on the GOV.UK service. Enter the existing passport number, the child’s full name and the proposed travel dates.
4. Add parental consent. Both parents (or those with parental responsibility) must consent online. The system emails a unique link to the second parent — they have 28 days to confirm before the application lapses.
5. Pay the £57.50 fee. Card payment only. The fee is non-refundable even if HMPO refuses the application later.
6. Post any required supporting documents. For first renewals after age 5, you may need to send the original full birth certificate. Use Royal Mail Special Delivery and keep the tracking reference.
7. Wait for delivery. Standard service takes ~3 weeks. The new passport arrives separately from the old one, which is returned cancelled (corners clipped).

If the renewal sits in “We need more information” for more than 14 days, call the HMPO advice line. See also our UK visas and immigration application common mistakes article for issues that delay all kinds of UK documents.

What it costs and how fast it really is

Fees were last updated on 11 April 2025 and remain unchanged for 2026. The online service is £11.50 cheaper than paper — there is no functional difference in the resulting passport, only the application channel. Fast Track and Premium services are available but uncommon for child renewals because most families plan further ahead.

Service	Fee	Typical time
Online standard	£57.50	~3 weeks
Paper form standard	£69.00	~3 weeks
1-week Fast Track	£140.50	~7 days
Premium 1-day service	Not available for under-12s	N/A
Replacement after loss	£57.50 online / £69 paper	~3 weeks

Pro tip: If the new passport must arrive in under three weeks, use the Fast Track service rather than gambling on standard. The £83 premium is far cheaper than rebooking flights for a family of four. Note that children under 12 cannot use the same-day Premium service — Fast Track is the only expedited option for them.

Parental consent — the rules that trip people up

HMPO requires consent from everyone with parental responsibility — not just the parent making the application. Under the Children Act 1989, parental responsibility usually rests with: the biological mother automatically, the biological father if he was married to the mother at the time of birth or named on the birth certificate (for births from December 2003), an adoptive parent, or anyone granted by court order.

If the second parent cannot or will not consent, you need a court order to proceed. The most common scenarios are estranged co-parents who refuse to confirm online, or a parent based abroad who is hard to reach. The court route adds 6–12 weeks. See our family visa qualifying conditions article for related family-law context.

Travelling with the renewed passport — ETA and entry rules

• UK ETA after renewal. If your child held a UK ETA against the old passport, that ETA is automatically cancelled. Apply for a new ETA linked to the new passport number before booking flights.
• Six-month validity rule. Many destinations (Spain, Turkey, USA, most of Asia) require at least 6 months of passport validity from the date of entry. Renew early to avoid surprises.
• Schengen ETIAS from 2026. Children also need ETIAS for Schengen — link this to the renewed passport. Read our UK international travel entry rules for a broader overview.
• Travelling alone or with one parent. Carry a UK child travel consent form signed by the non-travelling parent — border officials regularly ask for it.
• Citizenship documentation. If your child holds dual citizenship, carry both passports and a translation of the foreign one if asked. See our British passport visa-free countries guide for the strongest itinerary.

Common mistakes parents make

HMPO publishes a quarterly delay analysis. In Q1 2026, 19% of child passport renewals took longer than 3 weeks — and 84% of those delays were caused by one of four avoidable parental errors.

Mistake	Outcome	Fix
Photo with toy / dummy / hat	Rejected by photo scanner	Use GOV.UK photo checker before paying
Second parent ignores consent email	Application lapses at 28 days	Forward the link manually and follow up
Wrong birth certificate (short extract)	HMPO requests full long-form copy — 7-day pause	Always send the full birth certificate
Travelling on a passport expiring within 6 months	Boarding refused at airport	Renew earlier than you think necessary

For broader application discipline see our UK visa refusal reasons article.

Frequently asked questions

How early can I renew my child’s UK passport?

Up to 9 months before expiry. Any unexpired time on the old passport is lost (unlike the adult passport rules pre-2018) so renewing too early wastes validity.

Do both parents need to be UK citizens?

No. Parental responsibility, not nationality, is what HMPO needs. Non-UK parents with parental responsibility still must consent online, using their own identity documents.

Can grandparents apply on behalf of a child?

Only if they hold parental responsibility through a court order (special guardianship or residence order). Otherwise the application must be made by a parent.

Does the child need to be in the UK to renew?

No. Child passport renewals are available from abroad through British consulates worldwide, though processing times are typically 6–8 weeks rather than 3. Online application is still preferred.

Can I use the same photo from the previous renewal?

No. The photo must be taken within the last month of the application date. HMPO uses biometric comparison to detect old or reused photos.

What if my child’s name has legally changed?

Submit a certified copy of the deed poll or court order alongside the renewal. The fee is the same. Add 1–2 weeks to the typical processing time for the additional review.

Can my child apply for a UK ETA before the renewal is complete?

No. The ETA is tied to a specific passport number, so apply for the ETA only after the new passport arrives. Read our whether you can travel to the UK without an ETA article for context.

What if my child has dual nationality — can I use a foreign passport instead?

Yes, but if your child is also a British citizen they may need to use the British passport when entering and leaving the UK. Carry both documents and present the UK passport at British borders.