Anyone applied online for a child's passport?

[ChangesAt30]

I'm taking DC to ASDA today to get their passport photos taken. The lady I spoke to on the phone said that they give us the code for digital photos so we can do the passport application online which is what I was hoping to do.

I just wondered what we do regarding signing the photos to confirm we are who they say they are if it's all digital?

You get the opportunity to enter the email address of the person confirming their identity.

The person needs to have known one of the parents for 2 years. Complete the application using the name and email address of that parent: the signatory will be asked if they've known that parent for 2 years. So if your signatory has known you for 2 years but not your DH, apply for your child's passport with your email address, rather than getting DH to do it.

@YouWhoNeverArrived that's covered everything for me there, thank you so much

No problem! I got caught out because my DH applied for my son's passport, but our planned signatory had known me for 15 years but DH for only 18 months! We had to find someone who had known DH (only delayed us by a day, as luckily we know various suitable people).

I haven't applied, but I've been the signatory and it is much easier than paper form and less scope for problems - forms are read by computers so everything must be exact and within each box etc. Mistake means a new form.
Online is a game changer!

You can take a picture on your phone to upload to the online application so no need to use a photo booth.

Weirdly I did Ds (12) yesterday and don’t remember the option to add signatory, does it only prompt you if needed?

If they are 12 they don't need a countersignstory

I should expand; you don't need a countersignature for a renewal of a child passport if they are age 12 and above

Oh fab, that would be it then! Thought I’d done something wrong for a moment.

I just got replacement PPsfor myself and DD and I used the online service.

I took the photos on my iphone & a friend validated us online too. great service - worked really well & we have shiny new passports in 2 weeks.

This really is a game changer! My 3 dc need new passports this summer and this will make things so much easier 😀.

Yes did DD's recently, received within 2 weeks, absolute game changer

Have to agree it’s a great new service. I applied for replacement passport for DD three weeks ago, took the photo with my iPhone, email was sent to colleague for validation, passport through 2 weeks later. So easy....

I’ve just been the signatory for friend’s children.

If they’ve had a passport before then it’s all online and very straightforward.

If it’s their first passport then you have to have the physical photo and form signed and send them in the old fashioned way.

I did one of each for my friend, online much less faff!

First passports can also be done with an online photo and an email is sent to the countersignatory

After you’ve paid and submitted the application, you’ll need to ask someone to confirm your child’s identity.

Let the person know that they’ll receive an email from HM Passport Office telling them what to do. They’ll confirm your child’s identity online - they do not need to sign a printed photo.

From www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport/first-child-passport

dementedpixie That’s weird, I definitely did one of each for my friend’s children, I wonder why.

Did she have a form from the post office or was it a printed declaration? Maybe she didn't realise it could be done online for a first passport

You can definitely do it online for a first passport - we did so last month for DS.

Wish I'd seen the comments earlier about taking a photo on my iPhone, could have saved myself £20 🙄

I did all 3 dc for their first passports recently online, was really easy.
I’d paid for photos at a max spielman and they were turned down repeatedly by the official system but not at the shop using the gov system. Eventually gave up and submitted rejected ones and they were obviously checked by a human and approved. Whole thing apart from photos was really quick online and got them within two weeks. They just emailed the people we’d chosen and they confirmed details etc

I just renewed my son’s passport -he is 15 and I had to have a counter signature as he had changed so much since his last photo.

Could he not still be recognised from the old photo? I renewed dds this year and she is also 15 and I didn't use a countersignatory

dementedpixie Printed declaration, I thought she’d filled the form in online but they had to send the photos in and I had to fill in part of the form (which she’d printed) as in the old system.

Oh well they’re done now but I’ll know for next time someone asks me to countersign!

Last question - are parents names printed in the child's passport?