Child’s first passport - please help answer my questions!

[LovingKent]

Applying for a first passport for a child. Been trying to ring the UK Passport Advice line for past 2 days but no one is calling back. Can’t find answers to my questions on their website.

Do you actually need to print out the online passport application and send it to them or is it just the supporting documents you send?

When they return the supporting documents is it possible to track them? What service do they use to return them?
How quickly do they come back?

The online application is sent online and you send the supporting documents separately. I think you can pay extra postage for returning the documents by secure post

From the website:

Choose how you want your documents sent back

Your documents will be sent back to you by normal post, but you can pay an extra £5 to get them sent bysecure delivery. Choose this service on your application if you want to use it.

You will also need details of someone who can confirm the child's identity - needs to have known the parent for 2 years

Thanks . Yes I managed to find that bit about paying extra for secure delivery but was wondering what service they use e.g. Royal Mail tracked or do they use another service?

Dont know, I've never paid the extra tbh.

When you click on the underlined secure delivery bit it takes you the DX Delivery which is who also delivers the new passport

I did one recently. Once whoever is verifying the photo has done so you will be sent details about where/how to send the supporting documents. I didn't pay extra and the birth certificate was returned via Royal Mail the passport comes via courier.

Thanks for your help.

@heidiealice thanks that's really helpful. Do you remember if the birth certificate came by Royal Mail tracked or just usual 1st /2nd class post?

If you don't pay it just comes by royal mail normal post (2nd class maybe)

Thanks.