Renewing child passport question

[Tillow4ever]

Hi,

My son had a passport issued when he was around 5 or 6 years old. It expired around 4 or 5 years ago off the top of my head (I will check exact details obviously) and he is now 16.

Do I need to do a new application with countersigned photo, or can I just do a renewal for him (technically he'll he applying himself) and submit his new photograph?

I had assumed it would need countersigning, but I saw a guide when looking at renewing my own passport (20 year old photo) and it says aging isn't considered a significant change - so would it be the same for kids does anyone know?

Thank you!

It would be an adult passport so think he needs a new photo countersigned.

It depends if he could be recognised from the old photograph. You wouldnt normally need a signature for a 16 year old but it will depend whether the person dealing with the application thinks he looks significantly different from the old photo.

So you could do the application as a renewal but you may or may not be asked for a countersignature

Thanks! What happens if we try the renewal and pay that price but they decide it needs a countersign? Do we just pay the difference and get what is needed, or do we have to start again and essentially pay twice?

Sorry for all the questions!

Why don't you start the application online and see what happens?

It doesn't cost more to get a countersignature. If it needs one they will ask for one

We renewed DD's passport earlier in the year (first adult one at 17). The old one was from when she was 9 or 10 and had expired. Did it all online and didn't need to get the photo countersigned.

A first adult passport is for someone who has never ever had a passport before.

If you've have a passport then it's always a renewal you choose.

A renewal costs the same whether there is a countersignature or not.

It will tell you online when you apply if it needs counter signed or not. I'd suspect yes given time frame. I've just done my 2 DC's who's had just expired. dd 14 didn't need hers signed. They must have the technology to compare and she has obvious similar features to 5 years ago. Dd 11 did as she was obviously young in her previous pic so less similar. Just go ahead and apply and follow the instructions

I did this for ds a couple of years ago - and I also found it very confusing as they didn't make it very clear if you needed it countersigned or even if you were applying for a renewal or a first adult passport. This might not have been helped by the fact that when I was younger having a first adult passport was seen as a big deal - maybe these days it's not so much of a big thing (maybe more kids these days have passports and I don't think that kids get added onto their parent's passports any more as used to happen)

I know in the end I rang them up but I think that my assumption was that as he had had a child's passport previously he would need his first adult passport - but actually they treated it as a renewal so I had made the wrong assumption. I also hadn't sent the old passport in as for first adult passport they don't ask you to - but I got a message asking me to send it in for ds, which I did and it caught up with his application with no problems.

But I definitely think they need to put a table or decision diagram in the info to explain all the different options without people needing to assume anything!

@liveforsummer under 12s need a signature as standard. It will likely not flag up to start with with OP but may ask for one once a person is dealing with the application.

This is what I thought about selecting renewal, thanks!

This is perfect - sounds like we should be ok just to submit his new photos then!

Thank you! I didn't know it would tell me that. Very useful! I wonder if it compares the photo you upload there and then? I did mine and I'm concerned that might come back as needing new signatures etc... although I've not changed except under and fatter

*older not under

Thank you!