Child unrecognisable from passport photo

[SouthLondonDaddy]

The photo on our daughter’s passport was taken when she was just a few weeks old. She’s now 2 and looks nothing like the picture. It’s never been an issue until now, but we were very surprised when, a few weeks ago, a border officer at Gatwick spent a very long time making sure DD was the child in the photo, spoke to her to make sure her name was that in the passport, etc.

I appreciate that British passports for young children last 5 years, but I was wondering if it might make sense to get her a new one regardless, i.e. if it would make our life easier at border controls. Maybe not in 5, but in 2-3 years she should still be recognisable from a photo taken today. What’s your experience? Have you got a new passport for a child before the 5-year expiry, for peace of mind?

We've never had a problem and ds looked nothing like his 3 month old picture by the time he was 5! Do you have different surnames? Just seems a little odd to be so thorough. But good I suppose!

No, never bothered getting a new one until required. First passport was at 5 months, next one at 5 years. We only got stopped once coming into Manchester where they just briefly asked her name and did she have a good holiday etc, nothing too laborious that I would want to spend money on a new passport.

I wouldn't worry about it. My DD is about 6 weeks old in hers and doesn't even have her eyes open. She doesn't even bear a tiny resemblance to the three year old that goes on holiday now! Quite a few have laughed at her, but a couple have made an effort to check it's her. Once or twice they've said her name to see if she responds, and also one asked who her daddy was (luckily she was feeling cooperative and pointed at DH). We've taken her to America where they're notoriously strict and not had any problems so I wouldn't worry about it.

Agree with Misty that it might make a difference if you have a different surname to your DD. My passport is still in my maiden name and I was quizzed leaving Portugal with my DC. DH was actually with us but had gone through security just ahead. As soon as I pointed this out they were like oh that's fine then and let us straight through.

I had sort of this issue when taking DD2 to France when she was 14. Her passport photo was of a cherubic 9 year old and what was in front of the immigration official was a very tall Goth with dyed black hair wearing an objectionable band t-shirt! I got waved through another lane and then had to kind of stand and plead for them to let her through. Fortunately, she was old enough to kind of find it funny after they let her in.

A bolshy French border guard gave me grief about my children's this summer. They both have photos of them aged a few weeks and are now aged 3 and 4. The passports are perfectly legal, and I'm afraid the guy kicking off at me made me quite angry, and it resulted in a stand off where I demanded the passports back and he threatened to stop me from travelling. We all have the same name, and the children are the spitting image of me. However, I'm buggered if I'm spending £180 on new passports before I have to. So it can be a problem, and it still makes me angry when I think about it!

I've just had them check he answers to his name and stuff. We have the same surname and I'm a single parent and never had any problems. He's 10 now and glad his passport's about to run out again as he is hugely embarrassed by the grumpy 5 year old in the photo (took my exhortation not to smile a little too seriously!)

DS2's passport photo was taken when he was 1 week old.

The last time we used the passport he was 3 years old...and no longer ressembles a gremlin.

He got through fine, although they did ask him his name which he whispered so quietly there is no way they understood him.

Also, before we've had them saying one of the names, in an attempt to get the child to reply, but instead we just lifted the child up so the officer could see him Didn't realise until afterwards that that wasn't necessarily what he wanted!

As a seasoned traveller, I've had this a few times... normally the customs officials will call the child by name, if older asking where they are from, who is with them making then point out mum/ dad ...
I don't think much of it, they are just doing their job.

Since on the application I had to provide mine and DH passport numbers you would think that they could figure out away to have them show up as linked when DCs passport is scanned. But then again that's too much common sense for a government agency. Appreciate probably doesn't help at a foreign border but would help when exiting and entering the UK.

@IggyAce, adding the parents' name to a passport is a very easy, effective and inexpensive thing many other countries do (I mentioned it in this other discussion www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_advice_tips/3019931-UK-passports-and-no-exit-border-checks-child-abduction-all-too-easy ).

My kids passport photos were taken at 2 weeks and then renewed at 5 years, plus we have different surnames, but I have never had an issue!

Never had an issue but yeah 3year old looks nothing like he did at 3 weeks old! They must be able to tell somehow..

Were due to go to Spain in June and our eldest daughter will be turning 18 in may, her child passport still has 2 years left on it and we were extremely worried that because she looks absolutely nothing like her picture she'd get denied access, spoken to passport office who have confirmed its still valid for her to use until it runs out but im still very dubious about it, think i may just bite the bullet and get her a new one as some of the horror stories im hearing would be worth avoiding. Looking for a stress free holiday lol