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Original poster

Do I need ID to get my child a passport?

33 replies

ColourMeGreen · 16/01/2019 17:27

DS has been offered the opportunity to go to Spain. I have never had a passport and neither has he, I won't be travelling with him, and he needs the passport quite soon so we will be using the 1 week fast track service.

I can see online that I need to make an appointment at the local passport office, and take with me the filled out paper application form, as well as 2 photos of DS (I can't see if these need to be signed or not?) and mine and his birth certificates.

What I'm trying to find out is whether I need to take anything else to confirm my or his identity? I don't have any photo ID of my own, or really much at all with my name on it (a tax credit letter is about all to be honest). Will this be a problem? Does anyone know how it all works? Do I need to take DS with me? Will it be a disaster if I take my 4 and 2 year olds (is there lots of waiting around)?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 17:33

What age is your ds? One photo will need countersigned and the countersignatory needs to fill in a bit of the application form too

Original poster
ColourMeGreen · 16/01/2019 17:34

DS is 10, almost 11

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 17:39

It also depends when you were born too as you may need your parents birth certificates too to prove you are a British citizen. I think if you were born after 1983 then you are not automatically a British citizen unless one of your parents were born here and you need proof of that

dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 17:39

Do you not have the notes as that tells you what you need to send?

Original poster
ColourMeGreen · 16/01/2019 17:49

I don't have notes, I haven't picked up the firm yet, I know I need to take it with me to the passport office but I was hoping to book the appointment this evening for Friday and collect/fill out the forms tomorrow. If I don't book the appointment today I won't get one until Monday/Tuesday which will be cutting it close. I was born in the 90s and wouldn't have the first clue how to get my parents birth certificates because I haven't spoken to them since 2009.

OP posts:
Original poster
ColourMeGreen · 16/01/2019 17:50

I just want to figure out if I have everything I need before I spend money I don't really have on a useless appointment really.

OP posts:
Fairylightfurore · 16/01/2019 17:53

If you are a British Citizen then you just need his birth certificate

LIZS · 16/01/2019 17:55

Can you fast track a first passport?

dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 17:55

There is a Link to the notes online

www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-a-passport

dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 17:57

You can get 1 week fast track for a 1st child passport

Original poster
ColourMeGreen · 16/01/2019 17:59

It says online that fast track can be done for a first child passport as long as it's done at the office and not by post/online.

Thank you for that link, I somehow missed that through all the searching.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 18:00

If the parent is born after 1983 they are not automatically a British citizen so OP needs proof of her British citizenship in order to pass it to her ds. (If she had a passport she could use that as proof). This is done by proving one of her parents were British citizens. Was your ds's father born before 1983?

Original poster
ColourMeGreen · 16/01/2019 18:05

No he wasn't, but he's not on the birth certificate and has never even met him (his choice) so I doubt he'd suddenly want to help now even if he could. Does my not having a passport /access to my parents birth certificates mean DS won't get a passport? I am definitely a British citizen, born here, never left, same for my parents and theirs before them as far as I know.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 18:20

Anyone can apply for birth certificates. Do you know when they were born?

Original poster
ColourMeGreen · 16/01/2019 18:22

I don't know much about them, I think i know my mother's date of birth, that's about it. I know what city my father was born in, and I think my mother. I didn't realise it was going to be so difficult.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 18:23

www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 18:26

If you already had a passport then you would have already proved you were a British citizen so would have just needed to give your passport number. Because of when you are born you need to show that a parent was a British citizen so they can pass it to you for you to pass to your ds

Original poster
ColourMeGreen · 16/01/2019 18:28

Is there really no other way of proving citizenship? There is not a thing in this world that would convince me to contact them but I can't bear the thought of telling DS he can't go. He's unlikely to have another opportunity like this again.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 18:30

You might only need your mother's birth certificate. I'd ring the passport advice line tbh

dementedpixie · 16/01/2019 18:30

You can order your mum's birth certificate without contacting her. I gave the link

Original poster
ColourMeGreen · 16/01/2019 18:31

I'll get on that first thing. Thank you so much for your replies

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 16/01/2019 18:33

talk to the passport office directly I think and get advice. Yours im afraid is an unusual and rare situation and its unfair I think for your DS not to get it sorted (as there will be plenty of opportunities for which he will need a passport)

As an aside yes the photos of your DS will definitely need to be counter signed and the form filled in by someone who knows you (that is standard for all children passports)

Tiredismymiddlename85 · 16/01/2019 18:39

I think it's born after 1982. You need your full birth certificate (not the short version but the one with your parents details on) plus their birth certificates and marriage certificates. As someone has previously said it's to prove you and your child are eligible for a British passport - you can't just say you are etc. You will have to attend an interview for your first passport as you are an adult. Your child will also need their full birth certificate with parents details. All of these can be requested for births, marriages and deaths website. I didn't think first passports could be fast tracked as checks need to take place.

Tiredismymiddlename85 · 16/01/2019 18:40

It also has to be a professional countersign the passport for your child - civil servant usually (teacher, doctor etc)

BlackPrism · 16/01/2019 18:47

You don't have any form of picture ID? How?