Passport renewals for under 12s?

[Holidayshopping]

Can these be done online with a photo from my phone-the website is not very clear!?

They can be done online, but you need a physical photo for the counter-signatory to sign. You will need to print something off for them to sign too, then send photo, form and old passport off together. Under 12s always need their photo countersigning.

@janek thank you for your reply.

What does this bit mean then?

Hmm, i don't know! I renewed my 10-year-old's passport in January and what I wrote above is what I did... It looks like the system may have changed and the identity is confirmed electronically now.

You can get proper, guaranteed-acceptable photos done at Snappy Snaps which come with a code to upload I think - you don't have to do it on your phone.

I started renewing mine in Feb. You fill in the application online and then have to print up the declaration for someone to sign, with their passport details and have to submit that with the photos.

You fill in the application online and then have to print up the declaration

Print off? And then give the form to the counter signatory?

That info I’ve screenshotted is very misleading!

I’m quite happy to do it on my phone, @janek-it’s not a problem. Just seems a bit of a faff to have to get a physical copy.

I did two last week. No need for a physical photo, you upload online and fill in the bits. You then have to provide a name and email address (not passport no.) of someone who can verify you. Very easy.

@Winkysteatowel was that for under 12 year olds?

Iv just done my 9 year olds and I think it makes it no easier doing it online 🤷‍♀️

I stuck to the traditional method

I renewed my 3 children's passports 2-3 weeks ago (aged 9, 11 & 13), I did it online to save money.

My 13 year old renewed the same way as an adult would but for the 2 younger ones I had to print off a declaration for the counter signatory and send off a couple of photos along with their old passports.

Out of curiosity I've just had a look at the gov website, it looks as though they have updated the application process to allow for fully online children renewals. If I'd have known that I would've waited to save the faff!

They have to be recogniseable from their previous photo i think - so they will get a passport with a new photo in. But if they are unrecogniseable then you need to get a countersigned photo.

I did mine and dd’s online, uploaded photos that the system ‘accepted’ but then ‘rejected’ at the next check, so I uploaded a new photo for mine and didn’t get around to uploading a new one for dd, but they then processed both passports anyway, with her original photo? I guess it was borderline but I don’t see why they went ahead with processing it when I hadn’t done what they asked me to do (supply a better photo).

@Holidayshopping yes it was. A first passport and a first renewal.

This must be a new change I think? I had to apply then print off and get photos signed last year for DS. This would have saved me so much faff and time!

Yes definitely a new process, I suspect in the past couple of weeks, when I was first looking it suggested you needed the photos to be countersigned but by the time I got round to it you didn't!