Passport

[AccidentalNana]

Daughter wants to get her daughter a passport. She's 18 months old with the idea we might go on holiday next year. Father is not a nice man. Drugs alcohol and aggression. He also has a form of bipolar. He's not seen his child for over a year because he didn't want to put his hand in his pocket and then questioned his parentage. We agreed to a dna test but he never did it because it would have cost him.
He's moved and we don't know where he is now.
He's been arrested a few times for
D& D. We haven't pursued payments from him because in all honesty we are better off without him.
Can she get a passport and take her abroad without permission

I'd call the passport advice line (0300 222 0000, open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday). They can give a definitive answer and advise on what to do next.

My kids got a renewal of their passports with out their father being involved.
Tbh I found the passport office really helpful, give them a call. Or just fill it out and send it off, they will contact you with any concerns. It's so so common for children not to know their father (sadly) , the passport office must see it all the time.

Is he on the birth certificate?

If so, she'll need a letter of permission from him or a court order/residency order to remove from the jurisdiction to go on holiday.

My dc never had their dad's details for any of their passports. Just put in the info I knew.