Parents planning a first family trip abroad often ask whether their baby or young child really needs their own passport. The answer is yes: every child, however young, needs their own. This catches out many families, so it is worth understanding well ahead of any travel. This guide explains whether babies and children need their own passport and what that means for family trips. Always check the current rules on GOV.UK before you travel.
Yes, every child needs their own
In the UK, every child must have their own passport to travel internationally, from the day they are born. There is no minimum age, so even a newborn baby needs a passport in their own name before flying abroad. This applies to all children, no matter how young, and is a requirement many new parents do not expect. The simple rule to remember is that everyone travelling, regardless of age, needs their own valid passport, babies very much included.
You cannot add children to your passport
It has not been possible for a long time to add a child to a parent's passport, a practice that ended years ago. Every child now needs an individual document in their own name, so you cannot rely on your own passport to cover them. Our guide on child passports and how to apply explains the process. The key point for parents is that there is no way around obtaining a separate passport for each child, which needs to be factored into family travel planning.
Newborns and babies need one too
Many parents are surprised to learn that even a tiny baby needs a passport. There is no exemption for infants, so a newborn must have their own passport before any international travel. This means that if you are planning a trip abroad with a new baby, obtaining their first passport is an essential early task. Leaving it too late can derail plans, as passports take time to arrange. Understanding from the outset that your baby needs their own document helps you plan a first family holiday smoothly.
Why even babies need a passport
It can seem odd that a baby who cannot walk needs a passport, but the requirement exists because a passport is the standard proof of identity and nationality for international travel, and border controls apply to everyone crossing them, regardless of age. Every person, including an infant, must be individually identified and documented. While it may feel like a formality for a baby, it is a firm requirement, so there is no point planning around it. Every traveller needs their own passport, full stop.
How long child passports last
A child's passport is valid for a shorter time than an adult's, typically around five years, reflecting how quickly children change as they grow. This means children's passports need renewing more often, and a baby's first passport will need replacing within a few years. Our guide on child passports and how to apply covers validity and renewals. Keeping track of expiry dates for each child, and remembering destinations may require extra validity, helps avoid being caught out by a passport that expires sooner than expected.
Applying for a baby's first passport
Applying for a baby's first passport is done by a parent or guardian, usually online or by post, and a first application requires documents to confirm the child's identity and your parental responsibility, such as a birth certificate. Allow plenty of time, as first applications can take a while to process. Gathering the required documents and applying well ahead of any planned trip is essential. Our guide on UK passport costs and renewal covers the routes and fees for applying.
The challenge of a baby's photo
Getting a compliant passport photo of a baby is one of the trickier parts. The photo must meet the standard requirements, with a plain background, correct lighting, eyes open where possible and no toys, dummies or other people in shot, which is no small feat with an infant. Babies can be photographed lying on a plain sheet. Because photo problems are a common cause of delay, taking extra care to get a baby's photo right, and using the official photo checker, saves time and frustration.
Plan ahead for family travel
Because every child needs their own passport and applications take time, sorting passports should be one of the first things you do when planning a family trip abroad, well before booking non-refundable travel. This is especially true for a baby's first passport or where children's passports are due to expire. Our guide on how long it takes to renew a UK passport helps with timing. Treating passports as an early priority avoids the stress of a document not arriving in time for a family holiday.
Cost and renewals
Each child's passport costs a fee, lower than an adult's, and because they expire more often, families face renewing them periodically. Keeping a record of each family member's passport expiry date helps you plan and budget, as several renewals can fall in the same year. Our guide on UK passport costs and renewal has more on fees. Planning ahead for the cost and timing of children's passport renewals avoids both unexpected expense and last-minute applications before a trip.
Tips for parents
A few tips help: apply for a baby's first passport as soon as you plan to travel, gather the required documents early, take extra care with the photo, and keep a note of every child's expiry date for future renewals. Remember that children's passports expire sooner than adults' and that destinations may require extra validity. Being organised and planning well ahead turns sorting children's passports from a potential headache into a straightforward task, ensuring the whole family is ready to travel when the time comes.
Different surnames and consent
When travelling with children, particularly where a child's surname differs from yours or where one parent is travelling alone with them, some destinations may ask for evidence of your relationship or, occasionally, consent from the other parent. This is separate from the passport itself but worth preparing for. Our guide on travelling after a name change covers related situations. Carrying documents such as a birth certificate when surnames differ, and being aware a destination might ask, helps family travel go smoothly through border control.
A first family trip checklist
For a first trip abroad with a baby or young child, a short checklist helps: apply for each child's passport early, check every passport's validity against the destination's rules, confirm any visa or authorisation requirements apply to children too, and prepare documents if surnames differ. Allowing plenty of time for passports is the single most important step. Our guide on planning a holiday step by step can help. Ticking off these passport and document tasks early removes a major source of family-travel stress.
In short
Yes, every child needs their own UK passport to travel abroad, including newborn babies, as children can no longer be added to a parent's passport and there is no minimum age. Child passports last around five years, so they need renewing more often, and getting a compliant baby photo can be tricky. Apply early, gather the documents, and keep track of expiry dates. Sort passports first when planning family travel, and always check current rules on GOV.UK.
Explore more family travel advice in our Passports & Travel Documents guides.