Parents need to be responsible for their children’s passports (Image: Getty)
People who are planning a holiday this year with their children should double check one detail on their passports to avoid any issues at the airport. It comes as the UK Government issued a reminder about passports for people under 16.
Adult passports issued in the UK have a 10-year lifespan, meaning most people only need to renew the document every decade or so. But for families with young children, the dates might be harder to align, and some children may be closer to having an expired or invalid document than people think.
In a post on X, the Passport Office said: “Child passports last five years, but many countries require months of validity to enter. Check before you book – you may need to renew sooner than you think.”
If a child’s passport is not valid (expired, damaged, or invalid), the rules are simple – they cannot travel. This is the case even if the adults accompanying them have valid passports.
What entry rules do different countries have for child passports?
In the majority of cases, the rules for children are almost identical to adults. The only major difference is that children will rely on their parents or legal guardians to ensure the document is valid.
For most countries in the EU, including holiday hotspots like Spain and Greece, a child’s passport must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave. It must also have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter.
In other parts of the world, passports may need more validity before adults and children are allowed to travel there from the UK. Countries like Indonesia, India, Thailand, and parts of the Middle East, such as Dubai, require travellers to have at least six months’ validity on arrival.
To enter the USA, passports “must be valid for the length of your planned stay” along with an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) or a visa. The Foreign Office added that, if you’re travelling through another country on your way to or from the USA, check the entry requirements for that country.
For the most accurate rules, look up the specific country you are visiting on the Foreign Office website here. It lists more than 220 locations around the world, and each has a specific section dedicated to the entry requirements needed.
What does it cost for children to get a new passport?
As of April 2026, prices were raised for people who may be due a new passport. For under-16s, the standard 34-page child passport price went up from £61.50 to £66.50 (a £5 increase).
To renew a child’s passport, click here. Their parents or legal guardian will need:
- The child’s old passport
- Any valid passports from a different country your child has – send either a colour photocopy of each page (including blank ones) or the physical passport
- Any relevant court orders relating to the child (for example that describe parental responsibility or residency arrangements)
To complete the process, children will need photos that are either printed (if posting the application) or digital (if completing the forms online). Time left on your child’s old passport will not be added to their new one.
The GOV.UK website claims that passports that are invalid (or would be invalid at the time of travel) must be renewed before people can travel. People should not book any holidays until they have a valid passport, as their new passport will not have the same number as the old one.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
