I'm just curious how exactly would I know if my passport is a kids passport or not?

I am looking to go on holiday but need to get a renew my passport. In order to do so but I have no idea which one I need to apply for please help thanks

Rob

Hi Rob ... a 5 year child's passport is issued to anyone under 16, and can be used until its expiry even if the holder reaches his or her 16th birthday during its validity. A 10 year adult passport is issued to applicants aged 16 or over.

David

Hi Rob ... a 5 year child's passport is issued to anyone under 16, and can be used until its expiry even if the holder reaches his or her 16th birthday during its validity. A 10 year adult passport is issued to applicants aged 16 or over.

David

well my passport ran for 6 years so i am pretty unsure on the whole idea of this :S

Rob ... if your passport is due for renewal and you are aged 16 or over, then you would apply for a 10 year adult passport.

David

Yes I am going to do that anyway but I can't work out if i need to apply for a first time adult passport or renew it with a different picture tho.

The terminology on the passport website may be confusing, but 'applying for a first adult passport' refers to anyone who has not previously held a passport in their own name, even a child passport. An interview is required at the passport office.

But the change from child passport to adult passport is treated as a renewal rather than a new application. No interview is required.

More info here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/index.htm

David

Thank you, I Spent ages trying to figure out what type of passport i had etc. Makes sense now. Trying to find out which link I was to click on. Now I know i can move ahead with my plans to getting my passport renewed .

If you would like to renew online, use this link:
https://passports.ips.gov.uk/epa1r1a/index.aspx?c=1

David

I'm thinking i will probably have to apply for a new one due to how much i have changed. As I was 13 then and am now 19 so there has been quite a big change. So I'm guessing a new passport would be the new adult / first adult passport link?

No, you don't want to unnecessarily put yourself through the appointment and interview process.

Read this page first, it explains the renewal process, which you are eligible to use:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/Renewingorextendingyourpassport/DG_174096

Then if you want to proceed with an online renewal, go to this page:
https://passports.ips.gov.uk/epa1r1a/index.aspx

You will still get a new passport with new photos, but classed as a renewal rather than a new 'first time adult passport'.

David

Roblaw wrote:

I'm thinking i will probably have to apply for a new one due to how much i have changed. As I was 13 then and am now 19 so there has been quite a big change. So I'm guessing a new passport would be the new adult / first adult passport link?

My kids (aged 16 and 19) both got their adult passports this year. They had both previously had child passports in their own name and so their adult passport applications were treated as a simple renewal without the need for interviews etc.
My daughter (now 16) had to have her new photos countersigned because they didn't look like the photos on her old child passport from when she was 11, but this was still much simpler than going down the first-application/interview route.
Son (now 19) went to the passport office for his because he needed it quickly with short notice but it was still very simple with no interview required.
Once you've had your first passport, whether adult or child, the passport office has all your personal details on their database and any future passport you apply for will be treated as a renewal.

Hello all

Due to fly out on the 25th August and discovered my passport has suffered water damage (due to a leak) and the photo page has been ruined though you can still see the photo its clear the passport wouldn'tbe valid as machine numbers damaged

Contacted the passport advice line who've set me an appointment up at Durham tommorrow for a Fast Track 1 Week Service

I've got my photos and everything countersigned.

Does anyone have any experience of this service and its reliability and the chances of getting my passport for the 25th August

Cheers everyone

JK

JKKne,

Given it's just a straight replacement, you shouldn't have a problem. A replacement without fast tracking normally only takes a month (depending on time of year) so you should have it back before you travel.

Darren

Many thanks for the reply Dazbo

MY brother is going through the same issue except he lost his passport (reported it and has the LSO1) then it was handed into him 6 months later. He's getting his done tommorrow at Durham too

With his being reported lost (but no longer lost!) should he have a problem or will it be as straightforward as mine?

thanks!

JKKne,

I'm sure they'll sort it out when you see them. I would imagine the original one will have been cancelled so they'll just re-issue a replacement.

Darren

Well, handed the application in and paid my fee and it was a rather nice experience all done within 15 minutes

A couple of observations

- Photos. Lots of people seemed to have turned up without them assuming the IPS would take the photos for them and the captive audience of Photo-Me were taking £5-6 off the unprepared. A nice money maker!!

- A computer system was down meaning those needing 4 hour turnaround passports were delayed at least 2 hours in just getting an appointment, 7 Day and First Timers seemed unaffected but no-one mentioned this on arrival to applicants, some of who were on lunch breaks

- My major bug bear. The whole family seemed to tag along with some applicants. It really should be limited to 1 person per applicant as the offices simply aren't big enough to handle the en masse arrivals.

Other than that, I won't jinx myself but hopefully it should be here this time next week!

Hello everyone.

I just need some advice and probably re-assurance really.

Here is my dilemma and to be honest i never gave it a second thought as it has never been a problem before, now i am in a state of panic. I go to the USA in 7 days time.

My passport is 8 years old so is not in pristine condition. The page opposite the photo page where i have a couple of stamps is very slightly water damaged in the right hand corner. It was my own stupid fault as i opened it for inspection with wet hands. I also noticed today (no idea why i haven't seen it before) that where all the >>> <<< is there seems to be a very faint blue mark underneath but none of the letter or numbers are smudged and the laminate is still intact. It could have been there from the outset for all i know. The rest of the photo page and passport are compltely fine

I have travelled to Europe and back with it a few times with no problems, the last time being just this May and it's never been mentioned, but a friend has told me that there is no way i would get into the US with it as they are very strict.

I rang the passport office who said the inforamtion page could be water damaged even though i explained that nothing at all was smeared and the laminate was still in place.
Anyway they made me an appointment to go to the London office tomorrow and get a replacement which would be with me by next Tuesay (so long as all my documents etc were ok) but if there was a problem with documentation i would not be able to get it replaced and they could well cut my damaged one leaving me no passport at all.

I told my Dad who had the bright idea of taking it to my local airport to see what they said.
So that is what i did, there was no customs official but i showed a flight attendant who checks people in for flights who checked it over and over and then held it up to the light, checked and re-checked the very back page looked puzzled and asked who said the photo page was water damaged. I told her that i was told on the phone by the passport office that it could be.
She said it was absolutely fine and there would be no problem at all to travel with it. That the blue mark didn't look like water damage as nothing was smudged smeared or anything and if it was damaged by water then she would expect the laminate would have lifted slightly which is hasn't and also that water damage would seep through to the very back page if it had got under the laminate and that hadn't happened either.
She said that she has seen far worse damage to passports and that she would have no worries at all about travelling with it if she were me.

So i have cancelled my appointment and i am going to go with it. i can't take the risk that i may not have any passport at all to travel with.
I am still very worried and have already explained to my eldest Daughter who is 19 that she may well have to take her 14 yr old sister without me and i will have to follow on behind.

I can't believe this has happened so close to my holiday, if it hadn't of been for my friend saying that today then i would have been going to the airport next week without a worry at all.

poppie123,

Welcome onboard
It sounds like you've done all you can to check the passport will be fine. If airport staff have checked it and they say it's fine, then it will be fine. Don't take this the wrong way, but i'm sure the airport staff have a better idea of what is and isn't acceptable than your friend. As long as the photo page isn't damaged and all the information is legible, you'll be fine.

Darren

Thanks for the welcome

I am still worried about it and will be i think right up until i get to US immigration and hopefully get through.

The blue mark worries me despite the fact that all the << >> numbers can still be read just fine and they are not in the slightest bit smeared. I have no idea what the blue blob could even be.

Lots of people on another forum have talked about still getting in the US when their passports have been through the washing machine, dropped in puddles etc but they all seem to say that the information page is still ok whereas i have a blue mark on mine.

I will just have to wait and see next week as to what happens. I can't do anything about it now.