Passport update - help!

[dazed57]

We got my daughters passport when she was about 10 months old and had hardly any hair. Now she has just turned 3 and has a full head of hair and looks quite different.
We are going to Spain on the 13th September for a week and I am a bit paniced - do I need to update her photo or is ok as the passport is valid for ten years? If it does need updating is there a fast track way to do it? Also will the passport number change? (When we booked the flight we had to register our passport numbers too)

[dzug]

I thought child passports were valid 5 years, not 10??

You can update the passport - to fast track it you need to make an appointment at a passport office and pay a lot extra. It will be a new passport with a new number.

Personally I don't think it needs updating - the authorities are quite used to children changing their looks over a few years and are unlikely to be concerned.

[Buenchico]

Firstly, child passports are valid for 5 years, not 10.

Immigration officials are unlikely to regard your daughter as a terrorist or illegal immigrant and there's no need to change the photograph on her passport. This is from the website of the Identity & Passport Service:
"We know that a baby�s appearance changes quickly, but separate passports have been successfully issued to babies and young children for many years without there being any problems about the child�s identity or appearance. However, you can if you wish change the photograph during the five-year life of the passport, although this is not necessary".
Source:
http://www.passport.gov.uk/apply-photos-babies .asp

Chris

[dazed57]

Sorry - yes I just checked and passport is valid for just 5 years. Thank you for the info I'm sure a passport official would expect a child to change quite a bit in the first 3 years of their life. I will look forward to our holiday now.

[lou 26]

I had this problem too earlier in the year. I emailed the passport office and they replied saying there is no legal requirement to change it as the passport is valid for five years. They advised me to check with the country I was travelling as it might pose a problem there. I was travelling to the States. In the end I decided to chance it and the only time anything was said about my daughters photo was as we were boarding the plane at Manchester airport and they double chekced her date of birth with me. I never had any problems at all.