Yes. Since the mid-2000s, virtually every country has required every traveller, regardless of age, to hold their own individual passport — babies and infants included. There is no "add the baby to a parent's passport" option any more in the UK, the US, the EU or almost anywhere else. If you are planning a trip with a child under a year old, the passport application is usually the first thing to sort out, and it is more fiddly than an adult's.
Why every child needs an individual passport
Family passports, where children were listed on a parent's document, were phased out across most of the world in the 2000s as part of a broader move toward biometric, individually verifiable travel documents. The change was driven partly by child-protection concerns — an individual document makes it easier for border officials to verify who a child is travelling with — and partly by the shift to machine-readable and biometric passports, which are inherently tied to one person. A newborn a few days old still needs their own passport before they can board an international flight or cross most borders.
The photo is the hardest part
The single biggest source of delay in a baby's passport application is the photograph. Requirements are strict: eyes open, a neutral expression, a plain light-coloured background, no other people, hands or toys visible in the frame, and the baby's face must not be at an angle. For a wriggling newborn, this often takes several attempts.
- Lay the baby on a plain white or cream sheet or blanket and photograph from directly above, with the baby on their back — this is the most reliable technique and is explicitly suggested by UK and US passport guidance.
- Avoid propping the baby up with a visible hand, cushion or car seat in the shot — any part of another object or person in the frame usually causes rejection.
- Many pharmacies and photo shops are experienced with baby passport photos and can be faster and less stressful than doing it at home, particularly for a first child.
Applying: what you'll need
Requirements vary by country, but most systems ask for broadly similar documents: the child's full birth certificate, proof of the applying parents' identity, and — increasingly — evidence of both parents' consent, since child passport applications are one of the areas where authorities screen carefully against parental abduction. In the UK and many other countries, a countersignatory who has known the family for some time may need to confirm the child's identity and the photo, especially for a first passport.
How long it takes and when to apply
Standard processing times for a first child passport are broadly similar to an adult's in most countries — several weeks under normal circumstances — though delays are common if the photo is rejected or documents are incomplete, which happens more often with baby applications than adult ones. If you have a trip booked, applying as soon as the birth certificate is issued gives the most buffer. Expedited or premium services exist in many countries for an additional fee if time is short, but availability and cost vary, so check with your national passport authority directly.
Validity periods for children's passports
Children's passports are typically issued with a shorter validity than adult passports — commonly five years rather than ten — reflecting how quickly a young child's appearance changes. This means a passport obtained for a baby will need renewing again in early childhood, and the process, photo requirements and consent rules are largely the same the second time around.
Entry rules and validity margins for children
Children's passports are subject to the same destination-specific validity rules as adult passports — many countries require at least three or six months of remaining validity beyond the date of return, and this catches families out just as often as it does solo travellers, since a five-year child's passport can expire sooner than parents expect relative to a ten-year adult one. Always check the specific rule for your destination well before travel; see our guide to passport validity rules for how these margins typically work.
Travelling with only one parent
Border officials in many countries pay particular attention to children travelling with only one parent, or with an adult who is not a parent at all, as a safeguard against abduction. It is increasingly common — and in some cases required — to carry a signed consent letter from the absent parent or parents, especially for one-way or long-stay trips. This is a distinct issue from the passport itself but is worth planning alongside it; see our guide on travelling with one parent for what documentation is typically expected.
Practical tips for the trip itself
- Keep the child's passport separate from your own in your hand luggage, in a place you can find quickly at border control.
- Carry a copy of the birth certificate as well, particularly if the child's surname differs from either parent's — this can smooth over questions at immigration.
- Check destination-specific child entry rules early, since some countries impose additional requirements — extra consent paperwork, vaccination certificates, or minimum validity periods — that go beyond what's needed for adults.
Frequently asked questions
Can a newborn baby get a passport?
Yes. There is no minimum age — babies can be issued a passport from birth, and in practice this is usually the first document a family arranges once the birth certificate is issued, if international travel is planned.
How long does a baby's first passport take?
Timelines are broadly similar to an adult passport in most countries — often several weeks — but delays are more common due to photo rejections. Apply as early as possible and expect the photo to take more than one attempt.
Do both parents need to be present or sign for a child's passport?
In many countries, yes — consent from everyone with parental responsibility is typically required, even if only one parent submits the application. Check your national passport authority's specific rules well ahead of any trip.
How long is a child's passport valid for?
Commonly five years, shorter than the typical ten-year adult passport, reflecting how much a young child's appearance changes. Renewal follows broadly the same process as the first application.
Sources and further reading:
- National passport authority guidance (e.g. HM Passport Office in the UK, US Department of State) for current photo standards and processing times.
- European Commission guidance on travel documents for minors within and beyond the EU.
- Always confirm destination-specific requirements for children with your own government's travel advice before booking.