My friend Sarah once forgot her baby’s passport until the night before a flight. She applied online at 11 PM, paid the £53.50, and got the passport two days later—after she’d already changed her holiday. The moral of the story? Apply early, but if you forget, the system is surprisingly fast. You can also pay for the Online Premium service (an extra £55) to get it within a week, but that’s mostly for people who like to live on the edge. For most of us, the standard service (3 weeks) is plenty. Just don’t book a flight for tomorrow morning.
Why You Should Care (Beyond the Savings)
That little blue booklet isn’t just a travel document—it’s a ticket to creating family stories. Imagine your baby’s first passport stamp, or the look on their face when they see a real-life cow in the Scottish Highlands. Even a trip to Disneyland Paris starts with a passport. And let’s be honest, you’ll feel a ridiculous surge of pride when the customs officer hands it back and says, “Enjoy your trip, little one.” It’s a tiny piece of adulthood for a baby, and it’s worth every penny.
Applying for an Infant British Passport - MyBritishPassport
