How long does a child’s passport take to renew?
Allow up to 10 weeks for a child’s UK passport and don’t book travel until it arrives. Child passports last 5 years — here’s what to plan for.
On this page
Children’s passports expire faster than adults’ and can’t borrow leftover time, so they sneak up — usually right before a holiday. Here’s how to stay ahead.
The key numbers
What to plan for
Because a child’s passport lasts only 5 years and no leftover time carries over, children need renewing roughly twice as often as adults. Many destinations also require several months of validity remaining on the day you travel, so “not expired yet” isn’t always enough.
In short
Allow up to 10 weeks, don’t book travel until it arrives, and remember a child’s passport lasts just 5 years with no carried-over time. Track the expiry and renew a few months ahead — especially before summer.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a child’s passport valid?
Five years. That’s half an adult’s ten years, so children’s passports come up for renewal much more often — worth tracking, especially before holidays.
Does leftover time carry over when renewing a child’s passport?
No. For children there’s no adding of unused months to the new passport, so plan renewals around the 5-year expiry and your travel dates.
How far ahead should I apply?
GOV.UK advises allowing up to 10 weeks and not booking travel until the passport arrives. Apply earlier still in spring and summer, when demand is highest.
Sources & last checked
- Get a passport for your child — GOV.UK
- Passport fees — GOV.UK
Last checked against official sources: 9 July 2026.