toddlers and passports
Discussion
we (wife, baby and I) are planning on going to amsterdam to see a friend early next year.
Amsterdam is, as far as i know, a-broad, so is officially foreign. I am well versed in visiting a-broad, so have a passport, as does the wife, but the bundle of tantrums and fun does not.
However, amsterdam is within europe, and part of the EU thing was meant to be easier / unrestricted travel.
Does the toddler (now about 18 months, about 2 at time of travel) need a passport - they're not cheap, it won't get used much and we're skint. If we do not have to pay it we would rather not!
Anyone with any experience of this?
many thanks
dan
Amsterdam is, as far as i know, a-broad, so is officially foreign. I am well versed in visiting a-broad, so have a passport, as does the wife, but the bundle of tantrums and fun does not.
However, amsterdam is within europe, and part of the EU thing was meant to be easier / unrestricted travel.
Does the toddler (now about 18 months, about 2 at time of travel) need a passport - they're not cheap, it won't get used much and we're skint. If we do not have to pay it we would rather not!
Anyone with any experience of this?
many thanks
dan
Yes, you need a passport!
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Pas...
I grew up in Europe, and remember that all I was was a name in my parents' passports. Sigh - life was easy then!
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Pas...
I grew up in Europe, and remember that all I was was a name in my parents' passports. Sigh - life was easy then!
Can I suggest you forget photo booths. It cost us £16 in the end and they were all shocking/crying/looking elsewhere.
Find an on-line passport photo creator and then prop the baby up against a white wall with plenty of lights on or in daylight and take a fair few head shots with a digital camera and upload. They aren't incredibly fussy about looking ahead and not smiling so don't worry too much as long as it's a good likeness.
Find an on-line passport photo creator and then prop the baby up against a white wall with plenty of lights on or in daylight and take a fair few head shots with a digital camera and upload. They aren't incredibly fussy about looking ahead and not smiling so don't worry too much as long as it's a good likeness.
LuS1fer said:
Can I suggest you forget photo booths. It cost us £16 in the end and they were all shocking/crying/looking elsewhere.
Find an on-line passport photo creator and then prop the baby up against a white wall with plenty of lights on or in daylight and take a fair few head shots with a digital camera and upload. They aren't incredibly fussy about looking ahead and not smiling so don't worry too much as long as it's a good likeness.
Top tip! (I've used epassportphoto.com and it's free).Find an on-line passport photo creator and then prop the baby up against a white wall with plenty of lights on or in daylight and take a fair few head shots with a digital camera and upload. They aren't incredibly fussy about looking ahead and not smiling so don't worry too much as long as it's a good likeness.
Apply for the passport as soon as you can.
It has just taken 9 weeks from the application being received by them to delivery of my wifes first british passport- and that was with no complications or requests for further/ missing documents and a very straightforward application.
Would have been even longer had there not been an interview slot open within a 2 days of making an appointment. Interviews are mandatory for all first time adult applicants now- not sure if that applies to children as well.
It has just taken 9 weeks from the application being received by them to delivery of my wifes first british passport- and that was with no complications or requests for further/ missing documents and a very straightforward application.
Would have been even longer had there not been an interview slot open within a 2 days of making an appointment. Interviews are mandatory for all first time adult applicants now- not sure if that applies to children as well.
Edited by GCH on Friday 14th September 14:50
scdan4 said:
we (wife, baby and I) are planning on going to amsterdam to see a friend early next year.
Amsterdam is, as far as i know, a-broad, so is officially foreign. I am well versed in visiting a-broad, so have a passport, as does the wife, but the bundle of tantrums and fun does not.
However, amsterdam is within europe, and part of the EU thing was meant to be easier / unrestricted travel.
Does the toddler (now about 18 months, about 2 at time of travel) need a passport - they're not cheap, it won't get used much and we're skint. If we do not have to pay it we would rather not!
Anyone with any experience of this?
many thanks
dan
What is "a-broad"Amsterdam is, as far as i know, a-broad, so is officially foreign. I am well versed in visiting a-broad, so have a passport, as does the wife, but the bundle of tantrums and fun does not.
However, amsterdam is within europe, and part of the EU thing was meant to be easier / unrestricted travel.
Does the toddler (now about 18 months, about 2 at time of travel) need a passport - they're not cheap, it won't get used much and we're skint. If we do not have to pay it we would rather not!
Anyone with any experience of this?
many thanks
dan
In theory there's supposed to be free passage between member states but IIRC we didn't sign up to something so we have to show passports to go anywhere / get in anywhere.
Hackney said:
What is "a-broad"
In theory there's supposed to be free passage between member states but IIRC we didn't sign up to something so we have to show passports to go anywhere / get in anywhere.
That would be the Schengen agreement and why it's possible to go from Calais to Palermo without showing a passport (unless you really want to go via Switzerland). But as you say the UK opted out as they tend to with the bits that might actually be useful to normal people as opposed to the bits that are useful to banks or plcsIn theory there's supposed to be free passage between member states but IIRC we didn't sign up to something so we have to show passports to go anywhere / get in anywhere.
Jessops can sort the pics out - and they keep going until they have got an acceptable one. And they have a money back guarantee if it get bounced by the passport office. It was taken with her lying on the floor and looking up. As others have stated the rules for photos aren't applied that strictly to babies.
Jnr's passport took 6 weeks to arrive....
Jnr's passport took 6 weeks to arrive....
LuS1fer said:
mad4amanda said:
our boy is 7 weeks old and currently we are in France at the outlaws , he had to have his passport pic done at 5 days old to ensure it arrived in time . Pointless as it doesnt look anything like him anymore and no one looked atit anyway!
Why would anyone look a tit?Dam spacebar not registering again
Hackney said:
What is "a-broad"
you know - not round here. The other places wheres theys all funny loike.Hackney said:
In theory there's supposed to be free passage between member states but IIRC we didn't sign up to something so we have to show passports to go anywhere / get in anywhere.
This was what I was hoping for to be honest. Didn't know about the specific agreement. Have witnessed being allowed "back in" twice without passports now (for nominally adult people), so I assume that was just customs /ferrymen being nice?Will get a photo of the bundle of joy - many thanks you all for the links - and will get her a passport.
If you are on eurostar in January I would like to recommend you take earplugs and I would like to apologise in advance! (Currently experiencing a "most tender years" phase. Dad says she should grow out of it at some point in the next 32 years.)
Edited for communicating meaning (to some degree)
Edited by scdan4 on Friday 14th September 21:26
zbc said:
But as you say the UK opted out as they tend to with the bits that might actually be useful to normal people as opposed to the bits that are useful to banks or plcs
I live in a Schengen country, and it's great to jump off a plane and use the entire airport you arrive at, or just make a dart for it.However, having grown up in the UK, and seeing the sorts desperate to sneak in, you really don't want the whole of Europe as the border fence for them to jump over.
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