Renewing Child Passport

[wendlle]

I had to renew my passport last month, it was a quick and easy process.

I looked at my eldest child's (she's 6) yesterday and noticed hers is due in June, so got some photos done and went online and see that you can't renew it like an Adult one.
Why?
It's the entire process we had to do when we got it in the first place - finding a referee etc and getting them to sign a photo.

Why isn't it as simple as renewing an adult one?

 

[daft009]

Oops I'm going to be in the same boat as you shortly.

Only reason I can think of is their faces are changing so much in the early years?

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

Oops I'm going to be in the same boat as you shortly.

Only reason I can think of is their faces are changing so much in the early years?

This is the reason. A very sensible one, too.

As an adult the biometric information tends to match decade on decade. Obviously, for children it won't.

 

[wendlle]

Seems legit
Still seems silly, yes their faces change but that’s why they get a passport every 5 years.
Nothing else has changed about them
Anyhoo it’s not the end of the world, just a bit more hassle.

 

[Hvr]

Another reason is that there may be changes to custody arrangements.
A whole new application checks this possibility. If there is a parenting arrangement with separated parents it will probably require proof that both parents agree to the new passport being issued and that travel is permitted.

 

[clifford]

Another reason is that there may be changes to custody arrangements.
A whole new application checks this possibility. If there is a parenting arrangement with separated parents it will probably require proof that both parents agree to the new passport being issued and that travel is permitted.

It's a pity that this sort of thing makes it more difficult for the vast majority of people with young kids, as my daughter and her partner with their 2 children are finding out.

 

[Matt_01]

When MissM's first passport expired we had to go through the entire application process, her second passport expired last year and as she was a teen enquired about renewal however as she was only 14 we were told we had to make a new application. I have held off on getting a new one as she will only be allowed to get another 5 year passport as she will still be under 16. At 16 they can get 10 year passports.

Edit: As an update I cannot remember the exact process but when using the smart gates on return to AU I seemed to recall we had to get security to assist in letting her at the age of 10 she was able to use the smart gates and the entry ticket would be issued, however I seem to recall the gates would not open until security confirmed she was travelling with adults. By late 2019/ early 2020 the smart gates just no longer worked for her and I assume it was due to fact that her facial appearance was to different from the passport photo.

 

[Franky]

When MissM's first passport expired we had to go through the entire application process, her second passport expired last year and as she was a teen enquired about renewal however as she was only 14 we were told we had to make a new application. I have held off on getting a new one as she will only be allowed to get another 5 year passport as she will still be under 16. At 16 they can get 10 year passports.

Edit: As an update I cannot remember the exact process but when using the smart gates on return to AU I seemed to recall we had to get security to assist in letting her at the age of 10 she was able to use the smart gates and the entry ticket would be issued, however I seem to recall the gates would not open until security confirmed she was travelling with adults. By late 2019/ early 2020 the smart gates just no longer worked for her and I assume it was due to fact that her facial appearance was to different from the passport photo.

I suffer that every time I depart from PER, and I’m now 77. Hope in the last two tears that their isometrics have been upgraded so I don’t have to go to the back of the queue again when I resume flying in June…