Why do UK babies need their own passports now?
According to the UK passport office website the change was made mainly to avoid child abductions. From the UK passport office website: Child passports – the rules have changed In the past babies and children could be included on a parent or guardian’s passport. The law has now changed and babies and children up to 16 who are not already on a parent’s or guardian’s passport must have their own child passport if they are going to travel abroad. Why have the rules changed? – Preventing child abduction Child abduction, where a child is taken out of the country (often by one parent or guardian against the wishes of the other parent), is a rare but serious crime. At the Identity and Passport Service (IPS), we are working to help prevent child abduction. A child passport is valid for five years. When it runs out you can renew it for another five years, and so on.
