Our Kids’ British Passports Arrived in Just One Week — Standard Process Only! 🇬🇧📬

After our daughters’ British citizenship was approved, the next step was to apply for their British passports. We expected it to take several weeks, but to our surprise, the passports arrived in just one week — and we didn’t even pay for the expedited service!

This post shares the exact steps we followed, including the identity verification process, plus helpful tips for parents applying for their kids’ first UK passports.

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Step 1: Prepare the Required Documents
Before starting the application, make sure you have all these ready:

• Naturalisation certificate of your child (original)
• Birth certificate (PSA or UK-issued)
• Passport photo (must follow UK photo rules)
• Philippine Passport

Tip: Always review your documents carefully. Missing or unclear details can delay the process.

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Step 2: Apply Online via GOV.UK
We used the official site: http://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport

Here’s the online process we followed:

1. Go to the “Apply for a child’s passport” section.
2. Sign in or create a GOV.UK account.
3. Fill in your child’s details, including their naturalisation date.
4. Upload a digital passport photo (we used a photo booth that provided a code).
5. Review everything carefully before submission.

Payment:
We paid the standard fee (£64 per child) using a debit card.

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Step 3: Identity Verification by a British Citizen
After submitting the application, the system will ask for someone who can verify your child’s identity online.
This person must:

• Be a British citizen (not a relative). Use the same person that you used as a referee in the Naturalisation application.
• Have known the child or the parent for at least two years.
• Hold a valid UK passport.

Process:

1. Enter the verifier’s name, email address, and passport details.
2. They’ll receive an email from the HM Passport Office.
3. They must confirm your child’s identity online by answering simple questions.
4. Once they complete the verification, you’ll get an update that the identity check is done.

Tip: Choose someone responsible and responsive — delays often happen when the verifier doesn’t reply quickly.

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Step 4: Send Supporting Documents by Post
Once the identity verification is approved, you’ll receive instructions to mail the physical documents.
We sent ours through Royal Mail tracked delivery for safety.

Documents we mailed:

• Original naturalisation certificate
• Birth certificate
• Philippine Passport
• Application confirmation sheet (printed from the online submission)

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Step 5: Wait for Updates
We expected a 3–6 week wait, based on the GOV.UK site. Pero nagulat kami — it took only one week!

Here’s our actual timeline:

• Day 1 (Friday): Applied online and mailed documents.
• Day 3 (Monday): Email confirmation that documents were received.
• Day 5 (Wednesday): Email update — applications approved and passports printed.
• Day 7 (Friday): Passports delivered via Royal Mail.

We didn’t pay for Fast Track or Priority. Standard process lang talaga.

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Step 6: Receiving the Passports
Each passport arrived in a separate envelope. A few days later, we received another package containing our returned documents.

Tip: Someone must be at home to sign for the delivery. If not, Royal Mail will leave a note for collection.

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What We Learned 💡
• Be strict with photo rules — white background, neutral face, correct size.
• Choose your verifier wisely; delays often come from slow responses.
• Track your parcel both ways for peace of mind.
• Respond immediately to any email from the Passport Office (if any).

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How It Felt ✨
Opening those envelopes felt surreal. From ILR, to citizenship, and now passports — it’s been a long but fulfilling journey.

For our daughters, this is their first passport. For us, it’s another proud parent moment — proof of all the steps we’ve taken since moving to the UK.

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Processing Summary
• Type: Standard Child Passport
• Applied: Friday
• Received: Next Friday
• Processing Time: 7 days
• Fee: £64 each (standard service only)
• Identity Verified: Online by a British citizen who knows us for 2+ years

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Final Thoughts 💭
You don’t always need to pay extra for the expedited process. If your application is complete and your verifier responds quickly, the standard service can be surprisingly fast.

Disclaimer: This blog is based on our personal experience applying for our daughters’ British passports in 2025. Processing times may vary depending on your case and the Passport Office workload. Always refer to the official GOV.UK website for the latest details.

– Until then…Love you, bye! That’s #DadBuhay.