How do I get a British passport for a child born abroad?

First check your child is British

A child can only get a British passport if they are a British citizen. For a child born abroad on or after 1 July 2006, they are automatically British if a parent was a British citizen when they were born, and that parent could pass on their citizenship.

A parent can usually pass it on if they were:

• born or adopted in the UK
• given British citizenship after applying for it in their own right
• working as a Crown servant when the child was born, for example in the diplomatic service or armed forces

Citizenship normally passes down only one generation outside the UK. If the British parent was themselves born abroad to a British parent (British "by descent"), the child is usually not automatically British. Different rules apply to children born before 1 July 2006.

If your child is not automatically British

You may be able to register them as a British citizen while they are under 18, using form MN1. It costs £1,000. You may be able to get the fee waived if the child cannot afford to pay.

A child may qualify, for example, if:

• they have lived in the UK with their parents for the 3 years before applying, with no more than 270 days abroad, or
• their British parent lived in the UK for at least 3 years before the child was born, with no more than 270 days abroad

Registering the birth is optional

You must register the birth under the rules of the country where the child was born. Registering it with the UK as well is optional, and you can apply for a passport without it. UK registration costs £150, plus £50 for each consular birth certificate.

Passport fees from overseas (from 8 April 2026)

A child passport lasts 5 years.

Documents you need

• the child's full birth certificate, showing the parents' details
• proof that a parent is British, such as the parent's passport details or birth certificate, or a registration certificate
• any foreign passports the child holds
• any court orders about the child
• a countersignature and a certified photo

Send original documents, not copies. Someone with parental responsibility must apply. The countersignatory must have known the adult signing the form for at least 2 years. If you apply from abroad, they can hold a British, Irish, EU, US or Commonwealth passport.

How to apply

1. Check your child is British using the rules above.
2. Start your application through the overseas passport service on GOV.UK.
3. Upload a digital photo and pay by card.
4. Send the documents you are asked for.
5. Do not book travel until the passport arrives.

If you live in the UK with your child, you apply in the usual way for a first child passport from the UK.

Related guides

• How do I register my child as a British citizen?
• Can I become a British citizen?
• How do I get a passport for my child?
• How much does a UK passport cost?
• Who can countersign a passport application?

Where this comes from

• Apply for citizenship if you have a British parent
• British parent: born on or after 1 July 2006
• Register a birth abroad
• Overseas British passport applications
• New fees for passport applications
• First child passport
• Countersigning passport applications