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Guidance

Passports for 'looked after children': guidance notes for social services

General advice for social services departments making passport applications on behalf of children subject to care or supervision orders.

Updates to this page

From:
Home Office and HM Passport Office
Published:
14 February 2011
Last updated:
24 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added link to 'Passports for care leavers' guidance in 'Details' section. Updated terminology and links in guidance. Added 'Children's services letter of consent template' for social services to use to ensure all required information is provided.

  2. Content relating to lost and stolen passports for children in care has been updated.

  3. Updated content to include applying via our online services.

  4. The guidance has been updated in accordance with updated policy around accepting referees and the criteria required to enable them to sign passport applications on behalf of children in Social Service’s care.

  5. These updated guidance notes include new Children's Acts and online applications.

  6. First published.

Documents

Guidance notes for social services departments when applying for passports on behalf of 'looked after children'

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Children's services letter of consent template

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Details

These notes provide general advice for social services departments when making passport applications on behalf of children subject to care/supervision orders or accommodated by voluntary agreement.

There is a separate guidance for adults who spent some or all of their childhood in care and want to apply for a British passport.

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