How to get proof of address for a newborn babys passport application when born/living abroad?

Posted by trialan11@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 28 comments

We live abroad and have recently had a baby, upon trying to get her first British passport we've ran into a spot of bother. The passport office are requesting proof of her address and suggested such things as voter ID, employment records and drivers license. Seeing as our daughter is barely a month old, I can see this being slightly difficult.

Have any UK expats ran into the same issue, and if so, what did you provide the passport office to satisfy them that your new child lives with you?

We've tried calling them and unsurprisingly they were little help and said they'd put a note on the application, but that went nowhere.

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Asher-D@reddit

Those are suggestions, any document which proves baby lives at your same address. What about a doctors letter addressed about baby or hospital documents? This is because they need to mail it to that address.

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trialan11@reddit (OP)

My wife is going down this route and visiting the hospital and family clinic to see what can be done.

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moonpuzzle88@reddit

Did you manage to solve this? Running into the same issue applying here from Hong Kong. The UK passport office suggested a tax form or employment record (for a one year old!!)

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trialan11@reddit (OP)

They requested a letter with wet signatures from myself and my wife, the letter needed to include passport details (number, name, dob, issue date, expiry date, the works) of all four grandparents to our child. We also submitted some further documentation from the hospital such as discharge papers following the birth.

Passport was then approved.

They didn't relay exactly what it was that caused it to be flagged in the first place or approved eventually.

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sweet877@reddit

What did you end up doing? We're having the exact same problem.

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trialan11@reddit (OP)

Passport was then approved.

They didn't relay exactly what it was that caused it to be flagged in the first place or approved eventually.

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Setting3768@reddit

Have you contacted them and asked? I found their webchat great as an easy way to get through to someone very knowledgeable about my problem.

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avalanchefan95@reddit

Perhaps proof of address with medical record? Whatever your country of residence uses instead of NHS or an insurance document, if you have that.

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trialan11@reddit (OP)

Hospital records from her birth don't contain a name as the birth hadn't been registered and we've not been back since. Even her one month vaccines were booked through her mother so no joy there either. Insurance card hasn't arrived yet.

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RayaQueen@reddit

Have you registered the birth now? Surely that will have name and address? And also your names and you can prove your address no?

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trialan11@reddit (OP)

Birth certificate with our address printed on it was sent with the original application, they've come back asking for more proof.

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mralistair@reddit

can you send proof of YOUR address? attach her birth certificate etc?

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trialan11@reddit (OP)

Already done. It was part of the initial pile of requested docs.

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mralistair@reddit

Can you get your landlord to add them to the tenancy agreement?

Can you get a local notary, doctor or something to write to certify that they live with you?

You might try resubmitting the docs specifically for that section though.

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KingForceHundred@reddit

Can you register her with a GP?

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mrggy@reddit

I didn't have this exact issue, but I did have some complex documentation issues where the exact document they wanted didn't exist. The advice I got from the passport office was "send us whatever documents you have. You can include a letter of explation for how the documents relate to each other to make things clearer."

So you could try sending whatever documents you can access and then include a note basically saying "this is my newborn infant. They live with me. Here's my proof of address." Or something along those lines

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trialan11@reddit (OP)

Will give it a go!

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snarkycrumpet@reddit

I mean honestly the more I think about it, the more I think birth certificate proves baby is yours and then proof of your address is best you can do. if you lived in the UK what kind of proof of a baby's address would you have?!?

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snarkycrumpet@reddit

did you pick the right option, first passport for a minor? I've never had to provide proof of address for my children

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trialan11@reddit (OP)

Yes. This isn't the first kid we've had here and didn't run into any problems getting a passport for her older sibling.

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snarkycrumpet@reddit

so strange. sorry, it must be stressful if you need one to travel and then they throw this nonsense in

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Apprehensive-Top3675@reddit

They ask for proof of address if you apply from certain countries.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivery-addresses-for-passports-and-documents/delivery-addresses-for-passports-and-documents-accessible#evidence-of-a-delivery-address

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