Can Ex Apply for Kids' Passports Without My Permission?

Understanding passport applications when you're separated

After a relationship ends, it can feel like you have lost control over decisions that affect your children. Going from daily involvement to watching choices being made without you is unsettling. One common concern is whether your ex can apply for your children's passports without asking you first.

The answer depends on whether you hold parental responsibility for your children. But even then, the practical reality can be more complicated than the rules suggest.

What is parental responsibility and do you have it?

Parental responsibility is the legal term for the rights and duties a parent has towards their child. It covers major decisions about upbringing, education, medical treatment and travel.

You will have parental responsibility automatically if you were married to the child's mother when the child was born, or you married her afterwards. You will also have it if you are named on the birth certificate and the birth was registered after 1 December 2003 in England and Wales, 4 May 2006 in Scotland, or 15 April 2002 in Northern Ireland.

If neither of these applies to you, you may not have parental responsibility. This does not mean you cannot obtain it. You can apply through the courts for a parental responsibility order, or you and the mother can sign a parental responsibility agreement. Both routes give you formal legal standing in your children's lives.

You can find detailed guidance on GOV.UK about parental responsibility and how to apply for it. If your situation is unclear, speaking with a family solicitor can help you understand where you stand.

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Can your ex apply for a passport without your consent?

If only one parent holds parental responsibility, that parent can apply for a child's passport without involving the other. The Passport Office will not require consent from someone who does not have parental responsibility.

When both parents hold parental responsibility, the situation becomes more complicated. The Passport Office expects the applying parent to have the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility. The application form asks the applying parent to confirm they have the authority to apply. However, the Passport Office does not actively verify whether the other parent has actually agreed.

This system relies on honesty. In practice, a passport could be issued even if you were not consulted. If you later discover this has happened and you object, your route for challenging it runs through the family courts rather than the Passport Office itself.

It is also worth knowing that some separated parents put travel consent agreements in place. These written arrangements set out what happens when either parent wants to take the children abroad, and can help prevent disputes before they arise.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

How to stop a passport being issued

If you hold parental responsibility and do not want your child to have a passport, you can register an objection with HM Passport Office. This places a marker on your child's file.

When an objection is registered, the Passport Office will not issue a passport for your child without first contacting you. This gives you the chance to raise concerns before any travel documents are granted.

Registering an objection typically requires you to provide your child's details, evidence of your parental responsibility, and an explanation of why you are objecting. The process can be more involved than simply writing a letter, and in some cases may require legal proceedings to formalise your position. Contact HM Passport Office directly for their current requirements, or seek legal advice to make sure your objection is properly recorded.

If a passport has already been issued and you are worried about your child being taken abroad without your agreement, you may need to apply to the court for a prohibited steps order. This can prevent a parent from removing a child from the country. In urgent cases, the court can act quickly. Be aware that if a child is taken abroad without proper consent, resolving the situation becomes significantly more difficult, particularly if the destination country is not part of international child abduction agreements.

What to do if you are concerned

Start by confirming whether you have parental responsibility. If you do not, consider applying for it. This will give you a legal say in major decisions affecting your children going forward.

If you already have parental responsibility and are worried about a passport application, contact HM Passport Office to register your objection. Do this promptly if you have reason to believe an application is being made.

Where communication with your ex is difficult, mediation can sometimes help you reach an agreement about travel and passports. If that is not possible, or if you believe your child may be at risk of being taken abroad permanently, seek legal advice without delay. A family solicitor can explain your options and help you apply for court orders if needed.

Being separated does not remove your right to be involved in your children's lives. If you have parental responsibility, you have a legitimate voice in decisions like this. Understanding your legal position is the first step towards protecting that involvement.

The Next Step

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