Passport

If you wish to travel abroad you will need a passport.  You need to complete a form that you can get from a Post Office.  This form has to be sent off to the passport office and you need to send with it your birth certificate, some photos and a cheque for the cost of the passport.  (Ask your social worker if they will pay for the cost of your passport).  If you are under 18, your parent or carer will need to sign your form.  It might take several weeks for the passport office to send your passport.

If you were born in another country you need to apply to the Embassy of that country to get a passport.  If you think that you want a British passport and are entitled to have one even if you were born overseas, you need to apply for British Citizenship.  This is all a bit more complicated than if you are born here and want a British passport, so talk to your social worker and carers about this.  There are a number of places that you could go to for help, including The Children’s Legal Centre and the Citizens Advice Bureau.