Urgent child passport advice

[lucie1979]

Hi there

Has anyone been able to turn up at the London passport office and obtain an appointment on the day for a first child passport? The official line is that you need to have a pre-booked appointment, but I've previously heard that sometimes you can get seen on the day if you doorstep them....although this may be wishful thinking!

Thanks!

[redjam]

Oh God, this brings back horrible memories of a couple of years ago, when we discovered we hadn't renewed our daughter's passport before our holiday and we were flying on the Monday (this was the Sunday)... I think my husband ended up having to go to the Peterborough office at the crack of dawn to get a same-day appointment, with our daughter tagging along, as there were no London appointments available. I have blocked out the memory as it was all so traumatic - I had to fly out with my other daughter while they were doing this, and they had to get a later flight. Needless to say, our daughter thought it was all a tremendous adventure, whereas my husband and I were gibbering wrecks and many hundreds of pounds lighter by the time we'd been reunited abroad.

Sorry, not sure this is very useful for you! I did manage to speak to a very helpful guy at the passport office who talked me calmly through all the options as I wept down the phone. They might be able to advise you of the wisdom or otherwise of rocking up without an appointment. All I can say is GOOD LUCK!