If you are considering going on a safari holiday, you will need to spend a little bit of extra time planning and preparing if you are going to be taking children with you. Safaris can be an amazing experience for all the family, but some places are simply not suitable for children.

Did you know that children of all ages now need their own passport? Previously babies were able to be on their mother’s passport but recently the law has changed meaning even a newborn child will require their own to travel abroad.

A new passport for a child costs £49 and the application can be done online. You need to allow at least three weeks for the passports to arrive so make sure you apply in plenty of time. Ideally you should apply for a passport at least 6 weeks in advance of the safari trip.

The initial passport will be valid until the child reaches the age of five regardless of how much they change. The rules regarding the actual image for a under 6’s passport are also a little more lenient, such that a child under one can have their eyes closed and under 6 do not have to have a neutral expression on their face.