Travel Documents for Babies
Short trips abroad with a baby still need the right paperwork: a passport for every child, health cover for the EEA, and (for most Schengen borders) registration under the EU's Entry/Exit System. This hub points you to the official rules, without the guesswork.
Everything below comes from GOV.UK, the NHS and official EU travel sites, checked October 2026. Rules change, so check before you travel.
Start here
- Baby and child passports (UK): who needs one, how to apply, photo rules for babies, how long it usually takes, plus GHIC and EES for the same trip.
- GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card): a free UK card for necessary state healthcare in the EEA and some other places. Every family member needs their own card, including babies. Apply on the NHS GHIC page. Full guide coming soon.
- EES (Entry/Exit System): the EU's border registration for non-EU nationals on short stays. Gradual rollout from 12 October 2025; free; nothing to apply for in advance. Fingerprints of children under 12 aren't scanned. See the EU EES pages and our baby passport guide for what that means with a baby. A dedicated EES page is next.
- ETIAS: a separate EU travel authorisation planned for visa-exempt travellers. We won't guess launch dates here — check travel-europe.europa.eu closer to your trip.
Why get this sorted early
- Do not book travel until you have a valid passport. HM Passport Office says your new passport will not have the same number as the old one (GOV.UK).
- GHIC cards are posted. The NHS says you should usually receive a card within 15 working days once approved; if it hasn't arrived, you can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (NHS).
- Border checks can take a little longer while EES is in use. Arrive at the time shown on your ticket (Eurostar already builds this in for London routes).
Related travel guides
- Eurostar with a baby: tickets, pushchairs, milk, passports and EES at the station.
- Trains and ferries: who travels free and pushchair rules.
- Airline baby-gear rules: what flies free on major airlines.
Greener note
Getting documents right the first time avoids last-minute flights home for a forgotten passport or a wasted trip. Train and ferry routes (see rail and ferry) also cut the carbon cost of a short European break once the paperwork is sorted.