Is it mandatory to take the baby to VFS centre in India ?

[Ram Kholi]

Hi All,
Hope this is the right place to post this or may be this "General UK Immigration forum" ? I used search option and couldn't find an answer.

Both me and my wife hold British passports.
We are expecting our little one soon in India (Andhra) and as a father I would like to apply for baby's British passport while my wife recovers as she has to go through C-section for this second pregnancy too.
I am wondering if I can apply for new born without taking him/her to the VFS centre in Hyderabad as we have to travel from a far away town with days old baby.

My wife wants to travel back to UK at the earliest possible but the baby's passport is the hiccup we have to get over. I will get in touch with VFS as they seem to have a phone number meanwhile if you can let me know your experiences that would great.

Thanks,
Ram

[secret.simon]

My wife wants to travel back to UK at the earliest possible

Be aware that a first child British passport application from abroad can take six months to a year.

And as both parents are British citizens, the usual alternative of an Indian passport + CoE-RoA is not an option (for the child to be eligible for an Indian passport, at least one of the parents needs to be an Indian citizen).

Also, as the child will be born abroad, keep in mind that the child's own children (your grandchildren) born abroad will not automatically be British citizens.

[Ram Kholi]

My wife wants to travel back to UK at the earliest possible

Be aware that a first child British passport application from abroad can take six months to a year.

And as both parents are British citizens, the usual alternative of an Indian passport + CoE-RoA is not an option (for the child to be eligible for an Indian passport, at least one of the parents needs to be an Indian citizen).

Hi Simon,
Thanks. This is for the second baby. With second baby passport will the timings for approval reduce ?
Back in 2019 when times were different to now it took only 45 days for our first baby passport from India.

Also any information regarding taking the baby to VFS centre ?

[secret.simon]

Thanks. This is for the second baby. With second baby passport will the timings for approval reduce ?

I did not understand this part initially. Then I had a good laugh.

By "first child British passport" (which is also the phrasing used by the government), I meant the first British passport issued to a British citizen child. That child can be in any birth order (i.e. eldest child, second child, middle child, younger child, etc).

So, I meant to say that there can be a major delay of between six months to a year when it comes to the first British passport issued to a British citizen child if that application is made from abroad.

As you have had a different experience before, you may be lucky and the first British passport for your second child may be issued quickly as well. But you should be prepared for a long delay if that were to occur.

[Ram Kholi]

Thanks. This is for the second baby. With second baby passport will the timings for approval reduce ?

I did not understand this part initially. Then I had a good laugh.

By "first child British passport" (which is also the phrasing used by the government), I meant the first British passport issued to a British citizen child. That child can be in any birth order (i.e. eldest child, second child, middle child, younger child, etc).

So, I meant to say that there can be a major delay of between six months to a year when it comes to the first British passport issued to a British citizen child if that application is made from abroad.

As you have had a different experience before, you may be lucky and the first British passport for your second child may be issued quickly as well. But you should be prepared for a long delay if that were to occur.

I too got confused with the term "first child British passport". I get it now. Thanks.