passport for my son

[Inside]

Hi

My son has Down’s syndrome with severe learning difficulties he is also autistic and 21 years old how easy is it to get him a passport for travelling if he hasn’t got capacity?

[Bluey203]

My sons passport recently needed renewing, he was a child the last time he had it, now 20. He is also autistic with severe learning disability, and lacks capacity, unable to sign his name on the passport, so they ask for a professional or doctor who knows him to write a letter confirming why he is unable to sign. Then they need to forward his photo with some questions to someone who knows him for identification, we forwarded the email of the psychiatric nurse who also wrote the letter to say why he couldnt sign, but she wasn't accepted to confirm his ID, her letter was accepted though. Apparently for the ID you have to forward the email of someone who knows him as a friend, or a neighbour who has an accepted professional job, luckily our neighbour was an occupational therapist which was accepted for ID, the other professionals in our sons life wouldn't be accepted as they only know him in a professional capacity not as a 'friend'. Hope this helps, they do like to make us jump through hoops 🙄

[Rupertthebear in reply to Bluey203]

Totally agreed they do t have an understanding of disability/ autism / Down syndrome. . Thank you for sharing .

[Inside in reply to Bluey203]

thank you that is so helpful, thank you for pointing me in the right direction

[Tracidu]

Hi, I am just renewing my 38 yr old sons passport , he wont stand properly for his photo so it was rejected ,,but there is a part of the form to explain his disability, he also cannot read or write . I have Court of protection which gives me power to sign for him which I sent a copy along with his old passport , its all going through at the moment , I have recieved confirmation of his application being recieved , hopefully it will all be ok , the form does give information on how to fill in for someone who lacks capacity . Hope it works for you and your son , never easy is it ?

[Inside in reply to Tracidu]

Thank you

[Bonny0605]

I wouldn’t say it’s easy just don’t try to apply in the normal way but go to a good post office where they check the forms for you and they can help. Our son has one “ the holder is not required to sign” and it was a challenge to get the photos right. Depends how good he is at co operating with photographers.. we didn’t even try a photo booth. There is some leeway with the photos though that there isn’t for other people.

Get a GHIC now also . My mistake with the GHIC was to try to apply on line in the usual way. Don’t do this, there is a helpline for people who can’t use computers. I can use a computer so went down that route but it caused a lot of confusion. Should have used the helpline . Good luck.

[Inside in reply to Bonny0605]

Thank you it’s useful to know there is some leeway with the photo’s as my son doesn’t close his mouth properly or has a slight lopsided smile.