‌The Passport Office has issued an essential warning to parents whose children are approaching their 16th birthday, advising immediate action to prevent potential travel chaos. If their birthday is less than three weeks away, skip the child passport and apply for an adult passport instead. Those within three weeks of reaching 16 can lodge their application online for the correct document, according to the Mirror. For individuals requiring urgent documentation, the UK offers a same-day service, although this requires scheduling an appointment at your local passport office. ‌As of January 29 2026, the anticipated turnaround is about three weeks once the Passport Office has received all required documentation.