UK Passport Applications - How to apply, Documents Required, Renewing & Replacement

The British passport, issued by the United Kingdom, is an international travel document that meets the recommendations and standards of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) convention. The British passport serves as proof of a person’s British citizenship, grants its bearer international travel rights, and allows them access to consular assistance from British embassies. British passports are machine-readable and follow a common format (layout) used by many countries.

UK passports are available in 2 sizes - Standard Passport (34 pages) or Frequent Traveller Passport (54 pages). A UK passport is normally valid for 10 years (for adults aged 16 or over) and 5 years (for children under 16).

In certain circumstances, British passports may have an expiry date less than the standard 5 or 10 years.

Who can apply for a British passport?

A person must have British nationality (by birth, registration, naturalisation, or in other ways) in order to apply for or hold a British passport. 

A person can apply for a British passport if they are:

• British citizen 

• British overseas territories (BOTs) citizen 

• British overseas citizen 

• British subject 

• British national (overseas) 

• British protected person 

However, having British nationality does not guarantee someone a British passport. For example, a person may not get a new passport (or their existing passport may be taken from them) if:

• They are suspected of a serious crime, and an arrest warrant against them has been issued

• A court order stops them from having a British passport or restricts their travel

• They are on bail, and bail conditions do not allow them to leave the UK

• In the past, they have been brought back to the UK at the government’s expense, and they have not repaid what they owe to the government

• They have received an EU (European Union) or UN (United Nations) order that restricts their travel

A child’s British passport can also be cancelled or not renewed if they have a court order in place stopping them from leaving the UK.

A person’s eligibility and entitlement to a British passport will be considered at the time of application.

Passports belong to the government, and the government can cancel or withdraw a passport at any time.

People with a non-British passport

If a British national has dual citizenship and has a non-British passport, their name and gender on their non-British passport must match the name and gender they want on their British passport.

If the name and/or gender are different, they should change the details on their non-British passport before applying for a new British passport.

Getting a first adult passport

A person can apply for a first adult UK passport if:

• They are a British national, and 

• They are 16 or over (or will be in 3 weeks); and

• They have never had a UK passport before

They must apply if their last UK passport was issued before 1 January 1994.

A person can use their child passport until it expires, even if they are over 18.

Documents needed by applicants born or adopted in the UK for a first adult passport

An applicant who was born or adopted in the United Kingdom will need to have the following documents for their first adult passport.

Those who were born before 1 January 1983

They need their full birth certificate or adoption certificate.

Those who were born on or after 1 January 1983

The applicant will need their full birth certificate or adoption certificate and:

• Full UK birth certificate of their father or mother, or the registration or naturalisation certificate, or a British passport belonging to one of their parents that was valid at the time of the applicant’s birth, or a British passport number for either parent; or

• Evidence of one of their parents’ immigration status in the UK when the applicant was born, for example, a foreign passport belonging to one of their parents that was valid when the applicant was born

Those who were born outside the UK

What documents they need depend on their circumstances.

1. If they have a naturalisation or registration certificate 

They will need both:

• Their certificate of naturalisation or registration 

• The passport they came into the UK with or the foreign passport they are included on

2. Citizen of a BOT (British overseas territory) and born before 1 January 1983

They will need:

• Their birth certificate; and

• Their current passport; and

• The passport they came into the UK with or the foreign passport they are included on

3. Those who were born before 1 January 1983, and their father was born in the UK

They will need all of the following:

• Their full birth certificate showing the details of their parents 

• The birth certificate of their father

• Their parents’ marriage certificate

• The passport they came into the UK with, or the foreign passport they are included on

4. Those who were born on or after 1 January 1983

They will need all of the following:

• Their full birth certificate showing the details of their parents

• The passport they came into the UK with, or any foreign passport they are included on

• Evidence of one parent’s British nationality, for example, their UK birth or adoption certificate, registration, or naturalisation certificate

If the documents mentioned above relate to their father, they must include their parents’ marriage certificate showing the date of their father's marriage to their mother.

A person applying for a UK passport must submit original documents; photocopies are not accepted.

Those who do not have their original certificates (for example, their birth certificate) need to get an official copy.

If any documents are not in English or Welsh, the applicant needs to send a certified translation of such documents.

Laminated documents can also be sent if that’s the only format those documents are issued in.

A person with different circumstances

If an applicant’s circumstances are not listed, they should read the guidance booklet to find out what documents they will need. If they apply online, they will be told what documents they need as part of their UK passport application.

Applying online for a UK passport

Online services should be used to apply for, renew, replace, or update a passport and pay for it.

Those with a burgundy passport or ‘European Union’ on their passport’s cover can continue to use it until it expires.

Other ways to apply

1. Help with applying online

An applicant can get help with their online application at a Post Office. Staff at the post office can take a digital photo of the applicant and help them fill in the application online.

This service available at a Post Office cost extra and can be paid for in cash, by debit card, or by credit card.

2. Paper forms

An applicant can pick up a paper passport application form from their local post office and apply by post. Applying by post takes longer to apply than applying online.

At the local post office, the staff there, if required, can check that the applicant has filled in the form correctly, but this service costs extra, which can be paid by the applicant in cash or by debit or credit card.

UK Passport processing times in the UK

An applicant will usually get their passport within 3 weeks.

It may take longer than 3 weeks if the HM Passport Office (a division of the Home Office) needs more information, or they need to interview the applicant. The HM Passport Office will tell the applicant this within 3 weeks.

There are different turnaround times when a person is applying from another country. 

Confirming an applicant’s identity online for a passport application

An applicant is required to choose a person (P) to identify their identity. P (called ‘countersignatory’) will get an email from HM Passport Office if someone applying for a passport has asked P to confirm their identity.

P will need to follow a different process if they have been asked to sign printed photos (called ‘countersigning’). 

P can only confirm someone’s (who is applying for a British passport in the UK) identity if they:

• Are aged 18 or over

• Live in the UK

• Have a current UK or Irish passport 

• Have known the applicant for 2 or more years (the person applying here is an adult making a passport application for a child under 16), 

• Know the person who is applying as a neighbour, friend, colleague (not just someone who knows them professionally)

If someone is applying for a UK passport from another country the UK, the P (their countersignatory) must have a current UK, Irish, or other EU, US, or Commonwealth passport. 

P should confirm the applicant’s identity as soon as possible after receiving the email from HM Passport Office. The applicant cannot get their passport until P has confirmed their identity.

P will need:

• The reference number from the email they received

• Their passport details

• P will need to know:

• The applicant’s date of birth and address 

• Where the child was born and their parent’s names and years of birth (if they are confirming the identity of a child)

P needs to follow the instructions in the email. They will be asked to confirm some basic information about the person (for example, their address) who nominated them.

P will also be shown a photo and asked to confirm if that’s the person the passport is for.

It should take about 10 minutes.

Getting a passport urgently

A British citizen can pay to get a passport urgently if they want to get a quicker decision on their application because they think the standard service will take too long.

They can use the online service on gov.uk to apply, pay the fee, and book an appointment at a passport office up to 3 weeks in advance. The appointments last up to 10 minutes.

If they have to travel urgently for medical treatment, because a friend or family member has died or is seriously ill, or on government business, they should call the passport advice online instead.

Those applying for a first adult passport cannot use the urgent service and hence should use the standard service instead.

On the other hand, a person applying from another country can apply for an emergency travel document instead.

Ways to apply for an urgent passport

A person can apply for an urgent passport in 2 ways.

1. One-day premium

Through this service, the earliest an applicant can get an appointment is 2 days after they apply.

They will have to hand in their old passport at their appointment. They can then collect their new passport from the passport office 4 hours after their appointment.

One can use this service only to renew an adult passport.

It costs £222 for a 34-page passport or £235 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport.

2. One Week fast track

The earliest an applicant, through this service, can get an appointment is the next day after they apply.

They will have their new passport delivered to them by courier one week after their appointment. 

This service can be used to:

• Renew a passport

• Change personal details on the applicant’s passport (for example, their name, gender, or place of birth)

• Replace a stolen, lost, stolen, or damaged passport

• Get a child passport

• This service costs:

          1. £178 for a 34-page adult passport or £191 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport

          2. £145 for a 34-page child passport or £158 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport

Renewing an adult passport online

The UK passport holder must renew their passport before they can travel if their passport has expired or they do not have enough time left on it.

To renew a passport, the passport holder will need:

• Their old passport

• Any valid passports they have from another country 

A person can use the online service on gov.uk to renew their passport. It costs £94.50.

Renewing a UK passport using a paper application form

A paper application form for renewing a UK passport can be obtained by going to a Post Office that has a Check and Send service or calling the Passport Adviceline. 

It costs £107. 

Replacing an adult passport online

If a UK passport holder has lost their passport or it has been stolen, they must cancel it before applying for a replacement.

If their passport is damaged, they must replace it. They may not be able to travel with a damaged passport.

A person can use the online service on gov.uk to replace their passport. It costs £94.50.

Replacing an adult passport using a paper application form

A UK passport holder can get a paper application form by going to the Post Office or by calling the Passport Adviceline.  

It costs £107. 

Applying for a UK child passport 

A person who has parental responsibility for a child can apply for a child passport for their child under 16. They will need to give details of both parents when they apply. If they cannot provide the other parent’s details, they will need to give the reason (for example, they are the only parent named on the birth certificate or they adopted the child on their own).

It costs £61.50 to apply online and £74 to apply with a paper form from the Post Office. A child UK passport is valid for 5 years.

An application for a child passport can also be made from another country. However, there are different rules for applying for a child passport from another country.

British Passport fees

A person will have to pay a different fee if they apply for a British passport from another country.