Who can have a British passport
A British passport is issued to British citizens and to holders of some other categories of British nationality. It is proof of nationality as well as a travel document, so an application turns on the evidence of how you became British. Being born in the UK is not enough for anyone born on or after 1 January 1983: it depends on a parent’s status at the time. See born in the UK: are you a British citizen?
Your first adult passport
You can apply for a first adult passport from the age of 16 if you have never held a UK passport, or if your last was issued before 1 January 1994. An adult passport lasts ten years. The evidence depends on how you are British:
| How you are British | What to send |
|---|---|
| Born in the UK before 1 January 1983 | Your full birth certificate. |
| Born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983 | Your full birth certificate, and evidence that a parent was British or settled when you were born: their passport, naturalisation or registration certificate, or proof of settlement. |
| Naturalised or registered | Your certificate of naturalisation or registration. |
| Born abroad to a British parent | Your birth certificate and your parent’s evidence of their own citizenship. If a parent is British only by descent you may need to register first: see citizenship by descent. |
A first application must also be countersigned. Your countersignatory must have known you for at least two years, must not be a relative or live with you, must be a person of good standing or work in a recognised profession, and, if they live in the UK, must hold a current British or Irish passport.
Passport fees
| Passport | Online | By post |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 34 pages | £102 | £115.50 |
| Adult, 54-page frequent traveller | £116 | £129.50 |
| Child under 16, 34 pages | £66.50 | £80 |
| Child under 16, 54 pages | £80.50 | £94 |
For urgent travel, the one-week fast track costs £192 for an adult and £156.50 for a child, and the one-day premium service, for adult renewals only, costs £239.50. Neither is available for a first adult passport or from outside the UK.
A passport for your child
A child under 16 needs a child passport, applied for by someone with parental responsibility, with both parents’ details. It lasts five years. The child must be British: if they are entitled to citizenship but not yet registered, register them first. A child passport can be used until it expires, even after the child turns 16.
Renewing, replacing and changing details
- Renewing: renew before expiry, and check the validity the country you are travelling to requires.
- Lost, stolen or damaged: apply for a replacement, and report a lost or stolen passport.
- Changing details: a change of name, title, gender marker or place of birth needs a new passport with the supporting evidence.
When nationality is in doubt
Passport Office checks go further back than many people expect. A passport issued in error in the past does not make you a citizen, and a renewal can be refused if the original basis was wrong. The usual problems are a parent whose status at your birth cannot be shown, a birth abroad to a parent who was British only by descent, a name that differs across documents, and a naturalisation or registration certificate that was lost. Most can be put right: by tracing records, by registering or naturalising where you are entitled to, or by a fresh application with the right evidence. A refusal does not carry a tribunal appeal, so the first application should be made on the right basis.
How we help
We establish whether you are British, work out the basis for an application, obtain the records, and prepare registration or naturalisation where a passport depends on it. If you have been refused or your passport withdrawn, we advise on the next step. A consultation costs from £99.
