Apply for a British Passport

To be eligible for your first adult British passport, you must be a British national. There are 6 types of British nationality:

• British citizenship
• British overseas territory citizenship
• British overseas citizenship
• British subject
• British national (overseas)
• British protected person

You must also be over the age of 16 or turn 16 within 3 weeks of your application date. If you are under the age of 16, you should apply for a child’s passport instead.

You also should never have held a British passport before. If you have previously been granted a British passport but your validity date has ended or is due to end, you should go through the passport renewal procedure instead. The only exception to this rule is if your British passport was issued before 1 January 1994, then you should apply for your first adult British passport.

Adult British passports have a validity date of ten years; however, if you currently hold a child’s British passport, you can use this until it expires, even if you turn 18 during the validity date.

Something you must note before submitting your British passport application is that you must not send photocopies of your documents; only the original documents will be accepted by the government.

To apply for your first UK passport, you must submit the following original paperwork within your application:

• Your birth/adoption certificate
• Proof of Identity – Driving licence, Previous passport
• Two recent passport-sized photos
• Evidence of at least one of your parents’ immigration status (if you were born in the UK after January 1983)
• Your certificate for naturalisation or, if you were born abroad, your certificate of registration
• All relevant supporting documents
• A signature from someone who can verify your identity (this only applies to those who are applying with a paper form)

Your documents must be translated if they are not already in English/Welsh.

You can apply online or on paper for a first adult British passport, though the processes are similar, there are differences between the two, such as the cost and the time frame your application takes to process.

Applying British Passport Online

Applying online is the cheapest and quickest way to apply for a first British passport. The current fee to apply online is £102. To do so, you will need:

• A digital photograph of yourself that meets the Home Office guidelines – you should ask someone to take this for you; selfies are not accepted.
• Someone with a valid email address who is willing to confirm your identity.
• Supporting documents.
• A credit or debit card to pay the fee.

To apply British passport online, you should complete the following steps:

1. Fill out the online application, submit your photograph and provide details of the person who is willing to confirm your identity.
2. The person willing to verify your identity will receive an email from the UK passport office with instructions on how to do this.
3. Submit your supporting documents – you will receive instructions on what you need to submit via email once your identity has been verified.
4. Attend an interview (only if applicable).
5. Await your decision and receive your passport via courier or recorded delivery.

Applying British Passport via Paper Application

A paper application for British passport can take longer due to the time it takes the UK passport office to receive your application. The current fee for a paper application is set at £115.50.

To apply British passport on paper, you will need:

• A paper application form (available from most UK Post Offices or the UK’s passport advice line).
• Someone willing to verify your identity.
• 2 identical printed photographs – one of them needs to be signed and dated by your countersignatory (the person verifying your ID)
• Your supporting documents.

To apply British passport on paper, you should complete the following steps:

1. Fill out a paper application form – your counter signatory will need to complete section 10.
2. Attach your 2 photographs – one must be signed and dated by your countersignatory.
3. Gather your documents and send your application using the pre-paid envelope that comes with the form or, if desired, by using the Post Office check and send service.
4. Attend an interview (only if applicable).
5. Await your decision and receive your passport via courier or recorded delivery.

You can use the same processes (online or via paper) to apply for a British passport from overseas. If you’re from a different country but still hold British nationality, you may be required to send in additional documentation to prove this as part of your application. This will include your passport from the country of birth and an explanation letter as to why you need a British passport.

You will need two referees to confirm your identity when you apply for a British passport. One can be of any nationality but must be considered a professional person (for example, a lawyer, teacher or business owner). The other must be a British passport holder and either considered to be a professional person or be over the age of 25. Both referees should have known you personally for at least 3 years, and neither should have been convicted of criminal offences within the last 10 years of your application date.

Here’s a breakdown of the British passport application costs according to the latest GOV.UK updates.

• Online standard adult passport (34 pages): £102
• Postal standard adult passport (34 pages): £115.50
• Online standard child passport (under 16): £66.50
• Postal standard child passport (under 16): £80
• Online adult passports (54-page): £116
• Postal adult passports (54-page): £129.50
• Online child passports (54-page): £80.50
• Postal child passports (54-page): £94

Urgent Processing Services:

• One‑day Premium (adult): £239.50 (Only to renew an adult passport)
• One-week fast track (adult): £192 (Only to renew or replace an adult passport)

Passport renewal in the UK should be relatively straightforward. If your British passport has expired, is lost or has been stolen, it is essential that you renew it as soon as possible.

You will need to submit a digital photo of yourself, as you must in your first passport application. This must be a new photo even if you believe that your appearance has not changed since receiving any previous British passports.

Renewing a passport costs £102 online or £115.50 if you submit your application via paperwork.

For those submitting their first British passport application, you may have to wait slightly longer than usual for this to be processed as further checks will have to be undertaken by HMPO (Her Majesty’s Passport Office). You should allow at least six weeks for your passport application to be processed.

However, there are certainly some actions you can take to ensure you avoid delays wherever possible. These include:

• Making sure that the name on your passport matches the name which appears on your documentation (if your name has changed, you must use your new name within your application)
• List all of your maiden/previous names
• Provide details of any previous UK passports you have held

Finally, make sure you are old enough to apply for an adult passport. You must be aged 16 or over (or will be turning 16 in three weeks from the date of your request).

If you’re 16 years or older and in the process of applying for your first UK passport, anticipate an imperative interview with the Identity & Passport Service (IPS).

The primary objective of this passport interview is to avoid the risk of identity fraud. During this session, applicants are tasked with responding to inquiries about your personal details as a means of authenticating your identity.

This comprehensive interview generally lasts for a duration of 30 minutes, ensuring a meticulous and thorough evaluation.

If your child is a UK national, you are able to apply for a passport on their behalf. Child passports last for five years.

As the parent/guardian of the child, you must sign the form and act as the official applicant.

The details of both the child’s parents must be provided – if you cannot provide these details, you must outline the reasons why within a letter.

This may be the case if you are the only parent on the child’s birth certificate or if you adopted the child as a single parent.

Our IAA-accredited immigration lawyers in Birmingham can provide tailored legal advice and practical assistance if you need help with your child’s citizenship status and/or passport application. Contact us today on 0121 667 6530.