Apply for a British Passport

You can apply for your first British passport either online, via the Post Office Check & Send Service, via post, or by appointment.

Applying online: To apply online – which is both the cheapest and easiest method – you must simply follow the application wizard which provides a step-by-step guide

Applying via the Post Office: The ‘Check & Send Service’ can check over your documents and post it to HM Passport Office by Special Delivery. Alternatively, you can post your own documents directly to UKVI.

Applying by appointment: Upon appointment, you can make use of the 1-day Premium and Fast Track service.

For those applying outside the UK, you will be required to follow the application process as outlined by the rules within the country you are applying from.

Something you must note before submitting your 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
• 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.

For those submitting their first 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 OISC-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.