UK Passport Application: Forms, Fees & Common Pitfalls

To apply for a UK passport, complete the online application at GOV.UK, upload a digital photo that meets HM Passport Office's rules, pay the fee by debit or credit card, and post any required supporting documents. A standard adult application — first passport or renewal — typically takes around three weeks from the date HM Passport Office receives your documents, provided everything is in order.

This guide is general information about how the UK passport application process works. It is not legal advice. If your situation is complex — particularly around British nationality, parental consent or a name-change document chain — it is worth taking advice specific to your circumstances.

At a glance

• Who can apply: British nationals, including British citizens, British overseas territories citizens and other British nationality categories entitled to a UK passport.
• Standard fee — adult (16 and over), online application from the UK: £102 for a 34-page passport, £116 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport (correct from 8 April 2026 — always check GOV.UK for the current fee).
• Standard fee — adult, paper form from the UK: £115.50 (34 pages) or £129.50 (54 pages).
• Standard fee — child (under 16), online application from the UK: £66.50 (34 pages) or £80.50 (54 pages).
• Standard fee — child, paper form from the UK: £80 (34 pages) or £94 (54 pages).
• Free applications: British nationals born on or before 2 September 1929 can apply, and use the Post Office Check and Send service, for free.
• Processing time: HM Passport Office confirms you'll usually get your passport within 3 weeks of it receiving your documents — check GOV.UK for the current figure before you apply.
• Where to apply: online via GOV.UK, or by paper form available from a Post Office.
• Urgent routes: 1-week Fast Track (£192 adult / £156.50 child, appointment required, not available for a first adult passport) and 1-day Premium (£239.50, adult renewals only, four hours after your appointment). See GOV.UK urgent passport services for full current fees.
• Governing authority: HM Passport Office (an executive agency of the Home Office).

Am I eligible for a UK passport?

You can hold a UK passport if you are a British national. The main category is British citizen, but there are others — including British overseas territories citizen, British national (overseas), British overseas citizen and British subject. Not all of these categories automatically give the right to a UK passport. If you are uncertain which category applies to you, that is a nationality question rather than a passport question, and it is worth resolving it before you pay a fee.

The GOV.UK British passport eligibility checker is a useful starting point. You must apply for a first adult passport if you are 16 or over (or will be within 3 weeks), have never held a UK passport, or your last UK passport was issued before 1 January 1994. You can continue to use a child passport until it expires, even after you turn 18 — you do not have to replace it early just because you become an adult.

Documents you need — by application type

What you send to HM Passport Office depends on which type of application you are making.

First adult passport

• Your full birth certificate (long form, showing parents' details).
• Evidence of a parent's British nationality if your claim to citizenship runs through a parent — for example, a parent's UK birth certificate, naturalisation or registration certificate. If the nationality link runs through your father and your parents were married, you will usually also need their marriage certificate.
• If you became British by naturalisation or registration yourself, your certificate of naturalisation or registration.
• A countersignatory (see below), or someone eligible to confirm your identity online.

Original documents are required — photocopies are not accepted. If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you need a certified translation.

Passport renewal (same appearance)

• Your current or most recent British passport.
• You normally do not need a countersignatory if you can be recognised from your existing passport photo.

Passport renewal (appearance has changed)

• Your current or most recent British passport.
• A countersignatory, because HM Passport Office needs someone to confirm your identity in person.

Replacement (lost, stolen or damaged)

• Treated more like a first application: you will need a countersignatory and may be asked for additional identity documents.
• Report a lost or stolen passport to the police and to HM Passport Office as soon as possible.

Passport photo requirements

Photo errors are one of the most common causes of delay. The rules are strict, and the online service checks your photo automatically — but it is still worth getting them right before you upload. You need a new photo every time you apply, even if your appearance has not changed.

For online applications:

• Digital photo taken within the last month.
• Clear, in focus, in colour, and unaltered by computer software.
• At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, and between 50KB and 10MB.
• Taken against a plain light-coloured background, in clear contrast to the background, with no other objects or people in shot and no shadows.
• Face the camera straight on; plain expression, mouth closed, eyes open and visible, no hair across the eyes.
• No head covering (unless for religious or medical reasons) and nothing covering your face.
• Do not wear glasses unless you must do so for medical reasons. If you must wear glasses, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted, the frames must not cover your eyes, and there must be no glare, reflection or shadow.
• Photos taken at a photo booth or shop (using a code) are more likely to be approved than a photo taken on your own device.

For paper applications:

• Two identical printed colour photos, 45mm high x 35mm wide.
• Both taken within the last month.
• One must be countersigned on the back if a countersignatory is required.

See the GOV.UK passport photo rules for the full specification.

Relaxed rules for babies and young children: Children must be photographed alone. Children under six do not need to look directly at the camera or keep a neutral expression. Babies under one month old do not need their eyes open, and can be photographed lying on a plain light-coloured sheet (with any supporting hand kept out of shot).

Countersignatory rules — who can sign and when

A countersignatory is someone who vouches for your identity when HM Passport Office cannot verify it from an existing passport, or when no existing passport exists.

When you need a countersignatory:

• First adult passport.
• First child passport.
• Renewal for a child aged 11 or under.
• Renewal for a child aged 12 to 15 where the child cannot be recognised from their current passport photo.
• Any adult renewal where the applicant cannot be recognised from their existing passport.
• Replacement of a lost, stolen or damaged passport.

Who can act as a countersignatory:

• Must have known the applicant (or, for a child under 16, the adult signing the form) personally for at least two years.
• Must be able to identify the applicant — a friend, neighbour or colleague, not merely a professional contact.
• Must be a person of good standing in their community, or work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession.
• Must not be related to the applicant by birth or marriage, in a relationship with the applicant, or living at the same address.

Passport nationality of the countersignatory depends on where you apply:

• Applying inside the UK: your countersignatory must live in the UK and hold a current British or Irish passport.
• Applying outside the UK: a current British, Irish, or other EU, US or Commonwealth passport is accepted — though a British or Irish passport is processed faster, and a photocopy of the photo page is required for other passport types.

For paper applications, the countersignatory writes on the back of one photo: "I certify that this is a true likeness of [full name]", and adds their signature and the date. They also add their passport number to the application form. You do not sign or date the photos yourself.

For online applications, some applicants can instead use the confirm identity online route. The person confirming your identity must be 18 or over, live in the UK, hold a current UK or Irish passport, have known you for at least two years as a friend, neighbour or colleague, and work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession. HM Passport Office emails them a secure link, shows them your digital photo, and asks them to confirm it is a true likeness of you. The service will tell you during your application whether this route is available to you.

How to complete your application, step by step

1. Start the GOV.UK online service. Go to apply for a UK passport and select whether you are applying for yourself or a child, and the type of application (first passport, renewal, replacement or update).
2. Enter your personal details. Give your full name, date and place of birth, and current address. Answer the nationality questions carefully — errors here are a frequent cause of delay.
3. Upload your photo. Enter the code from a photo booth or shop, or take a photo on your device with someone helping you. The system checks it against the rules and flags problems immediately.
4. Arrange a countersignatory or online identity confirmation if needed. If your application type requires one, sort this out early. Chasing a signature or a referee at the last minute is one of the most common self-inflicted delays.
5. Pay the fee. Pay online by debit or credit card. The fee is not refunded if you cancel, if you turn out not to be entitled, or if you voluntarily withdraw your application.
6. Post your supporting documents. The service generates a checklist and a return address. Post originals tracked or by special delivery — documents that go missing in the post cause significant delays. HM Passport Office returns supporting documents by second-class post free of charge, or by secure delivery for an extra fee if you choose that option.

Paper form applications follow the same sequence but require you to collect the form from a Post Office, complete it by hand and post it together with your photos and documents. Applying online is £13.50 cheaper than applying by paper form for a standard adult passport.

Fees in full (from 8 April 2026)

All fees are subject to change — always verify at GOV.UK passport fees before you apply.

| Application type | Online | Paper form | |---|---|---| | Adult (16+), UK, 34-page standard passport | £102 | £115.50 | | Adult (16+), UK, 54-page frequent traveller passport | £116 | £129.50 | | Child (under 16), UK, 34-page standard passport | £66.50 | £80 | | Child (under 16), UK, 54-page frequent traveller passport | £80.50 | £94 | | Adult, applying from overseas | £116.50 | £130 | | Child, applying from overseas | £75.50 | £89 | | British national born on or before 2 September 1929 | Free | Free | | 1-day Premium service (adult renewal only, UK, appointment required) | £239.50 (£253.50 for 54 pages) | — | | 1-week Fast Track service (UK, appointment required) | £192 adult / £156.50 child (higher for 54 pages) | — |

No refunds: The fee is non-refundable if you withdraw your application, are found not to be entitled, or submit documents that turn out to be invalid. Pay only once you are confident your application is ready.

Returning your supporting documents: Original documents (such as birth certificates) are returned free of charge by second-class post. Secure delivery costs an extra £5 — choose this option on your application if you want it.

Processing times and what to do if you need a passport urgently

Standard service: HM Passport Office confirms you'll usually get your passport within 3 weeks of it receiving your documents. If it needs more information, or needs to interview you, it will tell you this within the same 3-week window — and the overall time then takes longer. Turnaround for applications made from overseas is different. Check the current processing time on GOV.UK before you apply.

1-week Fast Track service: Book an appointment (the earliest slot is the next day after you apply) at a passport office; your new passport is then delivered by courier around a week later. It can be used to renew a passport, change personal details, replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport, or get a child passport — including a first child passport. It cannot be used for a first adult passport. It costs £192 for an adult standard passport (£206 for 54 pages) or £156.50 for a child standard passport (£170.50 for 54 pages). See GOV.UK — get a passport urgently for the full breakdown.

1-day Premium service: Book an appointment (the earliest slot is 2 days after you apply), hand in your old passport, and collect your new one from the passport office 4 hours later. Available for adult renewals only — not first passports, child passports or replacements. It costs £239.50 for a standard 34-page passport or £253.50 for 54 pages.

Appointments generally: You can book an urgent appointment up to 3 weeks in advance, and appointments last up to 10 minutes. Changing an appointment is free if it's more than 48 hours away; cancelling one less than 48 hours away, or missing it altogether, costs a £34.50 admin fee (and a missed appointment gets no refund at all). If you've already applied and are simply waiting for the standard service, do not also pay for an urgent application — it will not get you your passport any sooner, and you'll still be charged the £34.50 admin fee for the extra application.

Compassionate and urgent-travel cases: HM Passport Office can consider urgent cases involving bereavement, life-threatening illness or essential government travel via the Passport Adviceline.

The non-negotiable rule: Do not book non-refundable travel until your valid passport is in your hand. A processing delay is not a ground for a refund from an airline or tour operator.

Tracking your application

Once your application is in the system you can track it using the GOV.UK passport tracking service. This shows where your application is in the process and confirms when your passport has been dispatched.

Name changes and the document chain

If your name has changed since your last passport — or since the name on your birth certificate — you need to supply documents that clearly show the link from one name to the next. A missing link is one of the most common reasons an application is returned.

Common supporting documents:

• Marriage or civil partnership: marriage or civil partnership certificate.
• Divorce or dissolution — reverting to a previous name: your decree absolute or final order, plus the earlier document showing the name you are reverting to.
• Change by deed poll or statutory declaration where the change is unconnected to marriage, civil partnership or divorce: HM Passport Office accepts an enrolled or unenrolled deed poll, or a statutory declaration. You will also need to show "proof of use" — evidence you are already using the new name consistently, such as a payslip, bank letter, driving licence or other official correspondence.
• Child's name change: usually requires written agreement from everyone with parental responsibility, plus the relevant certificate or deed.

For everything about updating the name or address on a passport, see our guide on changing your passport name or address. Note that a UK passport does not display your home address, so moving house on its own is not a reason to apply for a new passport — but your renewal application does update the address HM Passport Office holds for you.

Child passport applications

Every child needs their own passport — they cannot travel on a parent's or guardian's document.

• Validity: five years (versus ten years for adults).
• When countersigning is required: all first applications; all renewals for children aged 11 or under; renewals for children aged 12–15 only if they cannot be recognised from their current passport photo.
• Who signs the form: a parent or person with parental responsibility signs the application for a child under 16.
• Parental details: you need to give both parents' details when you apply. If you cannot provide the other parent's details, you must say why — for example, you're the only parent named on the birth certificate, or you adopted the child on your own.
• Parental consent: where more than one person holds parental responsibility, HM Passport Office may require evidence of consent from all of them. This is a frequent complication in separated-parent situations.
• Photo rules: relaxed for babies and young children (see photo requirements section above).

For the full document list, consent rules and a worked example, see our child passport guide.

Applying from outside the UK

British nationals living overseas apply through the overseas passport service on GOV.UK. Key differences:

• Fees are higher than UK equivalents (see the fee table above) — check GOV.UK for the current overseas figures, as these change independently of the UK fee schedule.
• Processing times are typically longer than for UK applications.
• Countersignatory passport requirements: a countersignatory holding a British or Irish passport generally results in a faster process. EU, US and Commonwealth passports are also accepted, but may add processing time, and you must include a colour photocopy of their passport's photo page.
• Applications are submitted through the same GOV.UK online service in most countries; a small number of countries use a different route — check GOV.UK for your specific location.

Worked example: Emma renewing her passport

This is a fictional example to illustrate the process.

Emma is 34 and her ten-year passport expires in November 2026. She applies online in June, pays £102 by card, uploads a digital photo taken against her cream kitchen wall that morning, and posts her old passport by tracked mail. She reads on GOV.UK that HM Passport Office aims to process her application within 3 weeks of receiving her documents — so she expects her new passport by early July if all goes smoothly. She does not book a non-refundable flight until the new passport is in her hand.

Because this is a straightforward renewal and Emma can be recognised from her existing passport, she does not need a countersignatory. Her only task now is to check her tracking number and wait.

The most common reasons an application is delayed or returned

Knowing these in advance costs nothing:

1. Photo fails the rules — wrong background, shadows, expression, dimensions, or file size. The online service catches most errors, but it is worth reviewing the GOV.UK photo rules before uploading.
2. Broken document chain — a name-change application where a linking document, or proof-of-use evidence, is missing.
3. Countersignatory does not meet the requirements — wrong passport type or nationality for where you're applying from, has not known the applicant long enough, or is excluded by the relationship rules.
4. Nationality questions answered incorrectly — particularly where a claim to British citizenship runs through a grandparent or involves a period of naturalisation.
5. Missing or illegible originals — photocopies are not accepted (except the specific countersignatory photocopy rule for overseas applications); non-English documents need a certified translation.
6. Supporting documents lost in the post — always use tracked or special delivery for original birth certificates, marriage certificates and passports.
7. Paying for an urgent service when you've already applied — this does not speed up an existing application and triggers a £34.50 admin fee.

Where to get official help

• GOV.UK — apply or renew a UK passport — the starting point for all applications.
• GOV.UK passport fees — current fee schedule.
• GOV.UK — get a passport urgently — Fast Track and Premium appointments.
• GOV.UK — about our services — current processing times and the Passport Adviceline route for compassionate cases.

This guide reflects the passport application process as at August 2026. Government fees and processing times change — always verify current figures on GOV.UK before you apply. This page is general information, not legal advice.