What to do if you find a lost UK passport – and one thing you have to do

HM Passport Office has issued fresh advice on what to do if you find a lost passport

Brits heading abroad this summer are being warned that finding a lost passport is not simply a case of popping it in a postbox or trying to hand it back yourself. But there is one thing you have to do when you do eventually send it off.

HM Passport Office has issued fresh advice explaining what people should do if they come across someone else’s British passport – with officials warning that handling it properly could help protect the owner from identity fraud. The reminder comes at one of the busiest times of the year for overseas travel, when airports, railway stations, beaches, hotels and tourist attractions are packed with holidaymakers and the chances of passports being misplaced increase.

In a message on X, HM Passport Office said: “Found a British passport? A few simple steps can help us keep it safe.”

A passport is far more than a travel document. It is one of the UK’s most important forms of identification and, in the wrong hands, could be used by criminals attempting identity fraud or other forms of financial crime. That is why officials are urging anyone who finds a passport not to simply leave it where it is or attempt to return it themselves if they are unsure who the owner is.

Instead, HM Passport Office says it should be returned through the official process so it can be dealt with securely. People who find a British passport in the UK should complete the Government’s official Recovered British Passport form and send it together with the passport to HM Passport Office using the Freepost address provided.

Now for that one thing. The guidance advises cutting off the top right-hand corner of the passport before posting it. This prevents the document being used if it is intercepted while in transit, while still allowing officials to identify it and deal with it appropriately.

Anyone who finds a British passport outside the UK should send or take it to the nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The official form asks where and when the passport was found, along with details from the document to help officials identify its owner.

The finder does not have to provide their own personal details if they do not wish to. According to HM Passport Office, following the official process gives the best chance of the passport being dealt with safely and helps reduce the risk of it being misused.

What to do if you find a British passport?

• Complete the Government’s official Recovered British Passport form.
• Send the passport and form to HM Passport Office using the Freepost address.
• Cut off the top right-hand corner of the passport before posting it, as instructed in the official guidance.
• If you are overseas, send or take it to the nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.
• You do not have to include your own personal details if you do not want to.

More details here.