HM Passport Office has issued an urgent alert to UK passport holders
You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally(Image: Lu ShaoJi via Getty Images)
HM Passport Office (HMPO) has issued an alert to all UK passport holders, urging some to act “as soon as possible”.
Anyone in the UK wishing to travel overseas requires a valid passport to do so, and applicants must hold British nationality to apply for or possess a British passport. That said, having British nationality does not automatically guarantee you a passport. You may not get a new one – or have an existing one confiscated – in a number of circumstances.
These include being under suspicion of a serious crime, being on bail, or having previously been repatriated to the UK at the government’s cost without repaying the sum. Many people may also be unaware that your passport never truly belongs to you – it remains government property and can be revoked or withdrawn at any point.
In a fresh warning on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, HMPO shared some crucial advice for British passport holders. The post reads: “Lost your passport? Report it as soon as possible. Doing so helps protect against misuse and allows you to apply for a replacement.”
Additional guidance on GOV.UK clarifies that reporting your passport as lost or stolen straight away will “reduce the risk of anyone else using your passport or your identity”. You can report a lost or stolen passport on behalf of someone else if they’re unable to do it themselves.
How can I get a new passport quickly?
For those requiring a new or replacement passport as a matter of urgency, a one-day service is available, although “the earliest you can get an appointment is two days after you apply”. You will be required to surrender your old passport at your appointment.
Your new passport will be ready to collect from the passport office four hours after your appointment. Bear in mind this service is exclusively available for adult passport renewals, and carries a cost of £239.50.
If you find yourself overseas and in urgent need of travel documents, you may be eligible to apply for an emergency travel document, though a fee will apply. Should you go down this route, there is no need to cancel your existing passport immediately, as it will be cancelled automatically as part of the emergency travel document application process.