Passport Office

Need to know

HM Passport Office has reissued guidance on the two-year rule

All you need to know as HM Passport Office reminds of two-year UK passport rule:

• HM Passport Office has issued a reminder about the two-year rule that applies when someone needs to confirm a passport applicant’s identity.
• The requirement applies when applying for a new passport for a child or adult, renewing a child’s passport, or replacing a lost, stolen or damaged document.
• In a post on X, formerly Twitter, HMPO clarified that “a referee must have known the person applying for at least 2 years and confirm their identity”.
• Referees must be at least 18, live in the UK and hold a British or Irish passport. They must know the applicant as a friend, neighbour or colleague – not solely through a professional relationship – and work in, or be retired from, a “recognised profession”.
• Some examples of a recognised profession include: accountant, councillor, teacher or lecturer, barrister, journalist, and dentist. An extensive list can be found here
• You cannot verify someone’s identity if you’re related by birth or marriage; are in a relationship with them or share a home; you’re employed by HM Passport Office; you’re employed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on British citizenship or right of abode applications; or if you’re a medical professional – unless you know the individual requesting this well (for instance, you’re a close friend).
• For a child’s application, the two-year rule applies to the adult making the application.

READ THE FULL STORY: Two-year British passport rule you may not know about

HM Passport Office is reminding people of the rule

HM Passport Office has moved to explain a two-year rule some people may not know about.

Whether you’re applying for a new passport for a child or an adult, it’s likely you’ll need someone to confirm your identity. This is also the case if you’re replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged passport, renewing a child’s passport, or if your appearance has changed significantly. In a new alert on X, formerly Twitter, HMPO moved to explain the rules for ‘referees’.

Part of the post clarifies that “a referee must have known the person applying for at least 2 years and confirm their identity”. Additional guidance on GOV.UK outlines who is eligible to verify a person’s identity.

To qualify, a referee must be 18 years of age or older, reside in the UK, and currently hold a British or Irish passport. They must also have been acquainted with the applicant for a minimum of two years (this refers to the adult submitting the application if the passport is for a child under 16), and must know the applicant as a friend, neighbour or colleague, rather than someone they know purely in a professional capacity.

Referees must also be employed in, or retired from, a “recognised profession”. These include:

• accountant
• airline pilot
• articled clerk of a limited company
• assurance agent of recognised company
• bank or building society official
• barrister
• chairman or director of a limited company
• chiropodist
• commissioner for oaths
• councillor, for example local or county
• civil servant (permanent)
• dentist
• director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
• engineer with professional qualifications
• financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker
• fire service official
• funeral director
• insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
• journalist
• Justice of the Peace
• legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
• licensee of a public house
• local government officer
• manager or personnel officer of a limited company
• member, associate or fellow of a professional body
• Member of Parliament
• Merchant Navy officer
• minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
• nurse (RGN or RMN)
• officer of the armed services
• optician
• paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
• person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE
• pharmacist
• photographer (professional)
• police officer
• Post Office official
• president or secretary of a recognised organisation
• Salvation Army officer
• social worker
• solicitor
• surveyor
• teacher or lecturer
• trade union officer
• travel agent (qualified)
• valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
• Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers

You cannot confirm someone’s identity if:

• you’re related by birth or marriage
• you’re in a relationship with them or live together
• you work for HM Passport Office
• you work for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on British citizenship or right of abode applications
• you’re a doctor – unless you know the person who has asked you well (for example, you’re a good friend)

Need to know

HM Passport Office has issued an alert to anyone applying for a new or replacement child passport in the UK

All you need to know as HM Passport Office issues alert over children’s passports:

• HM Passport Office has issued a new alert for parents applying for a new or replacement passport for a child.
• All children must hold their own passport to travel internationally – a rule that has been in place since October 1998. The sole issuer of UK passports shared the alert on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.
• It stated: “A child’s application must be completed by a person with parental responsibility. You’ll also need to provide documentation to confirm this.”
• Parental responsibility is automatically granted to those who give birth to the child. Fathers or second female parents may also have automatic parental responsibility depending on their circumstances.
• For example, parental responsibility is also automatically granted if you are married to or in a civil partnership with the birth mother at the time of the child’s birth.
• Should the biological father wed or enter into a civil partnership with the child’s birth mother following the birth, he will automatically obtain parental responsibility.
• A standard child’s passport costs £66.50 online or £80 by paper form, rising to £80.50 or £94 for a 54-page frequent-traveller passport.

READ THE FULL STORY: HM Passport Office alert to anyone applying for a child

HM Passport Office (HMPO) has issued an alert to parents and caregivers

HM Passport Office (HMPO) has issued an alert to anyone planning to apply for a new or replacement passport for a child.

A valid passport is needed for anyone, including children, to travel abroad. Prior to October 5, 1998, children under 16 years old could be included on a parent or family member’s passport. But since this date, all children – regardless of age – are required to hold their own individual passports to travel internationally. The sole issuer of UK passports, HMRC, shared a message on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.

It reads: “A child’s application must be completed by a person with parental responsibility. You’ll also need to provide documentation to confirm this.”

Parental responsibility is automatically granted if you give birth to the child. If you are a father or second female parent, you may have automatic parental responsibility depending on your personal circumstances.

You will also typically have automatic parental responsibility if you are married to or in a civil partnership with the birth mother at the time of the child’s birth. The child’s biological father will automatically acquire parental responsibility if they marry or enter into a civil partnership with the child’s birth mother after the child is born.

If your child was conceived via fertility treatment, you will automatically have parental responsibility provided you consented to the treatment and are married to or in a civil partnership with the birth mother. Should you not be married to or in a civil partnership with the birth mother, parental responsibility can be obtained by jointly registering the birth alongside the mother.

Separate rules apply when registering a birth for same-sex couples. Should the birth not be registered together, an application for parental responsibility can be made.

How much is a passport for a child?

At present, a new or replacement passport for a child costs £66.50 when applying online, or £80 when submitting a paper form. This is the price for a standard 34-page document.

Should you require a “frequent traveller” 54-page child’s passport, this will cost £80.50 or £94 when applying online or via the paper form, respectively.

Need to know

HM Passport Office has issued an update

HM Passport Office urgent alert to UK passport holders – what you need to know:

• HM Passport Office (HMPO) has issued an alert to British passport holders, urging those who have lost their passport to act “as soon as possible”.
• HMPO shared the warning on X, formerly Twitter, stating: “Lost your passport? Report it as soon as possible. Doing so helps protect against misuse and allows you to apply for a replacement.” GOV.UK guidance adds that reporting a lost or stolen passport straight away will “reduce the risk of anyone else using your passport or your identity”.
• It’s worth knowing that your passport never truly belongs to you. It remains government property and can be revoked or withdrawn at any point. A passport can also be withheld or confiscated if the holder is under suspicion of a serious crime, on bail, or has been repatriated to the UK at the government’s expense without repaying the sum.
• For those who urgently need a replacement, a one-day service is available for adult passport renewals at a cost of £239.50, with the new passport ready to collect four hours after your appointment. Note that the earliest you can get an appointment is two days after applying, and you must surrender your old passport at the appointment.
• Those who find themselves abroad without valid travel documents can apply for an emergency travel document, which will automatically cancel any existing passport as part of the process.

READ THE FULL STORY: ‘As soon as possible’ alert as UK passport holders told to ‘reduce risk’

HM Passport Office has issued an urgent alert to UK passport holders

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.