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Applying For A New Passport

If you want to leave or re-enter the UK you will need your passport, it is accepted proof everywhere that you are British. You should keep it safe and allow plenty of time to apply or renew it because there are a number of very strictly applied rules regarding your application.

You can pick up an application form from your local Post Office.

a) First passport

Allow plenty of time to apply for your first passport because you will need to attend an interview. This will take about 30 minutes and its purpose is to confirm facts about you to ensure that there is no identity theft.

If you have previously had a child’s passport you can apply at any time without having to wait for your child’s passport to expire.

You will need to supply documents such as your birth certificate and your mother or father’s birth certificate to prove that you are British and born of British parents.

If you have changed your name through marriage or divorce you will need to provide your marriage or divorce certificate.

You will need two recent identical photographs. The rules are quite strictly applied. They need to be

45 mm high x 35 mm wide untrimmed

taken against an off-white, cream or light grey plain background

printed on low-gloss, plain white photo-quality paper

undamaged by marks, creases etc

nothing else in the photo

just head and shoulders, facing forwards

neutral expression

mouth closed

eyes visible, no glasses or hair over eyes

nothing covering face

no head covering other than for religious purposes

You will need to sign the application form yourself but also have it countersigned by someone unrelated to you and not living at the same address. It needs to be someone who has known you in a professional capacity for at least two years.

A new passport will take around 3 weeks. Certain Post Offices provide a Check and Send service that will reduce the time to 2 weeks. This service costs £7 but the Post Office will check and validate your application form and send it to the Passport Office by Special Delivery.

b) Renewing your passport

In addition to sending an application form, you will need to send your current passport with your application form along with two recent photographs.

If you need your passport urgently and are simply renewing it you can go to the passport where they can offer a Premium same day service for an additional fee. If you have allowed plenty of time you can renew by post.