British Passport Application
If you are a UK national, you can apply for a British passport. Get in touch with our immigration lawyers in Manchester to find out more.
Call us on 0161 826 9783 for immediate citizenship assistance. Our team are here to help over the phone, in person or via Skype.
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How to apply for a British Passport
If you are a British citizen, or if your British naturalization application was successful, you are entitled to apply for a British passport.
This document is essential to prove your status as a UK national. It can also be used as a travel document to enter end leave the United Kingdom free from immigration controls and to demonstrate your right to live, work and study permanently in this country.
If you wish to find out more about applying for a British passport, you can get in touch with our team of Manchester Immigration Lawyers.
Submitting your British passport application
You can request your British passport via one of the following methods:
- The application wizard will guide you through the entire process.
- Post Office Check & Send Service. Your local Post Office will check your application documents and submit it to HM Passport Office by Special Delivery. However, you will be charged an additional fee for this service.
- You can send your application form and supporting documents directly to the UKVI.
- By appointment. You can access the 1-Day Premium and 1-Week Fast Track services only upon appointment. Get in touch with our immigration experts in the UK to find out more about these services.
British passport application required documents
You must prepare an extensive bundle of supporting documents to demonstrate your eligibility for a British passport. You must only send original documents: photocopies are not accepted.
The following are the British passport supporting documents that you will need to submit to the UKVI:
- Your birth certificate
- Evidence of your parents’ immigration status (if you are applying for British citizenship by birth)
- Any document which can support your status as a naturalized British citizen (if you were born abroad)
- Your counter-signatory details (if you are applying with a paper form)
All documents which are not written in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation.
How to complete your British passport application
When filling in your British passport application form, it is essential to complete each part properly. This means that you must always ensure that you include the following information:
- Your maiden name and any other previous names
- Details of any previous UK passport that you have held
It must be noted that the name on your application must match the one on your current passport.
Can I apply for a British passport from abroad?
Yes, you can submit your application from outside the UK, although it may then take longer for the UKVI to receive and process your documents.
The process you will need to go through will depend on the rules of the country you are applying from.
For this reason, it is recommended to seek the help of an immigration solicitor in Manchester to ensure that you follow all the required steps.
How much does a UK Passport cost?
It must be noted that the cost of a British passport may vary depending on whether you are applying from the UK or abroad.
If you are applying from the United Kingdom, you will be charged as follows:
- Online application: £75.50
- Paper application: £85
Please note the UK Government is currently reassessing these fees with a view to increasing them in 2023.
How to apply for a British passport for a child
If you are a parent or a guardian, you can apply for a UK passport for your children. Both parents’ details must be stated on the application form. If you cannot provide the details of one of the parents, you must include a letter to explain your situation.
If your children were born abroad or are not British citizens, you can seek the help of an immigration lawyer to discuss your circumstances.
How long does it take to process a British passport application?
Your application processing time may change based on several circumstances. You should allow at least six weeks for your application to be processed and your passport delivered to you.
However, if you need your passport within a short timeframe, you can pay an additional fee to access the Same Day and Fast Track application services. In this way, you will be able to get a response to your application within 6 working days.
Last modified on June 28th, 2023 at 10:22 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you currently hold more than one passport from different countries, you can still apply for a UK passport, without renouncing any other identification document.
If you have recently changed your name, for example, because you got married or divorced, you may be able to change the name on your passport. You will be required to submit proper documentation to the UKVI.
If you wish to change the name on your passport, or if you need any help with your documents, you can speak to one of our immigration lawyers in Manchester.
Enquiries for a lost or stolen passport must be made with the issuing office to obtain a replacement as soon as possible.
If you require a replacement quickly, you can pay an additional fee and apply for faster service.
If you apply for a new passport, your old one will be returned, unless it is damaged. Your old passport will clearly indicate that it is invalid, and you will not be able to use it as a valid travel or identification document.
Your children must be 15 years or younger to apply for a children passport. Nevertheless, if their passport is still valid when they turn 16, they won’t need to apply for an adult passport until the old one expires.
You will need to find a counter-signatory, who is a person of your choice whose duty is to confirm your identity. This person must be able to demonstrate and confirm that they have known you personally for at least two years and that, to their best knowledge, all the information you have provided in your application is correct.
This person must be a UK or Irish citizenship, and currently living in the UK. They cannot be related to you by birth or marriage, nor in any type of personal relationship with you.
Besides, your counter-signatory must be a professional person or be recognized as “a person of good standing” in their community.
If you need help to appoint your counter-signatory, you can discuss your case with one of our immigration specialists in Manchester.
An adult passport is valid for 10 years. A child passport, issued for those who are 15 years of age or younger, is valid for 5 years.
As a naturalized British citizen, you will be granted the same rights as any other UK national.
Nevertheless, you will need a British passport to demonstrate your current status and to exit and enter the UK free from immigration controls. In other words, your passport is the ultimate form of proof of your status as a citizen of the United Kingdom.
As part of your UK passport application, you must submit a proper portfolio of documents to support your eligibility and provide the UKVI with an overview of your circumstances.
All your documentation will be returned once your application Is completed. If you wish, you can pay an additional charge for secure and faster delivery.
It must be noted that you are responsible for proving the authorities with a valid UK address where both your passport and your documents will be delivered.
If you are applying for an adult passport, you must be aged 16 or over, or you must be turning 16 within three weeks from the date of your application.
If you hold a child passport, you can use it until it expires and you don’t need to apply for a new one until then.