UK Passport FAQ

Can I hold more than one passport?
Can I send photocopies of documents?
What kind of photographs do I send?
Can a child be included on a parent's passport?
My child is already on my passport, can we still travel?
When only one parent is accompanying minor children to the UK is it necessary to carry a letter of consent from the other parent?
Can my spouse obtain a British passport or citizenship through marriage?
I have been told that I do not qualify for British citizenship. Can I appeal against this?
What do I do if I lose my passport and need one urgently?
Who should sign a child's passport application?
Do I need to send my birth certificate and expired passport?
Do you accept personal cheques?
Do I need to have my application countersigned if it is a straightforward renewal?
Who should I ask to countersign my application if I have been in the USA for less than 2 years?
If documents are required in support of my application, can I send photocopies?
Why can't I provide my ‘short-form' birth certificate to support my first passport application?
Do you accept church-issued marriage certificates?
If I become a US citizen will I lose my British citizenship?
Who do BNO application forms apply to and what important documentation should I include?
How long are passports issued to children under 16 valid for?
I am/my child is over 16. Can the passport originally issued for 5 years when I/he/she was under 16 be extended for a further 5 years?
If I am 16 or 17 must one of my parents (or legal guardian) sign my application form?
Are photos required for the extension of a passport?
Must a child who was born outside of the UK be registered?
What happens to my valid visa in my expired passport?
How can I obtain an extract (original copy) of my original UK birth/marriage certificate?
Can the Passport Office add pages to my current passport if it is full?

1. Can I hold more than one passport?

The British Government has no objection to dual or multiple citizenship or to a person holding passports from more than one country. However, certain other countries do object so it is advisable to check with the authorities of the other country concerned.

2. Can I send photocopies of documents?

We must see original documents. Photocopies or notarised copies are not acceptable.

3. What kind of photograph do I send?

We require one photograph, taken within the last 6 months. It can be black and white or colour but must be taken against a light background, full face and without a hat. The size should be approximately 45 x 35mm. Digital photographs are not acceptable.

4. Can a child be included on a parent's passport?

Since 4 October 1998 all children must apply for their own passport.

5. My child is already on my passport, can we still travel?

The change of rules regarding the addition of children to passports does not affect children already on a parent's or sibling's passport. They can still travel until the passport expires or until they choose to apply for their own passport.

6. When only one parent is accompanying minor children to the UK is it necessary to carry a letter of consent from the other parent?

There is no legal requirement to do so but it may be helpful to have such a letter available in case a problem should arise.

7. Can my spouse obtain a British passport or citizenship through marriage?

British citizenship cannot be acquired through marriage alone. Your spouse would have to live in the UK for a continuous period of three years and apply for naturalisation through the Home Office while still resident there. Once the naturalisation certificate is obtained they can then apply for a passport. It is not possible to apply for naturalisation while resident outside the United Kingdom.

8. I have been told that I do not qualify for British citizenship. Can I appeal against this?

If you feel our interpretation of the law is incorrect then you can seek legal advice. Copies of the British Nationality Acts can be ordered from Her Majesty's Stationery Office or from a book shop that specialises in legal documents. The legislation currently in force is the British Nationality Act 1981.

9. What do I do if I lose my passport and need one urgently?

Whenever a passport has been lost or stolen, enquiries must be made with the issuing office in order to verify the applicant's identity before a replacement can be issued. This can only be done during normal office hours.

If you have lost a passport and require a replacement quickly, the referral can be done by Fax: to save time. If you require this service, please add a $25.50 referral fee to the amount of your passport application/s if your lost/stolen passport was issued anywhere other than Washington.

When you receive your passport it is always a good idea to note down or make a photocopy of the passport details and save them somewhere safe just in case it is lost or stolen.

10. Who should sign a child's passport application?

A parent or legal guardian as well as the child if the child is aged between 12-15.

11. Do I need to send my birth certificate and expired passport?

If you hold a valid passport, no birth certificate is normally necessary. Always send us an expired or expiring passport if you already have one.

12. Do you accept personal cheques?

No. You must pay by credit card, certified/cashiers cheque or money order (made payable to British Embassy Government Account).

13. Do I need to have my application countersigned if it is a straightforward renewal?

If your passport was issued in the last 10 years, this is not normally necessary unless your appearance has noticeably changed.

14. Who should I ask to countersign my application if I have been in the USA for less than 2 years?

A professional person of good standing (doctor, dentist, teacher etc) who is known to you. Or you can obtain a countersignature from your previous location.

15. If documents are required in support of my application, can I send photocopies?

No.

16. Why can't I provide my ‘short-form' birth certificate to support my first passport application?

We need to confirm your place/town of birth and your parent's details (if you were included in a parent's passport, for nationality purposes and in case you were the child of diplomatic parent). This information is not shown on the short-form birth certificate.

17. Do you accept church-issued marriage certificates?

Only for name amendments. Otherwise you should supply a full, original civil marriage certificate bearing a raised seal.

18. If I become a US citizen will I lose my British citizenship?

No.

19. Who do BNO application forms apply to and what important documentation should I include?

Only applicants who have previously held, or been included on, a BNO passport (Hong Kong connection). We need to see your original PIC.

20. How long are passports issued to children under 16 valid for?

5 years. Please see 21 below.

21. I am/my child is over 16. Can the passport originally issued for 5 years when I/he/she was under 16 be extended for a further 5 years?

Yes – as long as it was issued before 26 March 1998 and has been valid for less than 10 years.

22. If I am 16 or 17 must one of my parents (or legal guardian) sign my application form?

Yes they must sign the ‘declaration of parent' section. If a legal guardian is signing, an original court order must be supplied.

23. Are photos required for the extension of a passport?

Yes.

24. Must a child who was born outside of the UK be registered?

No. It is a matter of choice. Nationality is defined by sight of original marriage/birth etc documentation.

25. What happens to my valid visa in my expired passport?

If your passport is still valid we can cross-link your visa to your new passport. This is not necessary for US, Canadian and Australian visas.

26. How can I obtain an extract (original copy) of my original UK birth/marriage certificate?

From the General Register Office whose address is PO Box 2, Southport, Merseyside PR8 2JD for postal applications. You can apply in person at St Catherine's House, 10 Kingsway, London WC2B 6JP and collect certificates on the fourth working day following your visit or have certificates posted to any address supplied. A priority service is available by phoning 0151 471 4524 or faxing 0151 471 4368 (UK codes – from USA dial 011 44 151 471 4524/4368). You will need to have a credit/debit card for this service.

27. Can the Passport Office add pages to my current passport if it is full?

No.