As we all know, if you want to go abroad, you have to take the passport with you. There is no exception of UK. And because of the Brexit, now UK residents need the passport for more countries. In this passage, we are going to discuss the required documents for UK passport application and renewal.
Documents Required for Passport Application in UK
If you apply for the passport in the UK for the first time, the documents you need to provide depend on where you were born. Here we listed five different situations.
Born or Adopted in the UK
- Born or adopted in the UK before 1983
1. Your original full birth certificate, or an official copy
2. Your original adoption certificate or official copy
The birth certificate should include details about your parents and details about yourself.
- Born or adopted in the UK during or after 1983
1. Your original full birth certificate, or an official copy
2. Your original adoption certificate or official copy
Except for above two certificates, you also need to submit one of the following documents:
a. Your mother’s or father’s full UK birth certificate
b. Their Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation
c. A British passport belonging to one parent, valid when you were born
d. A British passport number for one of your parents
e. If you don’t have the above, you will need evidence of a parents’ immigration status in the UK at the time of your birth, for example, a foreign passport belonging to one of your parents, which was valid when you were born.
Born or Adopted outside the UK
- Born outside the UK and have a certificate or naturalization/registration
1. Your naturalization or registration certificate
2. The passport you used to enter the UK, or the foreign passport you’re included on
You will need original copies of both of the above documents. A naturalization or registration certificate is given to a person when they are granted British citizenship.
- Born outside the UK and before 1983 and Being a Citizen of a British overseas country
1. Your birth certificate, or an official copy from the country of your birth
2. Your current passport and the passport you used to come into the UK
You will need original copies of all three of the above documents. British Overseas citizens are British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but not British citizens. The nationality gives favoured status if residing in the UK, but no automatic right of abode. There are currently around 12,000 British nationals with active British passports.
- Born outside the UK and before 1983, and your father was born in the UK
1. Your full birth certificate, including details of your parents
2. Your father’s birth certificate, or an official copy
3. Your parents’ marriage certificate, or an official copy
4. The passport you used to enter the UK or foreign passport you’re included on
- Born outside the UK, during or after 1983
1. Your full birth certificate, including details of your parents
2. Evidence proves that one of your parents is a British citizen, for example, their birth certificate
3. The passport you used to enter the UK or foreign passport you’re included on
Documents Required for Passport Renewal
Renew the Passport Digitally
Unlike the application for the first time, the passport renewal in the UK is relatively easy. You can renew the passport digitally without any supporting documents. You only need to prepare a current photograph of yourself, a credit or debit card, and your current passport.
Renew the Passport in an Old Way
If you want to renew your passport with paper application forms, you can get them from any Post Office with a Check and Send service. Or you can call the Passport Adviceline and ask them to send you a form. You need to fill in your card details in the form, or send a cheque, along with two printed passport photos.
Documents Required for Child Passport Application and Renewal
Since child passport requires high degree of security, therefore when you plan to apply or renew the child passport in the UK, you need to prepare the following document:
1. Court orders that would be relevant to your child passport application, particularly with regards to parental responsibility.
2. Parental responsibility orders or any evidence that can be found of a parental responsibility agreement.
Documents Required for Emergency Passport Application
If you can’t get a new passport in time, you can choose to apply for an emergency passport. This often happens to people who have been stranded outside of the UK, who have lost their passports. However, to get a new one may take a very long time. In this case, emergency passport is a good choice. In order to get an emergency passport, you need to prepare the following documents:
1. Proof of your travel plans, for example your booking confirmations
2. Detailed descriptions of where you plan to travel to and when
3. Whatever documents are needed for the country you’re in
If you’re stranded in another country without a passport, you may need to visit the British embassy or consulate for assistance.
Documents Required for Name Change in Passport
Change Name Because of Getting Divorced
If you get divorced, you need to provide following documents to change the name on your passport.
1. Your birth certificate
2. Your decree absolute
3. Your marriage certificate showing your old and new names
4. An official document showing you’re using your new name
5. A statement saying you’ve returned to your previous name ‘for all purposes’, signed by you
Change Name by Changing the Spelling, or Adding a Title
If you want to change the spelling of the name, you need to provide two of the following documents:
1. A bank statement showing your new name
2. A driving licence showing your new name
3. A letter from the government or council
4. Your baptism or confirmation certificate
Change Name for Other Reasons
If you need to change the name for other reasons, you will need either a deed poll, a statutory declaration, or an affidavit. Except for that, at least you need to prepare one document that confirms your current name and one document that confirms every name change that has taken place.
Change Child’s Name on the Passport
If you plan to change the child’s name on their passport, you need to prepare following documents:
1. A signed statement,which should be provided by the person who currently has parental responsibility for the child, which states that all parties offer permission for the name change to take place or a court order that allows the name to be changed.
2. Documents which can serve as a proof for the child’s previous name.
3. Documents that can verify all name changes, past and present.
Conclusion
In the UK, if you want to apply for the passport, it depends on the individuals’ birthplace and the year of birth. There are two categories: born or adopted outside of the UK and born or adopted in the UK. Please bear in mind you need to provide original document instead of copies. And if you apply for or renew the child passport, more security requirements are needed. You need to provide the proof to show that you have parental responsibility for the child. Compared to application process, passport renewal in the UK is much simpler. You can choose digital way or traditional way to renew it. With the listed tips, I bet it will be very easy for you to get the UK passport.
Erin Lo