British Passport Rules

Eligibility Considerations

• Not everyone is eligible for a British passport. Eligible groups include British citizens, citizens of British dependent territories, people connected to former British colonies who did not become citizens after independence, British subjects with connections to pre-1949 India or Ireland, British nationals connected to Hong Kong and people connected to former British protectorates. Men and women married to British citizens and residents of the UK are not necessarily eligible for British passports.

Documentation

• You need certain pieces of identification in order to apply for a British passport. British citizens born in the UK only need to provide a copy of a government photo ID and a British birth certificate. If you were born outside of the UK, you may need to provide additional documentation in order to be eligible for a British passport.

Photograph Rules

• The photographs used for passports must adhere to very strict rules. You need to provide two identical photos with your application. The photos must be in color, 45-by-35 mm, less than one-month-old, with a light grey or cream background, and with the face visible and facing the camera. Glasses are discouraged and headgear is only allowed if it is needed for religious or medical reasons.

Types

• The UK government introduced new, biometric passports in 2006, which replace the older, "blue-style" passports. The new design is more secure, and the European Union accepts it as ID throughout the continent. Passport-holders from non-European areas receive British passports without reference to the EU. Large youth groups may also apply for Group Passports for children under 18 who travel with recognized organizations.

Passport application

• Within Britain, applicants may fill out a passport application online. The office of Identity and Passport Services will then print your completed application and send it to you for a signature and date. In dependent territories, the office of the Governor is responsible for passport applications. British nationals abroad can apply for passports via British embassies, consulates and high commissions.