TL;DR
- A first British adult passport in 2026 costs GBP 88.50 online or GBP 100 postal, plus a countersignatory, and is applied for at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport with HMPO targeting 3 weeks for renewals and longer for first applications.
- The countersignatory must be a UK or Irish passport holder, of professional or "person of good standing" category, who has known the applicant in person for at least two years.
- A first adult passport requires the applicant's full birth certificate, both parents' nationality details, and a naturalisation or registration certificate where the applicant became British after birth.
- Photo rules: plain cream or light grey background, no smile, full face, no hair across the eyes, 6.5cm by 5cm if printed, and taken within the last month.
- From late 2024 the Premium 1-day and Fast Track 1-week services are entirely appointment-based at the seven HMPO regional offices: no walk-ins.
The application channel: gov.uk/apply-renew-passport and what it covers
The single online entry point for a British passport application in 2026 is gov.uk/apply-renew-passport. The page routes applicants to one of four flows: first adult passport, adult renewal, first child passport, or child renewal. Each flow takes between 30 and 60 minutes to complete and ends with online payment of the relevant fee. The 2026 adult online fee is GBP 88.50 and the child online fee is GBP 57.50.
The online flow walks the applicant through identity questions, address history, employment status (used for HMPO's data-cross-checks), the digital photo upload, and the supporting-documents declaration. Where the applicant cannot use the online service, the equivalent paper application (PD2 for adults, C1 for children) can be requested through the GOV.UK Passport Adviceline. Postal applications cost GBP 11.50 more than online for an adult application.
What this means in practice: a typical 2026 renewal applicant uploads a phone-camera photo, enters their previous passport number, pays GBP 88.50 by card, and receives an email confirmation. The application then sits in the HMPO production queue, with the new passport dispatched by tracked courier in roughly 3 weeks at standard channel times.
The first adult passport: countersignatory, birth certificate and parents
A first adult passport carries more rigorous identity checks than a renewal. The applicant must provide a full birth certificate, not a short-form one, and must give the case-worker details of both parents' nationalities at the time of the applicant's birth. Where the applicant acquired British citizenship after birth, the relevant naturalisation certificate or registration certificate is required.
A countersignatory is required for a first adult application. The countersignatory must be a UK or Irish passport holder, must have known the applicant in person for at least two years, and must be either a working professional (doctor, teacher, accountant, solicitor and similar) or a "person of good standing in their community". The countersignatory cannot be a family member, a partner, or someone living at the same address. They sign the rear of one of the printed photographs and confirm the applicant's identity on the form.
HMPO often interviews first adult applicants at one of the seven regional offices, particularly where the documentary picture is complex (parents from different countries, naturalised parents, adopted applicants). The interview is a standard part of the first-adult flow and is booked online once the case-worker requests it.
The HMPO photo rules in 2026
HMPO photo rules are published in the digital photo guide on GOV.UK and the rules are enforced automatically at upload. The photograph must be taken within the last month before the application, against a plain cream or light grey background, in good colour balance with no shadows. The applicant must face the camera with a neutral expression: no smile, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible.
Hair must not cover the eyes or the edges of the face. Glasses are no longer permitted in the photo unless the applicant has a medical reason and supplies a supporting letter. Headwear is allowed only for religious or medical reasons, and even then the face must be fully visible from below the chin to above the forehead.
For printed photographs (used in the paper postal route), the size is 6.5cm by 5cm. For digital uploads (the online route) the dimensions are checked by the upload tool and rejected if outside tolerance. The online tool also runs an auto-check for likeness against the previous passport photo on file, which is why a poor-quality phone photo often produces an "unable to verify" rejection at upload.
The supporting documents and the digital despatch flow
For an adult renewal the previous passport is the primary identity document. The applicant returns the old passport to HMPO either by attaching it to the postal application or by sending it through Post Office Document Check, which photographs the relevant page and forwards the file to HMPO. HMPO cancels the old passport (with the cover punched as a souvenir) and returns it with the new one.
For a first adult application the supporting documents are the full birth certificate, the parents' nationality documents (their passports or birth certificates as relevant), and any naturalisation or registration certificate. Where the applicant has changed name since birth, a marriage certificate, deed poll or court order is required to evidence the name change.
The online flow asks the applicant to upload scans of these documents (PDF or JPG, under 10MB each) or to despatch originals by Royal Mail Tracked 24. Originals are preferred for first adult applications: scans alone are usually insufficient. Documents are returned by HMPO with the new passport, separately from the courier delivery of the passport itself in some cases.
Processing times: 3 weeks for renewal, longer for first applications
HMPO publishes service standards on the GOV.UK passport pages. The 2026 standard target for a routine adult renewal in the UK is up to 3 weeks from application to receipt of the new passport. Child renewals follow a similar 3-week window. First adult applications target up to 10 weeks because of the additional documentary checks and the interview, where one is required.
In practice the bulk of straightforward renewals complete inside 2 to 3 weeks. Peak season (March to July) stretches timings closer to the published ceiling. First adult applications without an interview often complete in 6 to 8 weeks. The HMPO online tracker at gov.uk/track-passport-application gives application status from receipt through to despatch.
For urgent travel the Premium 1-day service costs GBP 207.50 for an adult and the Fast Track 1-week service costs GBP 178. Both are appointment-based at one of the seven HMPO regional offices: London, Liverpool, Newport, Peterborough, Glasgow, Belfast and Durham. Appointments are booked at gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently and availability is tight in peak season.
The late-2024 move to appointment-only urgent services
Until 2023 HMPO ran a limited walk-in service at the regional offices for Fast Track applicants who could secure same-day attendance. From late 2024 that walk-in route closed entirely. Both the Premium 1-day and the Fast Track 1-week services are now appointment-only. The applicant books a slot online, attends the office with supporting documents, and either collects the passport on the day (Premium) or receives it by courier within a week (Fast Track).
The change was made to give HMPO predictable office workload and to reduce queuing on peak days. It also means an applicant who turns up to a regional office without an appointment will not be seen, even for an urgent travel reason. The recommended approach for a tight travel deadline is to book the Premium appointment as soon as the travel date is fixed.
What this means in practice: an applicant who realises on a Monday that they need a passport for travel on the following Saturday should book a Premium 1-day appointment for the Tuesday or Wednesday, attend with the required documents, and collect the passport the same day. Without an appointment that timeline is not achievable.
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How we verified this
The application flow, photo rules and countersignatory requirements were cross-checked in May 2026 against the gov.uk/apply-renew-passport service flow, the HMPO digital photo guide, and the countersignatory guidance pages on GOV.UK. Fees were confirmed against gov.uk/passport-fees and the 11 April 2025 fee uplift. The appointment-only switch for Premium and Fast Track services was verified against the gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently page and the published HMPO operations updates. No third-party concierge or passport-agent content was used as a source.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only. Kaeltripton.com is an independent UK editorial publisher, not authorised or regulated by the FCA or OISC. Nothing on this page constitutes immigration, legal or visa advice. Always verify with GOV.UK or an OISC-registered adviser before acting. ICO registered ZC135439.
Frequently asked questions
How do you apply for a British passport in 2026?
The application is made at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport, which routes to one of four flows: first adult, adult renewal, first child, child renewal. The applicant uploads a digital photo, completes the online identity questions, despatches supporting documents (where required) and pays the fee. The 2026 online fee is GBP 88.50 for an adult and GBP 57.50 for a child.
How much does a first British adult passport cost?
A first British adult passport costs GBP 88.50 online or GBP 100 postal in 2026, the same fee as a renewal. HMPO does not charge a separate first-time fee. The additional cost of a first application is in the supporting evidence: birth certificate, parents' documents, and possibly a naturalisation certificate, plus a countersignatory who has known the applicant in person for at least two years.
What are the photo requirements for a UK passport application?
The photo must be taken in the last month, against a plain cream or light grey background, with no smile, mouth closed, eyes open, no hair across the eyes, and no glasses unless a medical exception applies. Printed photo size is 6.5cm by 5cm. Digital uploads are auto-checked at submission and rejected if outside tolerance. Headwear is allowed only for religious or medical reasons, with the face fully visible.
Who can act as a countersignatory for a first adult passport?
A countersignatory must be a UK or Irish passport holder, must have known the applicant in person for at least two years, and must fall into the professional or "person of good standing" category (doctor, teacher, accountant, solicitor, civil servant and similar). The countersignatory cannot be a family member, partner, or someone at the same address. The countersignatory signs one of the printed photos and confirms identity on the application.
How long does a UK passport application take in 2026?
HMPO targets up to 3 weeks for routine adult and child renewals, and up to 10 weeks for first adult applications because of the heavier documentary checks and possible interview. In practice straightforward renewals complete in 2 to 3 weeks outside peak season, while first adult applications without an interview often complete in 6 to 8 weeks. The HMPO tracker at gov.uk/track-passport-application shows live status.
Can the urgent passport services be used without an appointment?
No, both the Premium 1-day and Fast Track 1-week services have been appointment-only since late 2024. The applicant books a slot at gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently for one of seven HMPO regional offices: London, Liverpool, Newport, Peterborough, Glasgow, Belfast or Durham. Walk-in applicants will not be seen even for urgent travel reasons. Premium fees are GBP 207.50 adult and GBP 174 child.
