How to Get a UK Passport in 2026: Apply, Renew, Fees and Eligibility

Who is eligible for a UK passport in 2026

His Majesty's Passport Office issues UK passports to people who hold one of the various British nationality categories. The largest group is British citizens, including those born in the UK before 1 January 1983, those born in the UK to a parent who was settled or British at the time of birth, those who acquired citizenship by registration or naturalisation, and those who derive citizenship by descent from a British parent. Other categories include British nationals (overseas) from Hong Kong, British overseas territories citizens (BOTC), British overseas citizens (BOC), British protected persons, and British subjects.

Eligibility under each category is determined by the British Nationality Act 1981 and the amending Acts that followed it (the most consequential being the Nationality and Borders Act 2022). HMPO does not make nationality decisions independently of the law: an application is approved only where the applicant either already holds British nationality by operation of law or has previously been issued with a registration or naturalisation certificate.

People who believe they are British but have never been documented (so-called "undocumented British nationals", a category that affects some descendants of Windrush-era arrivals) apply for a No Time Limit endorsement or a registration first, and then apply for a passport once nationality is confirmed. The passport application itself does not establish nationality, only documents it.

How to apply for a first UK adult passport

A first adult passport application is the most evidence-heavy passport process. The applicant signs in to the online service at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport, completes the form, uploads a digital photograph that meets the published specification, and pays the GBP 94.50 fee (or GBP 107 if using the paper PD2 form route instead).

After the online form, HMPO sends a checklist of supporting documents to post in. These typically include the full UK birth certificate (the long-form version showing parental details), a parent's full UK birth certificate or naturalisation certificate where citizenship is derived through a parent, the applicant's existing identity documents (such as a driving licence), and a countersignatory declaration completed by an eligible adult who has known the applicant for at least two years.

Countersignatories must hold a professional or community-recognised role (teacher, doctor, accountant, police officer and similar) and must themselves hold a current UK or Irish passport. The countersignatory completes section 10 of the paper form (or the equivalent online declaration), countersigns a photograph, and provides a daytime contact number HMPO can verify against.

HMPO targets standard processing at three weeks from the date the supporting documents arrive, but during peak periods (typically April to August) the office advises applicants to apply earlier. Applicants whose travel is within three weeks should use the Fast Track or Premium service in person rather than the standard route.

Renewing an adult UK passport

Renewals are quicker than first applications because identity is already on file. The applicant uses the same gov.uk/apply-renew-passport service, completes the renewal form, uploads a fresh digital photograph, and pays GBP 94.50 (online) or GBP 107 (paper). The expiring passport is posted in (HMPO returns it cancelled with corner cut) but no other documents are usually required.

Renewals can be submitted from nine months before the expiry of the current passport. Any unexpired time on the old passport (up to nine months) is added to the new ten-year validity period, so applicants rarely lose time by renewing early. A renewal application also handles a name change (after marriage or deed poll) provided the change-of-name documentation is supplied as an attachment.

The most common renewal pitfalls in 2026 are photograph rejections (background too dark or shadow on the face), unsigned application forms (the form must be signed inside the dedicated box without crossing the border), and a missing previous passport. HMPO sends a corrective request rather than rejecting outright, but the corrective request adds at least a week to the processing time.

Child passports and renewing a child's passport

A child passport is valid for five years and costs GBP 61.50 online or GBP 74 by post. Applications are made by a parent with parental responsibility, using the same online service. The supporting documents include the child's full birth certificate, the parent's identity documents, and the parental responsibility evidence (typically the marriage certificate, registration of the birth, or a court order).

Children born abroad to a British parent may need to be registered as British under section 3(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 before a passport can be issued. The registration application is made to the Home Office and carries its own separate fee, set in the fees regulations. Where the child has automatic British citizenship by descent (the parent is British otherwise than by descent), no registration is needed and the passport application is straightforward.

Renewing a child's British passport follows the same path as a first application but with fewer supporting documents: the previous child passport, a recent photograph, and parental identity evidence. HMPO targets a three-week processing time from receipt of documents, and the same Fast Track and Premium options are available where travel is imminent.

Fast Track and Premium services

The Fast Track service delivers a passport within one week of an appointment at an HMPO regional centre. The appointment must be booked online at gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently before posting any documents. The Fast Track fee is GBP 155 on top of the standard fee (so a Fast Track adult renewal costs GBP 94.50 plus GBP 155 in 2026). Fast Track is available for renewals and child applications: first-time adult applications can use it but require the same identity evidence as the standard route.

The Premium (one-day) service delivers a passport on the same day as the appointment, usually within four hours of attending. The Premium fee is GBP 207 on top of the standard fee. Premium is restricted to renewals of straightforward adult passports and is not available for first-time applications or for children. Appointments are usually available at HMPO offices in London, Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newport and Peterborough.

Both services require the applicant to attend the appointment in person with the previous passport, photographic identification (where renewing), and the printed online confirmation. Documents are not posted in advance: they are handed over at the counter and the passport is either delivered (Fast Track) or collected at the counter (Premium).

Applying from overseas

British nationals living abroad apply through the same gov.uk/apply-renew-passport service. The form recognises the applicant's overseas residence and routes the case to the overseas passport processing hub. Fees for overseas applications are higher than UK fees and are listed on GOV.UK at the point of payment.

Supporting documents are posted to a designated UK address or, in some countries, handed in at the local British consulate's chosen visa application centre. The returned passport is dispatched via HMPO's appointed courier. Processing times for overseas applications target six weeks from receipt of documents and stretch longer during peak periods.

Holders of a British Nationals (Overseas) passport from Hong Kong, including those who have moved to the UK under the BNO route, apply for their BN(O) passport through the same online service. The BN(O) passport is a separate document from the British citizen passport and does not, of itself, give a holder the right to live in the UK.

Costs and fees summary for 2026

Adult passport (first or renewal): GBP 94.50 online or GBP 107 paper post. Child passport (first or renewal): GBP 61.50 online or GBP 74 paper post. Fast Track service: additional GBP 155 above the standard fee. Premium service: additional GBP 207 above the standard fee. Overseas application fees are higher and are itemised in the GOV.UK fees table at the point of applying.

HMPO accepts payment by debit or credit card at the point of online submission. The fee is not refundable once the application is in process. A separate fee may apply where the applicant requests document return by signed-for or international courier service rather than standard delivery.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get a UK passport in 2026?

Standard processing targets three weeks from the date HMPO receives supporting documents. Fast Track targets one week from an in-person appointment. Premium targets the same day. Overseas applications take longer and target six weeks. HMPO advises against booking non-refundable travel until the passport is in hand.

How much does a child UK passport cost?

A child passport costs GBP 61.50 if applied for online or GBP 74 if applied for using a paper form. The passport is valid for five years. Fast Track service adds GBP 155 to the base fee. Premium service is not available for child passports.

Do I need a countersignatory for a passport renewal?

No, in most cases. Adult renewals where identity is already on file with HMPO do not require a countersignatory. First-time adult applications and child applications require a countersignatory who has known the applicant or parent for at least two years and who holds a current UK or Irish passport.

Can I get a UK passport if I was not born in the UK?

Yes, provided the applicant holds British nationality through one of the recognised routes: parental descent, registration, or naturalisation. The passport application itself does not confer nationality: it documents an existing nationality. People who believe they are British but have never been documented should first contact UKVI to confirm nationality status.

What happens if a UK passport is lost or stolen?

The lost or stolen passport must be reported to HMPO immediately at gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport. The report cancels the document so it cannot be used by anyone else. A replacement is then applied for using the standard online service, paying the standard fee, and providing the supporting documents required for a renewal plus a written explanation of the loss.

How do I qualify for a British passport if a parent is British?

A child born outside the UK to a British parent who is British "otherwise than by descent" (born in the UK, registered, or naturalised) is automatically British by descent and can be issued a passport on application. A child born outside the UK to a British "by descent" parent must usually be registered first under section 3 of the British Nationality Act 1981 before becoming British. The route is set out in HMPO and Home Office guidance.

How early can I renew a UK passport?

HMPO accepts renewal applications from nine months before the current passport's expiry date. Any unexpired time on the old passport, up to nine months, is added to the new ten-year validity. Applicants should not wait until the last few weeks before travel, since standard processing alone takes three weeks.

How we verified this

Fee figures, processing time targets and eligibility rules in this guide reflect the published HMPO fees order for 2026 and the application service at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport. Nationality categories follow the British Nationality Act 1981 and amendments. Countersignatory rules and acceptable identity documents reflect the HMPO passport application service guidance published on GOV.UK. The Fast Track and Premium service details reflect the published premium service pages and the appointment booking flow at gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently.

Primary sources and further reading

• GOV.UK: Apply or renew a UK passport
• GOV.UK: Get a passport urgently (Fast Track and Premium)
• HM Passport Office
• legislation.gov.uk: British Nationality Act 1981
• GOV.UK: Report a lost or stolen UK passport
• GOV.UK: Apply for or renew a passport from overseas