You can apply for your first adult British passport if you're aged 16 or over and 1 of the following:

• a British citizen
• a British overseas territories citizen
• a British subject
• a British national (overseas)
• a British protected person

You can get more information about eligibility for a British passport.

You must follow a different application process if you’re outside the UK.

If you've had a child passport before, follow the process for renewing your passport to get your first adult passport.

How long it takes

It takes at least 6 weeks to get your first UK adult passport. Don't book travel until you've got it.

Her Majesty’s Passport Office may ask to interview you as part of the application process.

Cost

You must send original documents that prove your identity as part of your application. The documents you need to send depend on your circumstances.

You must send originals - photocopies or certified copies won't be accepted. Laminated documents can only be used to prove a change of name (eg a marriage certificate).

How your documents will be sent back

Your documents will be sent back through the normal post.

You can pay an extra £3 to get your supporting documents sent back to you via secure delivery when your application has been processed.

Choose this service on your application if you want to use it.

Born or adopted in the UK

Before 1 January 1983

You must send your birth or adoption certificate.

On or after 1 January 1983

You must send your birth or adoption certificate and either:

• your mother's or father's UK birth certificate, Home Office certificate of registration/naturalisation, a British passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born or a British passport number for either parent
• evidence of one of your parents’ immigration status in the UK at the time of your birth (eg a foreign passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born)

If you send documents related to your father, you must also send your parents’ marriage certificate (unless you were born or adopted on or after 1 July 2006 or adopted by a same-sex couple).

Born outside the UK

You have a certificate of naturalisation or registration

You must send:

• your naturalisation or registration certificate
• the passport you used to come into the UK or foreign passport you’re included on

Citizen of a British overseas territory - born before 1 January 1983

You must send:

• your birth certificate
• your current passport
• the passport you used to come into the UK or foreign passport you’re included on

Born before 1 January 1983 and your father was born in the UK

You must send:

• your full birth certificate showing your parents’ details
• your father’s birth certificate
• your parents’ marriage certificate
• the passport you used to come into the UK or foreign passport you’re included on

Born on or after 1 January 1983

You must send:

• your full birth certificate showing your parents’ details
• the passport you used to come into the UK or any foreign passport that you are included on

You must also send evidence of one parent’s British nationality. This can be their UK birth or adoption, naturalisation or registration certificate.

If these documents are about your father, you must include the marriage certificate when he married your mother - unless you were born on or after 1 July 2006.

Other circumstances and more advice

If your circumstances aren’t listed here, or you want more advice, read the guidance booklet on applying for a passport.

You can:

• apply online
• request an application form online
• get one from a Post Office that offers the Passport Check & Send service
• contact the Passport Adviceline and get them to post you one

Passport Adviceline
Online enquiry form
Telephone: 0300 222 0000
Textphone: 0300 222 0222
Text Relay: 18001 0300 222 0000
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 9am to 5:30pm Find out about call charges

Help filling in the form

The application form comes with guidance notes to help you fill it in.

Photos and countersignatories

You must supply 2 identical photos of yourself with your application.

Follow the rules about passport photos - your application may be delayed if your photos are rejected.

You must get someone to sign (‘countersign’) your form and 1 of your photos to prove your identity.

Check who can sign and what they have to do.

Send your application

You can either:

• use the Passport Check & Send service (you can’t use this if you apply online)
• post your form using the pre-printed envelope that comes with the form (include your photos and supporting documents)

Payment

You’ll need a credit or debit card to apply online.

To apply by post, you can either:

• fill in your credit or debit card details on the payment form in the ‘Applying for a passport’ guidance notes that come with the form
• include a cheque or postal order payable to ‘Her Majesty’s Passport Office’

What happens next

Her Majesty’s Passport Office will contact you to arrange an interview.

Her Majesty’s Passport Office will write to you. When you get the letter, phone them to make an appointment for an interview at one of their offices.

You can choose an office that’s convenient for you to travel to, but you may not be able to make an appointment at the exact time or date you want.

These offices are for interviews only - they can't give you a passport.

Her Majesty’s Passport Office may be able to arrange an interview close to you if you live in a remote area. Ask when you phone to make an appointment.

You may not need an identity interview if you were born on or before 2 September 1929. Her Majesty's Passport Office will tell you when they are dealing with your application.

Your interview

The interview will take about 30 minutes.

You’ll be asked to confirm facts about yourself that someone trying to steal your identity may not know.

Her Majesty’s Passport Office destroys any personal information used in the interview shortly after the passport is issued.

After your interview

Her Majesty’s Passport Office will continue with your application.

You can login and track your passport application straight away if you apply online.

You can start tracking your passport application 3 weeks after you apply if you apply by post.

Your new passport will be sent to you either by courier or Royal Mail Recorded Delivery. The postman or courier will then do one of the following:

• hand your passport to you if you’re at home
• deliver your passport with the rest of your post
• leave you a card or send you a letter to tell you where to collect your passport or how to arrange redelivery

The ‘missed delivery’ card or letter won’t say that the package contains your passport.