British Passport Application Process

In order to be able to apply for a British passport, you have to have been granted naturalised status. You will need your Certificate of Naturalisation to apply for your passport if you are not British by birth or descent.

Your passport will be valid for ten years but can be withdrawn or suspended at any time as they remain the property of the UK government. You may not be able to get a new passport or your existing passport may be taken from you if any of the following apply:

• You are a suspect in a serious crime and there is a warrant for your arrest
• A court order prevents you from having a UK passport or places restrictions on your travel
• You have been brought back to the UK at the government’s expense and have not repaid what you owe
• There is a European Union or United Nations order that restricts your travel

More on the Naturalisation application process 

Before you apply for your British passport, you will need to gather some essential documents for your first British passport. As a naturalised citizen, you will need your Naturalisation Certificate and the passport that you used to come to the UK as a foreign national. You cannot send photocopies and only original travel documents will be accepted, so it is best not to book any travel until you have received your British passport.

In addition to your original travel documents, you will also need to send two identical photos which will need to be countersigned by a person of good standing in their community. If you are applying from within the UK, the counter-signatory will need to live in the UK and hold a British passport.

They will be required to sign your application and photograph to confirm that they have known you for more than two years, that the photo is a likeness of you and that, as far as they are aware, the information you have provided is correct.

They need to write the following statement on the back of one photo: “I certify that this is a true likeness of [title and full name of adult or child who is getting the passport].” They may be contacted by HM Passport Office to confirm the information and this can delay the process if they are unreachable for any reason.

As this will be your first adult British passport, the application process may take a little longer. Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) will need to carry out more checks on your British passport application to ensure you are entitled to it.

When you apply for a British passport, allow at least six weeks for your passport application to be processed. You have to send your existing travel document with your application. So it is important not to book any travel until after you have received your British passport.

At IAS, we understand the importance a passport can have on your freedom and peace of mind.

Our immigration lawyers can assist you through each stage of the application process.

One of our lawyers will assist you by:

• checking your documents to ensure that they are sufficient for your application;
• liaising with the Home Office during your application process;
• writing a Letter of Representation to support your application; and
• completing each part of your British passport application form to the highest standard.

Contact us for more information on your British passport application.