How to Apply for Your First Adult British Passport in the UK

Who can apply for a first adult British passport?

The first adult passport process is for a British national aged 16 or over, or turning 16 within 3 weeks, who has never had a UK passport before. HM Passport Office also requires you to use this route if your last UK passport was issued before 1 January 1994.

You do not have to replace a valid child passport merely because you have become an adult. GOV.UK confirms that you can continue using a child passport until it expires, even if you are over 18.

An adult British passport is normally valid for 10 years.

How much does a first adult British passport cost?

For applications made from within the UK, the current standard adult passport fees from 8 April 2026 are £102 online and £115.50 using a paper form.

If you need a 54-page frequent traveller passport, the adult fee is £116 online or £129.50 by paper application.

The standard application fee pays for processing the application rather than guaranteeing that a passport will be issued. GOV.UK states that you cannot normally get the application fee back simply because you cancel the application or are not entitled to a passport.

Supporting documents are returned free by normal second-class post. Secure return of supporting documents normally costs an additional £5 if you choose that option.

Applying online from within the UK

The standard online service is the cheaper application route. You need a digital passport photo, supporting documents, a credit or debit card and someone who can confirm your identity.

You complete the application and pay online. HM Passport Office then asks the person you nominate to confirm your identity electronically. They receive an email explaining how to do this and do not need to sign a printed photograph.

After your identity has been confirmed, HM Passport Office emails you with instructions explaining which supporting documents to send and where to send them.

Applying with a paper passport form

You can get a paper passport application form from a Post Office that provides Passport Check and Send or by contacting the Passport Adviceline.

For a first adult passport, GOV.UK directs the applicant to complete sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9. Your countersignatory completes section 10.

You also need 2 identical printed passport photos. Your countersignatory must sign and date one photo and certify that it is a true likeness of you.

You can send the completed application, photographs and supporting documents using the pre-printed envelope supplied with the form, or use the Post Office Passport Check and Send service. GOV.UK states that paper applications take longer than online applications.

Which documents do you need?

The documents depend on where and when you were born and how you obtained British nationality. HM Passport Office requires original supporting documents rather than ordinary photocopies. If you no longer have an original certificate, obtain an official replacement copy.

A document that is not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation.

If you were born or adopted in the UK before 1 January 1983

You normally need your full birth certificate or adoption certificate.

If you were born or adopted in the UK on or after 1 January 1983

You normally need your full birth or adoption certificate plus evidence establishing the relevant parent's British nationality or immigration status when you were born.

Depending on your circumstances, this can include a parent's full UK birth certificate, certificate of registration or naturalisation, British passport that was valid when you were born, British passport number, or evidence showing a parent's qualifying immigration status in the UK at the time of your birth.

If the nationality evidence you rely on relates to your father, GOV.UK may also require your parents' marriage certificate under the rules set out for this application category.

If you were born outside the UK

The documents depend on how you became a British national. For example, if you became British through naturalisation or registration, GOV.UK requires your certificate of naturalisation or registration together with the passport you used to come to the UK or the foreign passport on which you were included.

Other applicants born overseas can need their full birth certificate, parental nationality documents, parents' marriage certificate, foreign passports or other evidence. Use the document list generated for your exact circumstances rather than assuming that one standard checklist applies to everyone.

Choose the right person to confirm your identity

A first adult passport application requires someone else to confirm your identity. For an online application, this is normally completed digitally. For a paper application, the person acts as your countersignatory.

For an application made from within the UK, the person confirming your identity must normally be 18 or over, live in the UK, hold a current British or Irish passport and have known you personally for at least 2 years. They must know you as a friend, neighbour or colleague rather than solely through a professional relationship and must work in, or be retired from, a recognised profession.

Recognised professions include occupations such as accountant, barrister, civil servant, dentist, engineer with professional qualifications, journalist, nurse, pharmacist, police officer, solicitor, social worker, surveyor, teacher or lecturer. The official list contains additional occupations.

The person cannot be related to you by birth or marriage, be in a relationship with you or live at the same address. Certain HM Passport Office and UKVI employees cannot act as referees. A doctor is not normally accepted unless they know you well personally.

How online identity confirmation works

After you nominate an eligible person, HM Passport Office sends them an email. They use the reference in that email, provide their own passport information and address, answer questions about how they know you and confirm details about you.

They are shown your digital photograph and asked to confirm that it is you. HM Passport Office says the identity confirmation itself should take about 10 minutes.

Ask the person before entering their details and make sure they know your date of birth and current address. Your passport application cannot be completed until the required identity confirmation has been provided.

Use a passport photo that meets the official rules

An online application requires a digital photograph, while a paper first-adult application requires 2 identical printed photographs. Passport photos must meet HM Passport Office standards for image quality, size, lighting, facial expression and background.

For the paper route, your countersignatory certifies one photograph. For the online route, identity confirmation is completed electronically instead of signing a printed photo.

How long will your passport take?

HM Passport Office states that UK passport applicants will usually receive their passport within 3 weeks. The processing period begins when HM Passport Office receives your supporting documents, not simply when you start or submit the online application.

An application can take longer if HM Passport Office needs additional information or needs to interview you. First-time adult applicants are among those who may be asked to attend an identity interview.

Do not book travel until you have received a valid passport.

You may be asked to attend a passport interview

HM Passport Office may require an interview to confirm your identity. If an interview is necessary, you will be contacted after the application has been processed far enough for the interview to be arranged.

GOV.UK states that passport identity interviews are currently conducted by video interview online.

Can you use Fast Track or Premium for a first adult passport?

The normal 1-day Premium and 1-week Fast Track passport services are not available for first adult passport applications. HM Passport Office's urgent-services guidance specifically excludes first adult applicants from these standard priority services.

If you need a first passport urgently because you must travel for medical treatment, because a friend or family member is seriously ill or has died, or for another qualifying compassionate reason, contact the Passport Adviceline for guidance about what may be possible.

If you are applying from outside the UK

The £102 online and £115.50 paper fees in this guide are for applications made from within the UK. There is a different application process and different fees if you apply from overseas.

From 8 April 2026, the standard adult overseas fee is £116.50 for an online application or £130 for a paper application, but the exact application route, documents, delivery arrangements and processing times depend on the country where you apply. Use HM Passport Office's overseas passport service for the instructions applicable to your location.

Check other passports if you have dual nationality

If you are a dual national and hold another country's passport, GOV.UK states that the name and gender on your non-British passport must match the name and gender you want on your British passport.

If they do not match, check HM Passport Office's requirements before applying. Where you legally need to change your name in England or Wales first, Helpydo also explains how to change your legal name by deed poll.

What happens after your application?

If the application is approved, your new passport is sent by courier or recorded delivery. Your original supporting documents are returned separately from the passport.

The way the documents are returned depends on the delivery option selected in the application. Standard return is normally free, while secure return of supporting documents usually carries an additional £5 charge.

Avoid these common application problems

• Do not send ordinary photocopies where HM Passport Office requires original documents.
• Do not omit a certified translation for documents that are not in English or Welsh.
• Do not choose a person to confirm your identity who has known you for less than 2 years or is related to you, your partner or someone living at your address.
• Do not send the paper application before the countersignatory has completed section 10 and certified one photograph.
• Do not assume that your birth certificate alone proves British nationality if you were born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983.
• If you hold another country's passport, check that its name and gender details are compatible with the British passport application requirements.
• Respond promptly if HM Passport Office asks for additional evidence or an identity interview.
• Do not book travel until you have received your passport.