Renewing a UK passport: how long it takes, what it costs, and the things most guides get wrong

The digital renewal service is available to adults renewing a UK passport who meet all of these conditions:

• Your previous UK passport was issued when you were 16 or older
• Your appearance has not changed significantly since your last passport photo
• Your last passport was a UK passport (not a foreign passport)
• You are not changing your name or gender marker on the passport

If you qualify, the digital service is worth using. You submit a photo taken with your phone during the online process — no printed photo required. You do not need to send your old passport in the post. Decisions are typically faster than the standard postal application.

If you do not qualify for digital renewal, you use the standard online application service. In both cases, you apply through GOV.UK.

The standard service is currently quoted as up to 10 weeks. That is the maximum — many applications return faster, particularly in quieter periods. But there is no guaranteed shorter time for standard applications.

If you have travel booked within 10 weeks, do not use the standard service. Book Fast Track or Premium instead.

Fast Track: targets a return of approximately one week. You book an appointment online, attend a passport office, and your passport is ready within the stated timeframe. Verify current availability, locations, and fees at GOV.UK — this service sometimes has limited capacity.

Premium (same day): you attend a passport office and receive your passport on the same day. Appointments are limited and book out weeks in advance during busy periods, including summer and school holidays. If you need a same-day passport, book the appointment as early as possible. Verify current fees and availability at GOV.UK.

The 10-week estimate applies to postal applications. Online applications via the standard route are typically faster. If you apply online, the GOV.UK tracker will show you your progress.

Printed passport photos must be 35mm wide and 45mm tall. The background must be plain white or very light grey. You need a neutral expression with your mouth closed and eyes open and looking forward. No glasses since 2018 — even clear or very light lenses are rejected.

Common reasons photos are rejected and delay applications:

• Shadows on the face or background
• Head not centred or slightly turned
• Photo too light or too dark
• Brimmed hats or items covering the face
• Expression not neutral (the hint of a smile can fail)
• Glasses or sunglasses

If you are using a photo booth, check that it produces output explicitly accepted by His Majesty's Passport Office. Many supermarket booths do. Some do not. If in doubt, use a Post Office that offers a check-and-send service — they verify the photo before you submit.

If you qualify for digital renewal, you do not need a printed photo. You take a face scan using your phone during the online application.

The 6-month rule causes unnecessary anxiety every year because it is usually stated as a universal rule when it is not.

The UK does not require you to have 6 months left on your passport to travel. That is not a UK rule. It is a rule set by destination countries — and the rules differ by country.

Some countries (several EU member states among them) accept a passport that is valid for the duration of your stay, with no extra months required. Others require your passport to be valid for 3 months beyond your planned return date. Others require 6 months. A few have no stated requirement at all.

The authoritative source for each country is the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) travel advice page for that specific destination. Not a general article about passport validity. Not an airline website. The FCDO page for your destination.

Check it before every trip, because rules change. EU countries updated their rules after Brexit, and some have specific requirements for British citizens that differ from citizens of other countries.

No. Once you have submitted your current passport with a renewal application, you cannot travel on it. His Majesty's Passport Office retains your old passport throughout the application. It is returned with your new passport when complete.

If you have imminent travel and have not yet submitted your renewal, you have two options: use the Fast Track or Premium service so your new passport arrives before departure, or delay starting the application until after you return.

Do not submit a standard renewal application and assume you can retrieve your passport in time for a trip. You cannot interrupt a standard application once submitted.

If you have never held a UK passport, the process is different. You cannot use the digital or online standard renewal routes. You must apply by post or in person, and the identity checks are more extensive.

You will need to provide original identity documents and have a countersignatory — someone with a professional background who has known you for at least two years and can confirm your identity. The exact requirements are detailed at GOV.UK.

Processing times for first applications can be longer than renewals. Allow more than 10 weeks if you are applying for your first passport with travel planned.

Child passports are valid for 5 years, not 10. A parent or guardian must apply on behalf of the child. Photo requirements are the same as for adults.

Five years passes faster than it seems with children. Before any international travel, check the child's passport has not expired. Many families find an expired child passport on the morning of a holiday departure. Build a check into your annual routine.

If your passport is stolen, report it to the police and to His Majesty's Passport Office. A stolen passport should be cancelled as soon as possible to prevent fraudulent use.

If your passport is lost or stolen, you cannot renew it — you must apply for a replacement. You need to complete a different process and pay the replacement fee. Verify the current process and fees at GOV.UK.

You cannot apply for a replacement by simply using the standard renewal route. The replacement application asks you to explain the circumstances and confirm the previous passport is cancelled.