First adult passport UK: how to apply, what documents you need, and how long it takes

This guide covers first-time British passport applications for adults aged 16 and over. Specifically:

• British citizens who have never held a UK passport
• Adults converting from a child passport (expired) to an adult passport — this counts as a first adult passport
• British nationals who previously held a passport that expired many years ago — HM Passport Office may in some cases treat this as closer to a first application depending on circumstances; contact HMPO if you are unsure

If you are applying for a child's passport, the process is different. HM Passport Office guidance for child passports is at GOV.UK.

First-time adult passport applications require a countersignatory. This is someone who confirms that the photograph you have submitted is a true likeness of you, and who vouches for your identity.

To act as your countersignatory, a person must:

• Have known you for at least 2 years
• Hold a valid British passport (or certain other qualifying passports — verify the current criteria at GOV.UK)
• Be in a qualifying profession or of professional standing (the list is broad — doctors, solicitors, teachers, accountants, police officers, managers, engineers, and many others qualify)
• Not be a close relative (parent, sibling, spouse, partner, or child)

What they need to do:

1. Sign the back of one of your passport photos with the statement: "I certify that this is a true likeness of [your full name]." The wording matters — HMPO rejects incorrectly completed countersignatory sections.
2. Fill in the countersignatory section of the application form with their name, address, occupation, passport number, and signature.

The countersignatory is not certifying a document or making a legal declaration about your citizenship. They are confirming the photo looks like you and that they know you personally.

Gather everything before you start. Missing documents will delay your application or cause a rejection.

Required for all first adult applications:

• Completed paper application form (download from GOV.UK or pick up from a Post Office)
• Two identical passport photos (see the photo requirements at GOV.UK — the rules are specific about size, background, expression, and no glasses)
• Your birth certificate, or a certificate of naturalisation or registration as a British citizen
• Evidence of your right to a British passport if you are claiming through a parent

If your name has changed since birth:

• If married: marriage certificate
• If changed by deed poll: your deed poll document (see our guide to changing your name)
• If divorced and reverting to a previous name: decree absolute or other evidence

If claiming British citizenship through a parent's passport or registration:

• Parent's British passport (or evidence of their British citizenship)
• Your parent's registration certificate if they naturalised

Call HMPO if you are unsure about documents before sending your application. Verify the full document list at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport

You have two options for posting your application.

Post Office Check and Send: Post Office staff check your photos and documents before sending the application to HMPO. They will flag common problems — wrong photo size, missing documents, incorrect countersignatory section — before your application is sent. This costs extra on top of the passport fee (verify the current Check and Send fee at any Post Office), but reduces the risk of a rejection that resets the whole process. For a first-time application, this is worth doing.

Post direct to HMPO: cheaper, but if your photos are rejected or a document is missing, your application is returned and you start again. If you are confident in your photos and documents, this is fine. If you have any doubt, use Check and Send.

Use a tracked or recorded postal service. You are sending original documents. Do not use standard untracked post.

Standard processing for postal first-time applications currently takes up to 10 weeks, but is often significantly faster outside of peak periods. Processing times change — verify the current stated time at GOV.UK before applying rather than relying on a figure in any guide.

First-time applications cannot currently use the Online Premium or Fast Track services in the same way that renewals can. If your travel date is approaching and your application has been submitted but not returned, contact HMPO through the Passport Advice Line for guidance.

For the full fee breakdown by application type, see our guide to passport costs.

This guide covers applications made from within the UK. If you are resident abroad and applying for a first British passport, the process runs through the British Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate in your country of residence. The requirements are different and the fees may vary. See the FCDO guidance at GOV.UK.