Please note that we only deal with second passports for business clients. Unfortunately
we cannot assist with renewals, lost/stolen passports, change of details, existing cases
you may have already with the passport office or same day/emergency passports. We
would advise you to contact the HMPO directly by calling 0300 222 0000.
Application Form
Overview
The Passport Application Form is the first requirement for any kind of British passport
application. The form is an A3-sized brown document with 10 sections that is issued by
His Majesty's Passport Office. The same form is used for all types of passport
applications, however the way it is completed differs. You will find guidance below on
how to successfully complete it.
Where to obtain it
The passport application form can be obtained from:
- Rapid British Passports UK: We can send the British passport application form to our
clients by post. Please click
here to request the passport application form.
- Some post offices; to locate a post office that has the form go to:
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder and select "passport Check & Send" in the
service drop down menu.
How to complete the application form
General requirements
- The form must be completed in black ink.
- Writing must be in block capital letters.
- All written answers need to be within the white boxes on the form.
- Minor mistakes can be crossed out in black ink. Correction fluid is not permitted.
- If you make more than three mistakes on any line or do not provide a clear signature in
Section 9, you should complete a new application form.
Guidance per section
Section 1: What kind of passport do you want to apply for?
- Put a mark in the box "Renewal"
- Unless stated otherwise you will receive a 32-page passport. If you would rather own
a 48-page passport make sure you put a mark in the appropriate box.
Section 2: Who will be the owner of the passport?
- The name provided needs to be the same as the one shown on your birth, marriage or
nationality certificate.
- For people who have middle names, one box needs to be left blank for a space between
the two names.
- You are only permitted to include 30 characters (including spaces) in the personal
details section of the passport application form for the first and middle name, and
then you are given another 30 for the surname. If all of your names won't fit in
this space, write them instead in the way you would want them to be seen on your
passport. It is then important that you provide your full name in Section 8 and this
can then later be added to the observation page on your official passport.
- Give full details of a residential United Kingdom address. The Passport Office may
decide to check that the address given is where you actually live. If they find out
that you do not actually live there, your application could be delayed unless you
have already provided a full explanation of your circumstances in Section 8.
- Your passport will be returned to the address given by the Passport Office. If you
have an alternative address where you would like it to be delivered you need to
explain why and the return address in Section 8 of the application form. For clients
using Rapid British Passports this does not apply, as your passport will be.
- Mark the box to indicate whether you are a man or a woman.
- You need to give the names of the country and town of your birth. Remember, these
details need to be the same as those written on your birth, registration, or
naturalisation certificate, or what is written on your previous British passport.
- Make sure you provide a telephone number from the United Kingdom only. Contact
information from abroad will be rejected. A text relay number may be provided in
Section 8 if there is not enough room in the space provided here.
- Use Section 8 of the application form for contact details and your name if you do
not have enough space here.
Section 3: Have you had or been included on a passport before?
- Provide your current passport number where requested whether it is valid or expired.
Section 4: Parents' details
- Not applicable for passport renewals.
Section 5: Your certificate of naturalisation or registration
- Mark the box which says 'no' if the applicant has been British since they were born.
Aside from that there are no other details which you need to fill in in Section 5.
- If applicable, fill in the section and provide a copy of your certificate of
registration or naturalisation with your passport application.
Section 6: Children aged 12-15
- This section is not applicable for adult passport renewals.
Section 7: Blank
Section 8: More information
Use Section 8 to
- Complete a section you have not been able to fully complete due to a lack of space
(e.g. your names did not fit in the dedicated boxes).
- Explain the reason why a signature could not be provided in Section 6 or 9. You can
also attach a letter of explanation from an appropriate person such as a career,
doctor, parent or social worker.
- Add any extra information to support your application.
Section 9: Declaration
- Please ensure your signature does not touch the borders of the box.
Section 10: Countersignature
Only complete this section if you are not recognisable from the photo in your most recent
passport. You will then need to provide 2 passport photos and get a counter signatory in
order to complete Section 10.
- This section must be completed by the counter signatory.
How do you define a counter signatory? A counter signatory is a man or woman who can
completely confirm your identity and be able to state to the best of their knowledge
that the information you have provided in the form is true and correct, they must also
be able to verify that the photograph is of you. The person providing the
countersignature must hold a valid UK passport, live permanently in the UK and have been
acquainted with the person applying for the passport for a minimum of 2 years. The
counter signatory must work in a professional capacity and not be related to you in any
way, be in a romantic or personal relationship with you or have a job with the HM
Passport Office. If you would like some more information on who qualifies to be your
counter signatory, click here.
- The counter signatory must:
- Provide their full address and all the details of where they can be reached; this
could be a home address or a business address.
- Validate one of the applicant's passport photos, and state that the image is in the
true likeness of ‘applicant's name', add their own signature and date it.
- Write their initials besides any mistakes they make in Section 10.
- The Passport Office will have a process to check that the counter signatory is a
genuine one, and if for any reason they are not satisfied then they may ask you to
provide a new application form with a new counter signatory.
- The signature provided by the counter signatory is not allowed to touch the borders
of the signature box.