You can renew a British passport through the official GOV.UK application service. Before you start, find your old passport, arrange a recent digital photo and check whether any of your personal details have changed. Those few checks make the form much easier to complete.
This guide covers a standard adult renewal from inside the UK. If you live abroad, need to replace a missing passport or are applying for your first British passport, choose the relevant service rather than assuming the renewal instructions will be the same.
Check That You Need the Adult Renewal Service
Adult passports are available from age 16, including applications made in the three weeks before a sixteenth birthday. Someone moving from a child passport to an adult passport should follow the adult renewal route if they have previously held a British passport.
There is an exception for very old documents. GOV.UK directs people whose last UK passport was issued before 1 January 1994 to the first adult passport process. Check the issue date if your passport has been sitting in a drawer for decades.
You can find the starting point in the official adult passport guidance.
Look Beyond the Expiry Date
An unexpired passport may still have too little validity left for your destination. Read that country’s entry requirements before deciding that you can leave renewal until after a trip.
For example, a passport that expires in December may appear suitable for a November holiday. Whether it actually works depends on the destination’s rules and your travel dates. Check the relevant country guidance rather than applying a single six-month rule to every journey.
A burgundy cover or the words European Union do not, by themselves, mean you need a replacement. The travel validity of the document is what matters.
Start From the Official Application Page
Open the GOV.UK online passport application page and follow its application link. This gives you a clear route into HM Passport Office’s service.
Before entering identity details or payment information, check which organisation operates the service.
Gather the Items You Will Use
For a straightforward online renewal, have your existing passport, digital photo and a debit or credit card ready. Read the supporting-document instructions if you hold a valid passport from another country or are changing your details.
Keep your passport beside you while completing the form. Copying the number from the document is more reliable than searching old holiday bookings or guessing which saved photograph shows the latest passport.
Arrange a New Passport Photo
You need a new photo for a new passport, even if you look much the same as before. Use the official digital photo rules rather than a general social media photo checklist.
A participating photo booth or shop can provide a code that connects the photo to your application. You can also have someone take a photo using your own device, following the official instructions.
Check the full photo for glare and shadows before submitting it. Avoid filters, facial retouching and background replacement.
Complete the Form With Your Documents Open
Work through the questions in order and read each one in full. A question about another nationality or a previous name can affect what evidence you are asked to provide.
Take particular care with your name, date of birth and passport number. Where the application asks about your current document, use its details. Where it asks about a change, explain the change and follow the evidence instructions.
If something does not fit your circumstances, pause and check the linked guidance. Choosing an inaccurate answer to move to the next screen can create a harder problem later.
Review the Application Before Paying
Read your answers once more before submitting payment. It helps to compare them directly with the passport rather than simply reading the form a second time from memory.
Check the delivery details as well. Think about whether you will be away, moving house or relying on somebody else to receive post during the application period.
The fee depends on the passport and service you choose. Use the current official fee table at the point of application, especially if you have seen an older price in a saved guide.
Follow the Instructions for Sending Documents
An online application can still involve sending physical documents. Read the instructions generated for your application and send the items requested to the address provided.
Do not use an address copied from a friend’s application or an old internet discussion. Your own instructions are the useful reference.
Keep a private record of what you send and retain your postal receipt. If you are preparing several family applications, check the reference and instructions for each one before sealing anything. That simple pause can prevent documents being mixed up.
Save Your Reference and Check for Messages
Keep the confirmation email somewhere easy to find. You will need your application reference when checking progress or discussing the application with HM Passport Office.
For online applications with a reference starting PEX, the official tracking service is available immediately. Other application methods have their own tracking instructions.
Continue checking your inbox, including the spam folder. If more information is requested, read the whole message before responding. Supply the requested item rather than sending several unrelated documents in the hope that one will be useful.
Allow for Processing and Delivery
HM Passport Office says UK applications usually take three weeks, with processing measured from receipt of the documents. Extra checks or a request for more information can extend that period.
The estimate cannot promise an individual delivery date. GOV.UK advises waiting until you have a valid passport before booking travel.
Once your new passport arrives, check its details. It will have a different passport number, so review any travel records where you previously entered the old number.
If Standard Renewal Will Be Too Slow
Check the official urgent passport options before making an application. Eligibility, appointments and the service you need all matter.
If an application is already in progress, follow HM Passport Office’s advice instead of paying for a second application. Starting again is not a reliable way to move the first application forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew a passport that has already expired?
Yes, expiry does not automatically rule out renewal. Use the official questions to establish the right route, particularly if the document is very old or your details have changed.
Can I complete the application on a phone?
You can use the online service on a suitable device. Choose whichever screen lets you read the questions and compare your information comfortably.
Do I need to renew because my passport has a burgundy cover?
The cover colour alone is not a reason to renew. Check the document’s condition and the destination’s validity requirements.
Where should I apply if I live outside the UK?
Use the overseas British passport application service. The UK fee and processing guidance in this article should not be used as an overseas estimate.
Official Sources
- HM Passport Office adult renewal guidance
- Renewal requirements and supporting documents
- First adult passport eligibility
- Online passport applications
- Application tracking
- HM Passport Office processing guidance
Official information checked on 21 October 2026. This is an independent guide; passport applications are handled by HM Passport Office.