British passport#The old blue passport

King Henry V of England is credited with having invented what some consider the first passport in the modern sense, as a means of helping his subjects prove who they were in foreign lands. The earliest reference to these documents is found in the Safe Conducts Act 1414.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/nov/17/travelnews|last=Benedictus|first=Leo|title=A brief history of the passport|work=The Guardian|date=18 November 2006|access-date=3 February 2020}}{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7634744.stm|last=Casciani|first=Dominic|title=Analysis: The first ID cards|website=BBC|date=25 September 2008|access-date=3 February 2020}} In 1540, granting travel documents in England became a role of the Privy Council of England, and it was around this time that the term "passport" was introduced. In Scotland, passports were issued by the Scottish Crown and could also be issued on the Crown's behalf by burghs, Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Glasgow, senior churchmen and noblemen.{{Cite web|url=https://scan.org.uk/familyhistory/myancestor/passport.htm|title=Family History – My ancestor was a passport holder|website=scan.org.uk|access-date=19 April 2020}}{{Citation |title=Scottish Passport Records - What are they and why are they useful? | date=2 March 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvce0S6c1rQ |access-date=2024-03-15 |language=en}} Passports were still signed by the monarch until 1685, when the Secretary of State could sign them instead. The Secretary of State signed all passports in place of the monarch from 1794 onwards, at which time formal records started to be kept; all of these records still exist. Passports were written in Latin or English until 1772, then in French until 1858. Since that time, they have been written in English, with some sections translated into French. In 1855, passports became a standardised document issued solely to British nationals. Passports in England and Wales were issued by the Home Secretary, and in Scotland by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh or Glasgow. They were a simple single-sheet hand-drafted paper document.

Some duplicate passports and passport records are available at the British Library; for example IOR: L/P&J/11 contain a few surviving passports of travelling ayahs from the 1930s.{{cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpsubject/history/history/asiansinbritain/ayahsservantsandsailors/britishayahs.html |title=British Library: Asians in Britain: Ayahs, Servants and Sailors |publisher=Bl.uk |access-date=7 June 2011}}

A passport issued on 18 June 1641 and signed by King Charles I still exists.

Starting in the late 19th century, an increasing number of Britons began travelling abroad due to the advent of railways and travel services such as the Thomas Cook Continental Timetable. The speed of trains, as well as the number of passengers that crossed multiple borders, made enforcement of passport laws difficult, and many travellers did not carry a passport in this era.{{Cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadians/celebrate-being-canadian/teachers-corner/history-passports.html|title=History of Passports|last=Immigration|first=Refugees and Citizenship Canada|date=10 April 2014|website=aem|access-date=19 April 2020}} However, the outbreak of World War I led to the introduction of modern border controls, including in the UK with passage of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914. Thus, in 1915 the British government developed a new format of passport that could be mass-produced and used to quickly identify the bearer. The new passport consisted of a printed sheet folded into ten and affixed to a clothed cardboard cover. It included a description of the holder as well as a photograph, and had to be renewed after two years.

File:UK passport 1924.JPG

In October 1920, the League of Nations held the Paris Conference on Passports & Customs Formalities and Through Tickets. British diplomats joined with 42 countries to draft passport guidelines and a general booklet design resulted from the conference.{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1111001/passport-design-worldwide-was-first-standardized-by-the-league-of-nations-paris-conference-of-1920/|title=The design of every passport in the world was set at one 1920 meeting|last=Quito|first=Anne|website=Quartz|date=28 October 2017 |language=en|access-date=19 April 2020}} The League model specified a 32-page booklet of {{convert|15.5|by|10.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The first four pages were reserved for detailing the bearer's physical characteristics, occupation and residence.

The British government formed the Passport Office in the same year and in 1921 began issuing 32-page passports with a navy blue hardcover with an embossed coat of arms. "BRITISH PASSPORT" was the common identifier printed at the top of all booklets, while the name of the issuing government was printed below the coat of arms (e.g. United Kingdom, New Zealand, Hong Kong). Cut-outs in the cover allowed the bearer's name and the passport number to be displayed. This format would remain the standard for most British passports until the introduction of machine-readable passports in 1988. It continued to be issued in the United Kingdom until the end of 1993.

As with many contemporary travel documents worldwide, details were handwritten into the passport and (as of 1955) included: number, holder's name, "accompanied by his wife" and her maiden name, "and" (number) "children", national status. For both bearer and wife: profession, place and date of birth, country of residence, height, eye and hair colour, special peculiarities, signature and photograph. Names, birth dates, and sexes of children, list of countries for which valid, issue place and date, expiry date, a page for renewals and, at the back, details of the amount of foreign exchange for travel expenses (a limited amount of sterling, typically £50 but increasing with inflation, could be taken out of the country).Printed information from 1955 passport The bearer's sex was not explicitly stated, although the name was written in with title ("Mr John Smith"). Descriptive text was printed in both English and French (a practice which {{As of|2010|alt=still}} continues), e.g., "Accompanied by his wife (Maiden name)/Accompagné de sa femme (Née)". Changed details were struck out and rewritten, with a rubber-stamped note confirming the change.

File:UK Passport Pre 88 change.jpg

If details and photograph of a man's wife and details of children were entered (this was not compulsory), the passport could be used by the bearer, wife, and children under 16, if together; separate passports were required for the wife or children to travel independently.1955 British passport, Notes section at back: "A passport including particulars of the holder's wife is not available for the wife's use when she is travelling alone." Until 1972 the passport was valid for five years, renewable for another five, after which it had to be replaced.1955 British passport, Notes section at back: "... available for five years in the first instance, ... may be renewed for further periods ... provided ... ten years from the original date is not exceeded."

Renewal of a passport required physical cancellation of the old passport, which was then returned to the bearer. The top-right corner of its front cover was cut off and "Cancelled" was stamped into one or both of the cut-outs in the front cover, which showed the passport number and the bearer's name, as well on the pages showing the bearer's details and the document's validity.

For much of the 20th century, the passport had a printed list of countries for which it was valid, which was added to manually as validity increased. A passport issued in 1955 was valid for the British Commonwealth, USA, and all countries in Europe "including the USSR, Turkey, Algeria, Azores, Canary Islands, Iceland, and Madeira";1955 passport, printed on page 4 during its period of validity restrictions eased and it was endorsed "and for all other foreign countries".1955 British passport, Notes section at back: "... only available for travel to the countries named on page 4, but may be endorsed for other countries. ... available for travelling to territory under British protection or trusteeship not including the Aden Protectorate."

A new simplified type, the British Visitor's Passport, was introduced in 1961. It was a single sheet of cardboard, folded in three so as to consist of six pages the same size as those of a regular passport, and was valid for one year. It was obtainable for many years from Employment Exchanges, as agents of the Passport Office, and later from a Post Office. It was accepted for travel by most west European countries (excluding surface travel to West Berlin), but was dropped in 1995 since it did not meet new security standards. A cancelled passport, which was returned to the bearer, had its top-right corner cut off, which had the effect of removing a corner from every page.

File:British passport (european community).jpg passport as introduced in 1988 before the Community became the European Union]]

After the passport standardisation efforts of the 1920s, further effort to update international passport guidance was limited. The United Kingdom joined the European Communities in 1973, at a time when the Communities was looking to strengthen European civic identity.{{cite web |title=A People's Europe – Historical events in the European integration process (1945–2014) |url=https://www.cvce.eu/en/recherche/unit-content/-/unit/02bb76df-d066-4c08-a58a-d4686a3e68ff/95a065c6-38e9-45da-8bbe-66f958a8b005 |website=CVCE |access-date=19 April 2020}} Between 1974 and 1975, the member states developed a common format. Member states agreed that passports should be burgundy in colour and feature the heading "European Community" in addition to the country name. Adoption by member states was voluntary.{{cite web |title=The European passport – Historical events in the European integration process (1945–2014) |url=https://www.cvce.eu/en/recherche/unit-content/-/unit/02bb76df-d066-4c08-a58a-d4686a3e68ff/3ee56c0d-85c3-44cb-a403-7d911c4e0375 |website=CVCE |access-date=19 April 2020}} While most of the Community adopted the format by 1985, the UK continued to issue the traditional blue booklet.

Rapid growth of air travel and technological change led to the International Civil Aviation Organization defining a new international standard for machine-readable passport, ICAO Doc 9303, in 1980.{{cite web |title=Machine Readable Travel Documents |url=https://www.icao.int/publications/Documents/9303_p3_cons_en.pdf |publisher=International Civil Aviation Organization |access-date=19 April 2020}} An ICAO standard machine-readable passport was a significant departure from the traditional British passport layout, and the British government did not immediately adopt it. In 1986, the United States announced the US Visa Waiver Program. The concept allowed for passport holders of certain countries to enter the US for business or tourism without applying for a visitor visa. The UK was the first country to join the scheme in 1988; however, a requirement was that the traveller hold a machine-readable passport.{{cite web |title=Visa Waiver Program Requirements |url=https://www.dhs.gov/visa-waiver-program-requirements |website=Department of Homeland Security |access-date=19 April 2020 |language=en |date=10 November 2014}}{{cite web |last1=Wasem |first1=Ruth Ellen |title=The US Visa Waiver Program Facilitating Travel and Enhancing Security |url=https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2017-10-25-us-visa-waiver-wasem.pdf |publisher=Chatham House |access-date=19 April 2020}} Thus, the British government, after nearly 70 years, decided to retire the traditional League of Nations format passport.

File:British passport 2002.jpg

With the move to machine-readable passports, the UK decided to adopt the European Community format. On 15 August 1988, the Glasgow passport office became the first to issue burgundy-coloured machine-readable passports. They had the words 'European Community' on the cover, later changed to 'European Union' in 1997. The passport had 32 pages; while a 48-page version was made available with more space for stamps and visas. Two lines of machine-readable text were printed in ICAO format, and a section was included in which relevant terms ("surname", "date of issue", etc.) were translated into the official EU languages. Passports issued overseas did not all have a Machine Readable Zone, but these were introduced gradually as appropriate equipment was made available overseas.

While other British territories such as Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands were not part of the European Community, they also adopted the same European format, although "British Passport" remained at the top rather than "European Community".

In 1998 the first digital image passport was introduced with photographs being replaced with images printed directly on the data page which was moved from the cover to an inside page to reduce the ease of fraud.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} These documents were all issued with machine-readable zones and had a hologram over the photograph, which was the first time that British passports had been protected by an optically variable safeguard. These documents were issued until 2006 when the biometric passport was introduced.

File:British biometric passport.jpgIn the late 1990s, ICAO's Technical Advisory Group began developing a new standard for storing biometric data (e.g. photo, fingerprints, iris scan) on a chip embedded in a passport. The September 11 attacks involving the hijacking of commercial airliners led to the rapid incorporation of the group's technical report into ICAO Doc 9303.{{cite web |title=Doc 9303 – Machine Readable Travel Documents Seventh Edition, 2015 |url=https://www.icao.int/publications/Documents/9303_p1_cons_en.pdf |publisher=International Civil Aviation Organization |access-date=19 April 2020}}

The Identity and Passport Service issued the first biometric British passport on 6 February 2006, known as Series A. This was the first British passport to feature artwork. Series A, version 1 was produced between 2006 and 2010, while an updated version 2 with technical changes and refreshed artwork was produced between 2010 and 2015.{{cite web |title=Basic Passport Checks |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/867550/Basic_passport_checks_1988_-2019_02.20.pdf |publisher=Her Majesty's Passport Office |access-date=19 April 2020}}

Version 1 showcased birds native to the British Isles. The bio-data page was printed with a finely detailed background including a drawing of a red grouse, and the entire page was protected from modification by a laminate which incorporates a holographic image of the kingfisher; visa pages were numbered and printed with detailed backgrounds including drawings of other birds: a merlin, curlew, pied avocet, and red kite. An RFID chip and antenna were visible on the official observations page and held the same visual information as printed, including a digital copy of the photograph with biometric information for use with facial recognition systems. The Welsh and Scottish Gaelic languages were included in all British passports for the first time,{{cite web|url=http://ukpa.gov.uk/news/news.asp?intElement=926 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20050620181251/http://ukpa.gov.uk/news/news.asp?intElement=926 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2005 |title=The United Kingdom Passport Service – Welsh and Scottish Gaelic in UK Passports

|publisher= National Archives |date=8 February 2005 |access-date=2 August 2013}} and appeared on the titles page replacing the official languages of the EU, although the EU languages still appeared faintly as part of the background design. Welsh and Scottish Gaelic preceded the official EU languages in the translations section.

In 2010, Her Majesty's Passport Office signed a ten-year, £400 million contract with De La Rue to produce British passports.{{cite web |title=New passport design hits the streets |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-passport-design-hits-the-streets |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} This resulted in Series A, version 2, which introduced minor security enhancements. The biometric chip was relocated from the official observations page to inside the cover, and the observations page itself was moved from the back of the passport to immediately after the data page. All new art was produced for version 2, this time with a coastal theme. Data and visa pages featured coastal scenes, wildlife and meteorological symbols.

Renewal of the passport required physical cancellation of the old passport, which was then returned to the bearer. The top-right corners of its front and back covers were cut off, as well as the top-right corner of the final pair of pages, which had been bound in plastic with the bearer's details and a digital chip; a white bar-coded form stating "Renewal" and the bearer's personal details was stuck onto the back cover.

File:British Passport cover 2010 (non-EU).jpgHMPO's contract with De La Rue involved the design of a new generation of biometric passport, which was released in October 2015 as the Series B passport. The cover design remained the same as Series A, with minor changes to the cover material. The number of pages of a standard passport was increased from 32 to 34, and the 50-page 'jumbo' passport replaced the previous 48-page business passport. New security features included rich three-dimensional UV imagery, cross-page printing and a single-sheet bio-data page joined with the back cover. A new typeface for the cover (Times New Roman) was adopted as well. At the time of its introduction, no other passport offered visa free access to more countries than the UK's Series B British passport.{{cite web |title=Introducing the new UK passport design |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/473495/HMPO_magazine.pdf |publisher=Her Majesty's Passport Office |access-date=19 April 2020}}

The theme of the Series B passport was 'Creative United Kingdom', and HMPO described the Series B artwork as the most intricate ever featured in a British passport. Each double-spread page set featured artwork celebrating 500 years of achievements in art, architecture and innovation in the UK. Ordnance Survey maps were also printed inside featuring places related to the imagery. A portrait of William Shakespeare was embedded in each page as a watermark.

The Series B passport was initially issued to British citizens with "European Union" printed on the cover. However, new stocks of the Series B from March 2019 onwards removed the reference in anticipation of withdrawal from the EU. The premature change was controversial given the uncertainty and division in the UK during 2019.{{cite web |last1=O'Carroll |first1=Lisa |title=Javid defends removal of words 'European Union' from passports |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/05/uk-removes-words-european-union-from-british-passports |website=The Guardian |access-date=19 April 2020 |date=6 April 2019}}

File:British Passport 2020.svg

The introduction of the burgundy machine-readable passport between 1988 and 1993 had been met with significant resistance. The burgundy passports attracted criticism for their perceived flimsiness, mass-produced nature and sudden deviation from the traditional design.{{cite web |last1=BBC Newsnight |title=Paxman on the new EU passport (Newsnight archives 1995) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBp-KPrJjSc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/QBp-KPrJjSc |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |date=3 August 2016 |access-date=28 March 2020}}{{cbignore}} There was speculation regarding re-introduction of the old-style passport following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-latest-blue-passport-bring-back-home-office-eu-a7249361.html |title=Brexit: Blue passport may actually be reintroduced once Britain leaves EU |work=The Independent |date=13 September 2016 |access-date=19 February 2017}} but the government denied any immediate plans.{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/after-brexit-time-bring-back-11700877 |title=After Brexit, is it time to bring back the traditional British passport? |work=Birmingham Mail |date=4 August 2016}} Such a change was supported by some due to its symbolic value, including Brexit Secretary David Davis,{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/04/jeremy-hunt-nhs-doctors-theresa-may-conservative-conference-live/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/04/jeremy-hunt-nhs-doctors-theresa-may-conservative-conference-live/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Cabinet minister backs return of blue passports |work=The Telegraph |date=4 October 2016}}{{cbignore}} while others thought the undue weight put on such a trivial change raised the question of whether the government was able to prioritise its order of business ahead of Brexit.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/blue-passports-nostalgia-gone-mad/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/blue-passports-nostalgia-gone-mad/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Bringing back blue passports is nostalgia gone mad – we've got bigger things to worry about |work=The Telegraph |date=14 September 2016 |access-date=19 February 2017}}{{cbignore}} Nevertheless, the British passport was due for an update in 2020, as the existing De La Rue passport contract was expiring.

On 2 April 2017, Michael Fabricant MP said that De La Rue had stated that the coat of arms would "contrast better on navy blue than it currently does on the maroon passports"{{cite web|last=Wheeler |first=Caroline |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/786788/brexit-passport-design-uk-dark-blue-home-office-project-eu-article-50 |title=Return of the great British blue passport: £500million project will replace EU document |work=Daily Express |date= 3 April 2017|access-date=30 May 2017}} as part of their pre-tender discussions with the government.{{cite news |url=http://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1160824/new-passport-tender-issued |title=New passport tender issued |work=PrintWeek |date=7 April 2017 |access-date=23 April 2017 |archive-date=11 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411054906/http://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1160824/new-passport-tender-issued |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2017-04-02/dark-blue-british-passports-could-return-after-brexit/ |title=Dark blue British passport could return after Brexit in £490m revamp |publisher=ITV |date=2 April 2017}} In December 2017, then Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis announced that the blue passport would "return" after exit from the EU.

Following open tender under EU public procurement rules in 2018, the Franco-Dutch security firm Gemalto was selected over British banknote and travel document printer De La Rue. The result of the tender proved highly controversial, as it saw the production of British passport blanks moved from Gateshead in the UK to Tczew, Poland. Passports are produced in Poland, due to it being more cost efficient, and printed with personal details in the United Kingdom,{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/iconic-blue-passports-return-next-month | title=Iconic blue passports return next month }} either at a central printing facility, or, in the case of urgent, fast-tracked or premium-service passports, locally printed at application-processing centres in the UK.{{Cite web |date=23 August 2021 |title=Passport printing |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1012937/Passport_printing__V1_.pdf#page=4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123103428/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1012937/Passport_printing__V1_.pdf |archive-date=23 November 2021 |website=GOV.UK |page=4}}

On 10 March 2020, the new Series C blue British passport officially began to be issued. Series B passports would also be issued while the Home Office used up old stock.

On 25 September 2020, HMPO announced all British passports issued would now be blue.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/passport-design-changes/changes-to-the-design-of-british-passports|title=Changes to the design of British passports|website=gov.uk|access-date=13 March 2020}}

Series C introduces a polycarbonate laser-engraved bio-data page with an embedded RFID chip. Also embedded in the data page is a decoding lens which optically unscrambles information hidden on the official observations page and inner front cover.{{cite web |title=Basic passport checks |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-passport-checks/basic-passport-checks-accessible#passports-introduced-in-2020 |website=gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2023}} The reverse of the polycarbonate data page serves as the title page and features a portrait-orientation photo of the bearer, reminiscent of pre-1988 passports. Series C features very little artwork, with a compass rose being the only printed art. The passport has the national flowers of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales (Tudor Rose, Shamrock, Scotch Thistle and Daffodil, respectively) embossed on the back cover.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51585018|title=Blue British passports to return in March|date=22 February 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=22 February 2020|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Guidance on examining identity documents (accessible) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recognising-fraudulent-identity-documents/guidance-on-examining-identity-documents-accessible#united-kingdom-passports |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}

{{Main|National Registration Act 1939}}

File:National Registration Identity Card (Front Cover).png

The National Registration Act established a National Register which began operating on 29 September 1939 (National Registration Day), due to wartime requirements. This introduced a system of identity cards, and an obligation that they must be carried by all persons and produced on demand, or presented to a police station within 48 hours. They included information such as name, age, address, and occupation.

65,000 enumerators across the country delivered forms to householders on the 'National Registration Day', which were required to record their details on. A few days later a completed identity card was issued for each of the residents. All cards at this time were the same brown/buff colour.

Three main reasons for their introduction:

• 1. The major dislocation of the population caused by mobilisation and mass evacuation and also the wartime need for complete manpower control and planning in order to maximise the efficiency of the war economy.
• 2. The likelihood of rationing (introduced from January 1940 onwards).
• 3. Population statistics. As the last census had been held in 1931, there was little accurate data on which to base vital planning decisions. The National Register was in fact an instant census and the National Registration Act closely resembles the 1920 Census Act in many ways

On 21 February 1952, it no longer became necessary to carry an identity card. The National Registration Act of 1939 was repealed on 22 May 1952.

{{main|Identity Cards Act 2006}}

The Identity Cards Act 2006 introduced identity cards for UK citizens and residents. The Identity and Passport Service would link passport and identity card information to a common database, called the National Identity Register (NIR). However, the 2010 Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement scrapped the identity card scheme and the NIR. However, biometric passports, a major cost of the scheme, as well as Biometric Residence Permits, continued to be rolled out.{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2010/05/Coalition_Agreement_published.aspx |title=Conservative Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515024701/http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2010/05/Coalition_Agreement_published.aspx |archivedate=15 May 2010 |publisher=Conservative Party |date=12 May 2010 |accessdate=13 May 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://libdems.org.uk/latest_news_detail.aspx?title=Conservative_Liberal_Democrat_coalition_agreements&pPK=2697bcdc-7483-47a7-a517-7778979458ff |title=Conservative Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211134147/http://libdems.org.uk/latest_news_detail.aspx?title=Conservative_Liberal_Democrat_coalition_agreements&pPK=2697bcdc-7483-47a7-a517-7778979458ff |archivedate=11 December 2011 |publisher=Liberal Democrats |date=12 May 2010 |accessdate=13 May 2010}} The identity card scheme was voluntary by law for British citizens.{{Cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |last2=correspondent |first2=senior political |date=2009-06-30 |title=Explainer: Identity cards |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/22/explainer-identity-cards |access-date=2025-05-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

The Identity Cards Act 2006 would have required any person applying for a passport to have their details entered into the NIR, part of the national identity scheme associated with identity cards and passports. Once registered, they would also have been obliged to update any change to their address and personal details. The identity card was launched in a pilot rollout from 2009 and cost £30. Later, it was envisaged private companies would be able to improve enrolment coverage and charge additional processing fees.{{cite news |date=6 May 2009 |title=Retailers reject ID security fear |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8036536.stm |access-date=27 April 2010 |work=BBC News}}{{cite news |date=10 July 2009 |title=IBM inks UK biometric passport deal] |url=http://www.tgdaily.com/security-features/43186-ibm-inks-uk-biometric-passport-deal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515171050/http://www.tgdaily.com/security-features/43186-ibm-inks-uk-biometric-passport-deal |archive-date=15 May 2010 |accessdate=13 May 2010 |work=TG Daily}} Around 15,000 were issued during their limited availability, until they were scrapped in 2011.{{cite news |date=16 November 2009 |title=UK | UK Politics | ID cards 'good for going to bars' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8361943.stm |access-date=8 May 2010 |work=BBC News}}

The next generation of biometric passports, which contain chips holding facial images and personal information, have been issued from 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.kable.co.uk/ips-nbis-19may09 |title=IPS will keep images of fingerprints |publisher=Kable.co.uk |date=19 May 2009 |access-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720015329/http://www.kable.co.uk/ips-nbis-19may09 |archive-date=20 July 2011}}

In everyday situations, most authorities, such as the police, do not make spot checks of identification for individuals, although they may do so in instances of arrest.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

{{Main|Five Nations Passport Group}}

Since 2004, the United Kingdom has participated in the Five Nations Passport Group, an international forum for cooperation between the passport issuing authorities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States to "share best practices and discuss innovations related to the development of passport policies, products and practices".{{Cite web|url=http://www.ppt.gc.ca/consultations/apropos/compare.aspx?lang=eng|title=International Comparison|date=18 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918114114/http://www.ppt.gc.ca/consultations/apropos/compare.aspx?lang=eng|access-date=14 April 2020|archive-date=18 September 2011}}

{{British citizenship and British nationality law}}

There are many types of British passports, for the different classes of British nationality, variants for certain territories, as well as diplomatic, official, collective and emergency passports.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/types-of-british-passports/types-of-british-passports-accessible |title=Types of British passports |publisher=HM Passport Office |date=18 November 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/travel-documents-issued-by-uk-government-offices/travel-documents-issued-by-uk-government-authorities-accessible |title=Travel documents issued by UK government authorities |publisher=HM Passport Office |date=24 November 2022}} The following table shows the number of valid British passports on the last day of 2024 for each nationality class:{{cite web |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/number_of_british_passports_issu_12/response/2895024/attach/3/FOI2025%2000095%20Timothy%20Lam%20final%20response.pdf |title=Freedom of information request 2025/00095 |publisher=HM Passport Office |date=23 January 2025}}

{{further|British National (Overseas) passport}}

Common format British passports are issued to British citizens (except those applying in the Crown Dependencies), British Nationals (Overseas), British subjects, British Overseas citizens and British protected persons. They are also issued to British Overseas Territories citizens applying in the UK, in a territory that does not have a local variant, or from abroad. All these passports have the same cover, but the class of British nationality is specified on the personal information page.{{cite web |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/passport_cover_for_botc_passport/response/2113569/attach/3/FOICR%2071539%20William%20Gordon%20final%20response.pdf |title=Freedom of information request 71539/22 |publisher=HM Passport Office |date=1 September 2022}}

All common format British passports are issued by HM Passport Office in the UK. British nationals may apply for a passport online or by post, from any location.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport |title=Apply online for a UK passport |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom}} From 2011, British diplomatic missions only issue emergency passports.{{cite web |url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=20831193 |title=Passports for Britons resident in Chile issued from USA |publisher=FCO |access-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604091013/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=20831193 |archive-date=4 June 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-passports-printed-in-the-uk |title=UK passports printed in the UK |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |date=3 October 2011}}

{{further|Guernsey-variant British passport|Isle of Man-variant British passport|Jersey-variant British passport|British passport (Anguilla)|British passport (Bermuda)|British passport (British Virgin Islands)|British passport (Cayman Islands)|British passport (Gibraltar)|British passport (Montserrat)|British passport (Saint Helena)|British passport (Turks and Caicos Islands)}}

File:British Passport (Jersey) Series C - Cover.jpg]]

File:British Passport Series C (Gibraltar).jpg]]

Local variants of British passports are issued to British citizens in the Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey, and to British Overseas Territories citizens (BOTCs) in Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Saint Helena and Turks and Caicos Islands.{{cite web |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/passport_covers_of_overseas_terr/response/1665575/attach/3/FOICR%2060787%20Passport%20Cover%20Images.pdf |title=Freedom of information request 60787/20 |publisher=HM Passport Office |date=27 October 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/passport_covers_of_overseas_terr/response/1680124/attach/2/FOICR%2060969%20Johnny%20O%20Sullivan%20final%20response.pdf |title=Freedom of information request 60969/20 |publisher=HM Passport Office |date=23 November 2020}} These passports display the name of the dependency or territory on the cover, on page 1 and on the personal information page, and the greeting inside their cover is in the name of the respective governor or lieutenant governor instead of the British monarch.

Although variant passports are produced in the UK, applicants can only request them from the government of the respective dependency or territory. British nationals from these jurisdictions applying directly in the UK receive a common format passport. BOTCs who are also British citizens may hold both types of passports.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-overseas-territories-citizens/british-overseas-territories-citizens-accessible-version |title=British overseas territories citizens |publisher=HM Passport Office |date=4 November 2022}}

In the machine-readable zone of BOTC variant passports, the field of the issuing state used to be three-letter ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code of the territory, which allowed automatic distinction between BOTCs of different territories. However, after HM Passport Office in the UK assumed the responsibility for the production of BOTC variant passports in 2015, the code of the issuing state changed to GBR for all territories, thus making it impossible to identify the holder's domicile without the aid of other features, such as the passport cover.{{cite web|title=UK passport office blamed for travel woes|url=http://www.royalgazette.com/news/article/20170311/uk-passport-office-blamed-for-travel-woes|website=royalgazette.com|date=11 March 2017}} The lack of automatic distinction created problems for Bermudians travelling to the United States, who do not need a visa or ESTA if identified as BOTCs of Bermuda, but need one if identified as British citizens. On 30 April 2024, the code BMU was restored to Bermuda variant passports to facilitate such travel.{{cite web|title=BMU Code Restored to Bermuda Passports |url=https://www.gov.bm/articles/bmu-code-restored-bermuda-passports |publisher=Government of Bermuda |date=24 April 2024}}

Diplomatic passports are issued to British diplomats and high-ranking government officials and their dependents. Official passports are issued to other British government officials such as administrative and technical staff and their dependents.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/diplomatic-and-official-service-passports-and-observations/diplomatic-and-official-service-passports-and-observations-accessible |title=Diplomatic and official service: passports and observations |publisher=HM Passport Office |date=29 November 2022}}

King's Messenger passports were issued to diplomatic couriers who transport government documents. Since 2014, these have been replaced by standard diplomatic passports with an observation.

File:British Passport 2020 (Diplomatic).svg|British biometric diplomatic passport

File:British Passport 2020 (Official).svg|British biometric official passport

File:British collective passport card cover (2005).jpg

Collective (also known as group) passports are issued to defined groups of 5 to 50 individuals who are British citizens under the age of 18 for travel together to certain countries in the Schengen Area, such as a group of school children on a school trip.{{cite web |title=Collective (group) passports |url=https://www.gov.uk/collective-group-passports |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=8 July 2024}}

Emergency passports are issued to British nationals by British diplomatic missions across the world. They may also be issued to Commonwealth citizens in countries where their country of nationality does not have diplomatic representation.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/consular-data |title=Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office consular data |publisher=Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office |date=6 March 2023}}

Before the UK withdrew from the EU on 31 January 2020, British citizens, British Overseas Territories citizens of Gibraltar and British subjects with right of abode in the UK were considered to be UK nationals for the purposes of European Union law and therefore EU citizens. As a result, passports issued to these nationals were considered to be EU passports, and before 2019 their covers displayed the title "European Union". British passports with EU status facilitated access to consular assistance from another European Union member state.

British nationals who were EU citizens (except those connected only to the Crown Dependencies) had the right to live and work freely in the European Economic Area and Switzerland until the Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020. Since then, they continue to enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for short stays, as well as the right to live and work in the Republic of Ireland, as British citizens are not treated as aliens under Irish law. Common Travel Area arrangements for visa-free travel remain unchanged.

Other classes of British nationals were not considered to be EU citizens, but also had and continue to enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for short stays.

Current issue British passports are described as navy blue{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/passport-design-changes/changes-to-the-design-of-british-passports|title=Changes to the design of British passports |website=gov.uk|date=25 September 2020 |access-date=29 September 2020}} although many observers have described the colour as black.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-51737116|title=Is the new passport really blue or black?

|website=bbc.co.uk|date=5 March 2020 |access-date=29 June 2023}}

The blue passport sports the coat of arms of the United Kingdom emblazoned in the centre of the front cover.

"BRITISH PASSPORT" is inscribed above the coat of arms, and the name of the issuing government is inscribed below (e.g. "UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND" or "TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS"). Where a British national is connected to a territory that is no longer under British sovereignty (e.g. BN(O) in Hong Kong), the issuing government is the United Kingdom. The biometric passport symbol 20px appears at the bottom of the front cover. The rear cover of blue passports are also embossed with the floral emblems of England (Tudor rose), Northern Ireland (Shamrock), Scotland (Scottish thistle) and Wales (daffodil).

Burgundy passports issued by the UK, Gibraltar and the Crown Dependencies follow a different format, as they are based on the EU common model. The words "UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND" (+ "GIBRALTAR" where relevant) or "BRITISH ISLANDS" (+ the Dependency's name) are inscribed above the coat of arms, whilst the word "PASSPORT" is inscribed below. The biometric passport symbol 20px appears at the bottom of the front cover. On passports issued before 29 March 2019, the words "EUROPEAN UNION" were printed at the top of the booklet.

Besides the ordinary passports described above, special passports are issued to government officials from which diplomatic status may (diplomatic passport) or may not (official passport) be conferred by the text on the cover. Until 2014 a special passport was available for a Queen's Messenger, which had on its cover the text "QUEEN’S MESSENGER – {{lang|fr|COURRIER DIPLOMATIQUE|italics=no}}" below the coat of arms and the text "BRITISH PASSPORT" above it.{{cite web |title=Cover of a Queen's Messenger's passport |work=Council of the European Union |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/GBR-AD-04001/image-62112.html |access-date=27 June 2010}} Despite the red cover, the internal pages continued to resemble those of the old blue passport.{{cite web |title=Photo page of a Queen's Messenger's passport |work=Council of the European Union |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/GBR-AD-04001/image-62102.html |access-date=27 June 2010}}

Each passport cover is detailed in the gallery below.

UK-issued British passports issued during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II contain on their inside cover the following words in English:{{Cite web |last=Ciara.Berry |date=15 January 2016 |title=Passports |url=https://www.royal.uk/passports |access-date=2 June 2022 |website=The Royal Family |language=en}}

{{blockquote|Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.}}

Following the accession of King Charles III, the request reads the following in English:

{{blockquote|His Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of His Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.}}

File:British passport of the Falkland Islands 02.jpg, who was also named]]

In older passports, more specific reference was made to "Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs", originally including the name of the incumbent.

In mid-July 2023, the Home Office announced that the British passports issued in King Charles's name were being issued, and the new passports will now carry the words: "His Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of His Majesty...".{{Cite web |date=18 July 2023 |title=First British passports issued with King's name |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66238608 |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=The BBC |language=en}}

In non-UK issue passports, the request is made by the Governor or Lieutenant-Governor of the territory in "the Name of Her Britannic Majesty". As with UK-issued passports, following the accession of King Charles III, the request will change to “His Britannic Majesty”.

British passports issued by HM Passport Office include the following data on the information page:

• Photograph of the owner/holder (digital image printed on page)
• Type (P)
• Code of issuing state (GBR)
• Passport number
• Surname (see note below regarding titles)
• Given names
• Nationality (the class of British nationality, such as "British Citizen" or "British Overseas Citizen", or if issued on behalf of a Commonwealth country, "Commonwealth Citizen"{{cite web|url=http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/IDIs/idichapter22/section2/section2.pdf?view=Binary |title=United Kingdom Border Agency: Immigration Directorates' Instructions, Chapter 22, Section 2(3) |access-date=7 June 2011}})
• Date of birth
• Sex (Gender)
• Place of birth (only the city or town is listed, even if born outside the UK; places of birth in Wales are entered in Welsh upon request {{cite web|title=Welsh language|work=Identity and Passport Service|url=http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/files/ips/live/assets/documents/Passport_policy_-_Welsh_Language_(2).pdf|access-date=27 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209134916/http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/files/ips/live/assets/documents/Passport_policy_-_Welsh_Language_(2).pdf|archive-date=9 February 2011|url-status=dead}})
• Date of issue
• Authority
• Date of expiry
• Machine-readable zone starting with P< GBR

The items are identified by text in English and French (e.g., "Given names/Prénoms"). Translations into Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish and Spanish are written on page 5 (Series C), with the English and French translation also being included (e.g., "Surname / Cyfenw / Cinneadh / Sloinne / Nom / Apellidos"). Passports issued until March 2019 were translated into all official EU languages.

According to the British government, the current policy of using noble titles on passports requires that the applicant provides evidence that the title is included in Burke's Peerage, or the Lord Lyon has recognised a feudal barony. If accepted (and if the applicant wishes to include the title), the correct form is for the applicant to include the territorial designation as part of their surname (Surname of territorial designation e.g. Smith of Inverglen). The official observation would then show the holder's full name, followed by their feudal title e.g. The holder is John Smith, Baron of Inverglen.

Certain British passports are issued with printed endorsements on the Official Observations page, usually in upper case (capital letters).{{efn|Machine-readable passports did not have a dedicated observations page. They were instead printed on a blank visa page (usually page 5).}} They form part of the passport when it is issued, as distinct from immigration stamps subsequently entered in the visa pages. Some examples are:{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118562/observations-passports.pdf |title=Guidance: Observations in passports |publisher=HM Passport Office |access-date=30 April 2015 |archive-date=10 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310063426/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118562/observations-passports.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118595/british-national-dep-citizens.pdf |title=British National (Overseas) and British Dependent Territories Citizens |publisher=HM Passport Office |access-date=30 September 2016}}

• The Holder has right of abode in the United Kingdom

:British Subjects with the right of abode (usually from Ireland) have this endorsement in their passports. Between 1973 and 1982, this observation was also in passports issued to British Subjects with a connection to the UK (now British Citizens).

• The Holder is entitled to readmission in the United Kingdom

:British Overseas Citizens who have been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain after 1968 retain this entitlement for life as their ILR is not subject to the two-year expiration rule,{{cite web |title=Chapter 22 Section 2 United Kingdom Passports |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/262961/22section2.pdf |work=Immigration Directorate's Instructions |publisher=UK Visas and Immigration, Home Office|access-date=22 May 2016|page=4|language=en|date=November 2004}} and their passports are accordingly issued with this endorsement.

• The Holder is subject to control under the Immigration Act 1971

:British nationals without the right of abode in the UK will have this endorsement in their passports unless they have been granted indefinite leave to enter or remain. However, even though a BN(O) passport does not entitle the holder the right of abode in the UK, this endorsement was not found in BN(O) passports issued before 2020.

• The Holder is not entitled to benefit from European Union provisions relating to employment or establishment

:British citizens from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man without a qualifying connection to the United Kingdom by descent or residency for more than five years previously had this endorsement in their passports. Moreover, British Overseas Citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) would have the same endorsement if they renewed their BOC/BN(O) passport after 29 March 2019. This observation ceased to be used from 1 January 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.je/Travel/Passports/GetAPassport/Pages/RenewAPassport.aspx |title=Renew your passport |website=gov.je |date=9 February 2020}}

• In accordance with the United Kingdom immigration rules the holder of this passport does not require an entry certificate or visa to visit the United Kingdom

:This endorsement is found in BN(O) passports, and accordingly holders of BN(O) passports are allowed to enter the UK as a visitor without an entry certificate or visa for up to six months per entry.

• The Holder is also a British National (Overseas)

:British citizens who also possess BN(O) status may have this endorsement in their passports to signify their additional status, with the holder’s consent.

• The Holder (of this passport has Hong Kong permanent identity card no XXXXXXXX which states that the holder) has the right of abode in Hong Kong

:British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)s) have this endorsement in their passports, as registration as a BN(O) before 1997 required the applicant to hold a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card, which guaranteed the holder's right of abode in Hong Kong.

:Such persons would continue to have right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 under the Immigration Ordinance. This endorsement is also found in a British citizen passport when the holder has both British citizenship and BN(O) status (at the holder’s request).

:Before the Hong Kong Act 1985 and Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 were enacted, nationals of Hong Kong were entitled to British Dependent Territory Citizen status (British Subject CUKC before 1983). The observation then merely read:

::

People who have valid reasons may be allowed to hold more than one passport booklet. This applies usually to people who travel frequently on business, and may need to have a passport booklet to travel on while the other is awaiting a visa for another country. Some countries in the Arab League do not issue visas to visitors if their passports bear a stamp or visa issued by Israel, as a result of the Arab League boycott of Israel. In that case, a person can apply for a second passport to avoid travel issues. Reasons and supporting documentation (such as a letter from an employer) must be provided.{{cite web|title=How to apply for a second UK passport|url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/features/apply-second-uk-passport/|date=2 May 2019|website=Business Traveller}}

In addition, a person who has multiple types of British nationality is allowed to hold different variants of British passports under different statuses at the same time. For example, a British Overseas Territories citizen with right of abode in Gibraltar that also held British citizenship would be allowed both a Gibraltar variant British passport as well as a standard British passport.

The King, Charles III, is not required to hold a passport because passports are issued in his name and on his authority, thus making it superfluous for him to hold one. All other members of the royal family, however, including the heir apparent William, Prince of Wales, do require passports.{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/passports|title=Passports|website=The Home of the Royal Family|date=15 January 2016|access-date=23 March 2021}}

File:Visa requirements for British citizens.svg (United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey) and Gibraltar – Right of abode}}{{legend|#00aadd|Ireland (Common Travel Area) – Freedom of movement}}{{legend|#22B14C|Visa not required / ESTA / eTA / eVisitor}}{{legend|#79D343|Visa available both on arrival or online (eVisa)}}{{legend|#B5E61D|Visa on arrival}}{{legend|#61c09a|eVisa}}{{legend|#A8ACAB|Visa required prior to arrival}}]]

{{main|Visa requirements for British citizens}}

{{see also|Visa requirements for British Overseas Territories Citizens}}

{{see also|Visa requirements for British Overseas Citizens}}

{{see also|Visa requirements for British Nationals (Overseas)}}

Visa requirements for British citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the United Kingdom. As of May 2025, holders of regular British Citizen passports had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 186 countries and territories, ranking the British Citizen passport 6th in the world in terms of travel freedom (tied with the Belgian and Danish passports) according to the Henley Passport Index.{{cite web|url=https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking|title=Passport Ranking 2025| publisher=Henley & Partners|date=2025|accessdate=14 May 2025}} Additionally, Arton Capital's Passport Index ranked the British Citizen passport 8th in the world in terms of travel freedom, with a visa-free score of 170 (tied with the Cypriot and United States passports), as of 14 May 2025.{{Cite web |title=Global Passport Power Rank 2025 {{!}} Passport Index 2025 |url=https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Passport Index – Global Mobility Intelligence |language=en}}

Visa requirements for other categories of British nationals, namely British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Protected Persons, and British Subjects, are different.

The cost of a British passport is between free{{efn|name="FREE"}} and £112, for an adult (16 and over) 50-page frequent traveler passport who apply by paper form. The standard adult application fee is £88.50 (online), or £100.50 (by paper form).{{efn|name="Upgrade"}}{{Cite web |date=27 July 2011 |title=Passport fees |url=https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees |access-date=28 July 2021 |website=GOV.UK}}

According to the Foreign travel advice provided by the British Government (unless otherwise noted) these are the numbers of British visitors to various countries per annum in 2015 (unless otherwise noted):{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice|title=Foreign travel advice – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk}}

Foreign travel statistics

{{reflist|group=note}}

File:British Passport (Anguilla) Series C - Cover.jpg|Anguilla

File:British Passport (Bermuda) Series C - Cover.jpg|Bermuda

File:British Passport (Virgin Islands) Series C - Cover.jpg|Virgin Islands

File:British Passport (Cayman) Series C - Cover.jpg|Cayman Islands

File:British Passport Series C (Gibraltar).jpg|Gibraltar

File:British Passport (Guernsey) Series C - Cover.jpg|Guernsey

File:British Passport (Jersey) Series C - Cover.jpg|Jersey

File:British Passport (Man) Series C - Cover.jpg|Manx

File:British Passport (Monterrat) Series C - Cover.jpg|Montserrat

File:British Passport (St Helena) Series C - Cover.jpg|Saint Helena

File:British Passport (Turks and Caicos) Series C - Cover.jpg|Turks and Caicos Islands

File:British Passport Diplomatic.png|British biometric diplomatic passport

File:British Official Passport.png|British biometric official passport

File:QueensMessengerpassport.jpg|Queen's Messenger Passport

File:Series C Temporary Passport (UK) - Cover.jpg|Series C emergency passport issued in the UK

File:Series C Temporary Passport (Gibraltar) - Cover.jpg|Series C temporary passport issued in Gibraltar

File:Series C Temporary Passport (Guernsey) - Cover.jpg|Series C temporary passport issued in Guernsey

File:Series C Temporary Passport (Jersey) - Cover.jpg|Series C temporary passport issued in Jersey

File:Series C Temporary Passport (Man) - Cover.jpg|Series C temporary passport issued in the Isle of Man

File:British Passport cover 2010 (non-EU).jpg|British Citizen passport issued between 30 March 2019 and early 2020 (non-EU design issued to all British nationals including British Citizens)

File:British biometric passport.jpg|British Citizen passport issued prior to 30 March 2019 (last EU design issued to British Citizens)

File:British passport 2002.jpg|British non-biometric passport issued between 1997 and 2006

File:British passport (european community).jpg|First British machine-readable passport issued between 1988 and 1997

File:2004-2009 Temporary passport.png|Series A temporary passport

File:Emergency passport united kingdom one trip.JPG|Series B emergency passport

File:UK Passport Pre 88 change.jpg|Last British non-machine readable passport issued prior to 1992

File:Passport UKGBI.jpg|1921–27 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland passport

File:Sp21-004.jpg|1939 Mandatory Palestine passport

File:1940 Aden.jpg|1940 Colony of Aden passport

File:British passport of the Falkland Islands 01.jpg|1947 Colony of the Falkland Islands passport

File:Dominion of New Zealand passport.jpg|1949 Dominion of New Zealand passport

File:British malta passport.jpg|1949 Maltese passport

File:Brit singapore passport.jpg|1951 Singapore passport

File:Fed of malaya passport.jpg|1957 Federation of Malaya passport

File:British hong kong passport.jpg|1958 British Hong Kong passport

File:Grenadapass.JPG|1959 Grenadian passport

File:British Barbados colonial passport.jpg|1963 British Barbados colonial passport

File:BritishDependenciesPassportHK.jpg|Pre-1990 Hong Kong British Dependent Territories Citizen (BDTC) passports

File:Hong Kong British Passport.jpg|1997 Hong Kong BDTC passport

File:Britcolpass.jpg|British Cyprus passport

File:British cyprus passport.jpg|British Cyprus passport - older version

File:BIpassport.jpg|British Indian passport

File:British guiana passport.jpg|British Guiana passport

File:British mauritius passport.jpg|Mauritian passport

File:Newfoundland passport.jpg|Dominion of Newfoundland passport

File:British Somaliland passport.jpg|British Somaliland Passport

File:Trinidad and tobago colonial passport.jpg|Trinidad and Tobago passport

File:UK Identity Card.jpg|Cardboard identity card issued under arrangements regarding collective passports by the UK Passport Agency in 2001

File:John bevan smith passport 1.jpg|British Passport 1876

• Visa requirements for British citizens
• Five Nations Passport Group
• Former passports of the European Union
• Passports in Europe

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category-inline}}

{{British passports}}

{{Passports}}

{{Portal bar|United Kingdom}}

United Kingdom