0300 222 0000
Passport Head Office Address
| Head Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Passport | 101 Old Hall St, Liverpool L3 9BP |
Passport Phone Line Opening Hours
| Day | Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-fri | 8am – 6pm |
| Weekend | Saturday: 9am – 3pm Sunday: Closed |
Reasons to ring the Passport Phone Number
- You have had your passport lost or stolen
- Your passport has expired and you would like to renew it
- You are unsure on the passport photo guidelines
- You would like to know where your nearest passport office is
- You would like to apply for a passport for your child
- You are having difficulty filling in the passport application form
- You would like to submit a complaint about the treatment you received at a passport office
- You would like to ask about the passport renewal fee
- You have lost your passport whilst abroad and need an emergency passport
- You have spotted a mistake on the passport website
Passport Application Process
Applying for your first adult passport
If you are over the age of 16 and either a British citizen/overseas territories citizen/subject/overseas national/protected person, you can apply for a British adult passport. If you’ve previously had a child’s passport, you can follow a renewal process. It takes six weeks to get your first adult passport, so it is advised not to book travel until you have it. In addition to this, Her Majesty’s Passport Office may ask to interview you to ensure your eligibility. You must send original documents with your application to support your proof of identity. This is usually your birth certificate, adoption certificate and your mother/father’s birth certificate.
Countersigning
Some passport applications have to be signed by someone else as proof of identity. It’s usually if it is your first passport, or if it is a replacement for a lost/stolen one. The person who signs it can either know you personally, or be a professional (such as a doctor).
Passport Renewal
There are two types of renewal services: urgent and standard.
If you need your passport urgently, you must make an appointment at your local passport office- usually, you can then get your passport the same day or week. You can additionally upgrade to a Premium service, where you can get your passport within 4 hours, or Fast Track, where it is delivered within one week.
For all other application types, it takes 3 weeks to receive your passport. You can apply online, through using the Check & Send service at the Post Office or by contacting the helpline. Passport renewals, just like passport replacements, are subject to a fee and usually cost £72.50 if you fill out the application and send it yourself. If you want to be extra careful about sending your passport, or you need to be guaranteed your passport for a certain date then you can use the Post Office’s passport check and send service which for an extra ten pounds will mean that the Post Office will check that you have filled in your application form correctly and also guarantees that it will arrive at the passport office. To get an adult passport you must be aged sixteen or over (if you are turning sixteen within the next three weeks then you can apply for your adult passport). If you are below this age, or have children below this age they must follow a different application process for the renewal and/or replacement of a child’s passport. For information about this, please either call the Passport Phone Number or visit the Government website. The same goes for if you are living outside of the UK and you must complete a different application process. If you are living in the UK you can also change the details on your passport eg your married name. If a passport is not needed urgently and you are applying for it the regular way, you can expect to wait for three weeks before a new or a replacement passport is sent to you. If additional information is needed from the passport office or you have not filled in your application correctly, it will be sent back to you to fill in which will delay the process significantly. Please note that you do book travel at your own risk if you book it without a valid passport as there can be unexpected delays when it comes to passport replacements and renewals. If you are expecting a renewed passport you can track your application using the Government website’s tracking feature. If you have applied online for your passport, you can use this immediately and if you have applied by post you must wait three weeks and then begin to track the application. If you are having problems tracking your application or are concerned about the whereabouts of your passport, please call the Passport Phone Number.
Lost Passports
If you lose your passport or have it stolen, you must cancel it immediately to ensure your identity is not stolen. You can do this online or by using the passport phone number. If you suspect your passport has been stolen, you can fill out a lost passport form which will be sent straight away to the passport office. It is important that you do this ASAP as it is a case of safeguarding your identity. Please specify whether your passport was lost or stolen. The form will also ask you how and where you lost your passport such as ‘whilst socialising’, ‘whilst moving house’ or ‘whilst travelling’. If a child has lost their passport, the form must only be completed by the person that has a parental responsibility for the child. If you fear your passport is stolen you can also contact the police on 111 to report the incident.
Passport Photos
There are a number of rules when it comes to passport photos and if the photo is inadequate it can delay your application process. If you are renewing your passport and your appearance is the same, you must still have a new photo taken. The required measurements of a passport photo are the standard size that are used in UK photobooths but if you are unsure of this it is 45mm high by 35 mm wide and the whole shot must be in the picture rather than it being a cut-down version of a larger picture. The photo must be a close-up of your face, ensuring there is nothing obstructing the image of your face eg hair and accessories. There must also be no one in the background of the shot and the background must be plain. head coverings are only permitted for religious or medical reasons. Plain reading glasses are permitted but no sunglasses or tinted lenses should be seen in the photo. Your expression must also be neutral ie, no smiling or posing. The rules differ slightly for children and babies so please call the Passport Phone Number if you are unsure of these.
Passport Offices
Her Majesty’s Passport Office has premises in several locations.
London
Globe House, 89 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PN
Liverpool
101 Old Hall Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 9BP
Glasgow
3 Northgate
96 Milton Street
Cowcaddens
Glasgow
G4 0BT
Newport
Nexus House, Mission Court, Newport NP20 2DW
Peterborough
Aragon Court, Northminster, Peterborough PE1 1QG
About British Passports
British Passports are used as a travel document, or as proof of nationality/right to live in the UK. In the UK, they are issued by HM Passport Office. In 2014, holders of a British Passport had visa free access or on arrival access to 174 countries, joint first in the world with Finnish and Swedish holders.
