Renewing a UK passport is usually straightforward if you are in the UK and still have your old passport. The main things are to apply through the official GOV.UK service, use a photo that meets the passport rules, send any documents HM Passport Office asks for and leave enough time before travel. Do not use your old passport's expiry date alone to decide whether it is suitable for a trip. Some countries require a passport to have a certain amount of validity remaining or apply rules based on the date it was issued. Check the entry requirements for the country you intend to visit before booking.
Check whether you need to renew
You need to renew before travelling if your passport has expired or does not have enough validity for the country you are visiting.
There are separate processes if the passport is:
- lost;
- stolen;
- badly damaged;
- being updated because your name or personal details have changed;
- a child's passport;
- being renewed while you are outside the UK.
If you still have an old burgundy passport with "European Union" on the cover, the colour alone does not make it invalid. It can still be used while it meets the relevant validity rules for your journey.
Apply through GOV.UK
For most adult passport holders in the UK, the official online renewal is the simplest route. Start at GOV.UK rather than searching for a commercial passport-assistance company. Third-party services may charge additional fees and are not HM Passport Office. The online application asks for your details, your current or previous passport information and a suitable digital photo. You pay during the application. A paper application is also available, including through Post Office branches that provide the relevant passport service, but the official online route is generally cheaper than applying on paper.
As of October 2026, GOV.UK lists £102 for a standard online adult renewal and £115.50 by paper form. Recheck the fee before submitting because passport prices change.
What you need
For a standard adult renewal, have your existing passport available. HM Passport Office may also require other documents depending on your circumstances. If you hold a valid passport from another country, the renewal guidance explains whether to send the physical document or colour copies of its pages. Follow the document list generated for your actual application. Do not send random supporting paperwork "just in case"; unnecessary documents can complicate the process.
Take a passport photo that meets the rules
A rejected photo is an avoidable cause of delay. For an online renewal you need a digital passport photo. You can have someone take it for you, use a photo booth or shop that provides digital passport photos, or use another accepted route. The photo needs to show you clearly and meet the current passport-photo rules. Use a plain background, even lighting and a sharp image. Avoid filters, portrait-mode effects and digital retouching.
Your face should be unobstructed. Glasses can create glare, and head coverings are generally only accepted for religious or medical reasons. Check the current GOV.UK photo guidance before submitting because the system is designed to assess whether the image is likely to be accepted.
Complete the application carefully
Enter your name, date of birth and other details exactly as required. If your name or personal details have changed, do not assume that a normal renewal is enough. The application may require evidence supporting the change. Review spellings carefully before paying. A passport is an identity document, so a typo is not the same as a mistake on an ordinary online order. Keep the application reference number once the submission is complete. You will need it to track progress or discuss the application with HM Passport Office.
Send the old passport and requested documents
Online does not mean entirely paperless. For a renewal, you are normally asked to send your old passport and any other documents specified in your application. The service tells you what to send and where to send it. Use the address generated for your application rather than copying an address from an old forum post. Follow any postage instructions given and consider a trackable method when appropriate.
Do not remove visas or alter the old passport before sending it.
What happens to an unexpired visa?
An unexpired visa in an old passport may still be usable after you receive the replacement passport, depending on the country and visa rules. GOV.UK advises sending the previous passport with the visa attached as required. The old passport is returned to you. When travelling, you may need to carry both the new passport and the old passport containing the valid visa. Always check the rules of the country that issued the visa. A UK passport renewal does not control another country's immigration rules.
Track the application
Use your application reference to track the passport through the official service. If HM Passport Office needs more information, respond using the instructions it provides. Do not ignore emails or letters because you assume the passport is simply "being processed". A request for another document or photo can stop progress until you act. Be cautious with unexpected messages asking for payment or personal information. If in doubt, go directly to GOV.UK rather than following an unfamiliar link.
Do not book travel around an estimated date
Processing times vary. GOV.UK explicitly advises not booking travel until you have a valid passport. Your new passport will have a different passport number from the old one. That matters if a booking requires passport details. Even if an airline allows details to be updated later, there is no benefit in creating unnecessary pressure around a renewal. If you already have urgent travel, check the official urgent passport services rather than assuming a standard application will arrive in time.
Urgent passport services
HM Passport Office provides urgent services for eligible applications, including faster appointment-based routes. Availability, eligibility and fees can change. Use the current urgent-passport section on GOV.UK to see which service fits your situation. Do not confuse a private "fast passport" website with an official urgent passport service. If travel is for an emergency such as a serious illness or death, the guidance may be different, so contact the Passport Adviceline or use the relevant official route.
What to do when the new passport arrives
Check the personal details immediately. Sign it if the passport instructions require you to do so for your passport type, and store it securely. Update passport details with airlines, employers or other organisations only where necessary. If your old passport is returned, it will normally be cancelled. Keep it if it contains a visa you still need or if you want it for your records, but do not accidentally present it as your current travel document.
Renewing a passport is not difficult when it is treated as an identity-document process rather than a last-minute travel chore. Apply through the official route, follow the exact document instructions and give yourself enough time that a rejected photo or extra check does not become an emergency.
Sources checked: www.gov.uk, www.gov.uk.