Getting your first adult passport

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What documents you need to apply

You must send original documents. Photocopies are not accepted.

If you do not have your original certificates (for example, your birth certificate), you need to get an official copy.

If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you need to send a certified translation.

You can send laminated documents if that’s the only format they are issued in.

You were born or adopted in the UK

What documents you need depend on when you were born.

Before 1 January 1983

You’ll need your full birth certificate or adoption certificate.

On or after 1 January 1983

You’ll need your full birth certificate or adoption certificate and either:

  • your mother’s or father’s full UK birth certificate, or the Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or a British passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born, or a British passport number for either parent

  • evidence of one of your parents’ immigration status in the UK at the time of your birth, for example a foreign passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born

If you send documents relating to your father, you must also send your parents’ marriage certificate.

You were born outside the UK

What documents you need depend on your circumstances.

You have a certificate of naturalisation or registration

You’ll need both:

  • your naturalisation or registration certificate
  • the passport you used to come into the UK or the foreign passport you’re included on

Citizen of a British overseas territory and born before 1 January 1983

You’ll need all of the following:

  • your birth certificate
  • your current passport
  • the passport you used to come into the UK or the foreign passport you’re included on

Born before 1 January 1983 and your father was born in the UK

You’ll need all of the following:

  • your full birth certificate showing your parents’ details
  • your father’s birth certificate
  • your parents’ marriage certificate
  • the passport you used to come into the UK or foreign passport you’re included on

Born on or after 1 January 1983

You’ll need all of the following:

  • your full birth certificate showing your parents’ details
  • the passport you used to come into the UK or any foreign passport that you’re included on
  • evidence of one parent’s British nationality, for example their UK birth or adoption, naturalisation or registration certificate

If these documents relate to your father, you must include the marriage certificate showing when he married your mother.

Your circumstances are different

If your circumstances are not listed, read the guidance booklet to find out what documents you’ll need. If you apply online you’ll be told what documents you need as part of your application.

How your documents will be sent back

The supporting documents will be returned separately from your passport. How you get them depends on the delivery option you choose when you fill in your application.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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