Guidance

British protected persons (accessible)

Updated 7 November 2024

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Version 13.0

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff about how to deal with passport applications for customers who hold British protected persons status

About: British protected persons

This guidance tells HM Passport Office examiners how to deal with passport applications from customers who hold British protected persons (BPP) status.

Only examiners with the correct level of training must deal with BPP cases.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the guidance and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the guidance has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this guidance (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the guidance then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the guidance was published:

  • Version 13.0

  • published for Home Office staff on 4 September 2024

Changes from last version of this guidance

This guidance has been updated to tell examiners DAP (Digital Application Processing) will create a British protected person task if the customer’s old passport shows British protected person status.

British protected persons

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about the nationality status British protected person (BPP) and how they must deal with applications for a BPP passport.

The term ‘British protected person’ (BPP) appeared during the 1800s when the British government extended protection to people and places outside the Crown’s dominions.

United Kingdom government protection was given for political rather than for nationality reasons. British protected persons are not mentioned in nationality legislation until the British Nationality Act 1948. Before that the status came only from the Royal Prerogative.

The places given government protection fell into one of 4 categories:

  • protectorates

  • protected states

  • mandated territories

  • trust territories

For definitions, see: Order Book for British protected persons.

There have been several legislative orders that have affected customers holding BPP status since 1948 (see: Order Book for British protected persons).

The BPP Order 1978 came into force on 16 August 1978 and declared:

  • BPP status could no longer be passed automatically to children born on or after 16 August 1978

  • a BPP would lose that status if they acquired any other nationality or citizenship on or after 16 August 1978 (including Overseas Citizen of India (OCI))

Section 38(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 declared the following categories of persons to be BPPs:

  • a citizen or national of Brunei under any law providing for citizenship or nationality in force in Brunei (see Order Book - Brunei)

  • a person who immediately (before 1 January 1983) was a British Protected Person by virtue of the 1978 Order

  • a person otherwise stateless, can become a British protected person (by registration) if:

    • they were born (on or after 1 January 1983) in the UK or a dependent territory

    • at the time of their birth, their mother or father was a British protected person

  • a person otherwise stateless can become a BPP (by registration), if

    • they were born outside the UK and the dependent territories

    • at the time of their birth, their father or mother was a BPP (under Article 7(2) of the Order)

Rights of British protected persons

British protected persons (BPPs) can hold a British passport and get consular help and protection from UK diplomatic posts abroad. Unless the BPP is a dual British citizen, they are subject to immigration controls and do not have the automatic right to live or work in the UK.

BPPs cannot hold dual British nationality, if they registered with UK Visas and Immigration, on or after 16 August 1978.

Many BPP customers in the UK may be affected by Windrush and you must deal with their case fairly, by using the Windrush guidance.

How to deal with British protected person cases

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff how to deal with an application for a British protected person’s (BPP) passport.

Since 2013 HM Passport Office assess all applications for British protected person (BPP) passports as if they were first time applications (including renewal and replacement applications). We do this to make sure the customer’s identity and entitlement to a British passport is correctly established.

You, the examiner must send letter template 745 to ask for any additional documents or evidence needed to confirm a first time claim in the UK or overseas if the customer has not already provided it (see Risk indicators on passport applications).

You do not need to deal with a renewal or replacement application as a first time application if the customer’s passport record shows we have already reassessed their claim (as a first time application) since 2013. But you must reassess the customer’s claim if you have any concerns about their nationality or identity.

When you are processing these applications on DAP (Digital Application Processing) you do not need to change the application type on the system to first time. You must continue processing as renewal or replacement, even if you are assessing the application as ‘first time’.

If the customer applies from a group 3 country and the application is a renewal or replacement, you must assess the application as if it is a first time application (if we have not already reassessed their claim), but you must not transfer the application to the group 3 examination team.

BPP applications: what the customer must send us

You, the examiner may need to write to British protected persons (BPP) customers to ask for the following:

  • the documents we need for their application (for example, identity documents and birth certificates - see supporting documents guidance)

  • any passport they hold or a colour copy of the personal details page if they need to keep their passport for travel

  • any related documents confirming they are eligible to hold BPP status (for example, a parent’s birth, marriage or death certificate)

  • any related document or statement confirming they have not taken any citizenship of either:

    • the country they are a British protected person of

    • any other country (since 16 August 1978)

  • evidence to show they are settled in the UK or has valid immigration leave (permission) to be in the UK, so we can add the correct UK immigration observation to their passport (if they are living in the UK and applying for their first passport)

  • any other documents we need (in line with this or other guidance)

If a customer cannot send us the documents we need

If a customer cannot send us the documents we need, you must ask them why. If they do not have a document or a duplicate, you must ask for other documents or evidence.

If the customer cannot give us the evidence we need and you have exhausted all avenues, we must consider the application using a balance of probabilities (see: supporting documents not available guidance).

First-time BPP passport applications

You must deal with the application using existing first time passport application guidance. This may also include an interview, if the customer appears to be a British protected persons (BPP) and:

  • has never held a British passport

  • is renewing or replacing an Old Blue (hardback style) passport

  • is renewing or replacing a burgundy passport (machine readable style passport) that:

    • you cannot find on our passport records or through a Genie search

    • was issued before 1 January 2013 and we need the customer’s documents again to check their nationality and identity

If the application is for a first BPP passport, you must:

1. Make sure the application type is ‘first time’.

2. Decide if you need to do extra checks on the BPP application.

3. Make sure the customer still holds BPP status (in line with nationality legislation and this guidance).

4. Send system letter 740 to make sure the customer has not taken citizenship of either:

  • the country they are a British protected person of

  • any other country (since 16 August 1978)

5. Ask for advice from your Quality and Examination Support Team (QuESt) if the customer has taken any other citizenship since 16 August 1978. QuESt will decide if we must refuse the application (see Refusing passport applications and passport facilities guidance). If we refuse the application, you must send letter 618 to the customer.

6. Be satisfied the customer has given enough evidence to confirm their nationality and identity.

7. Check if the customer must be dealt with in line with our Windrush guidance.

8. If you are dealing with the application on DAP: - use the Nationality task to record the customer’s status as ‘British Protected Person’ - case note the details of the checks you have done and the outcomes

9. If you are dealing with the application on AMS (Application Management System):

  • add a case note to explain how the customer got their BPP status, and the details of any checks you have done and the outcomes

  • check the nationality status is correct on the Prepare passport tab

10. Add the correct observations to the system.

11. Send the customer for interview, if current guidance says you must. If not, issue the customer a BPP passport.

You must not proceed with the application and must complete additional checks (if processing on DAP) or refer it to the Enhanced Application Checking team (if processing on AMS) if there are other entitlement reasons why we cannot deal with the passport application, for example:

  • fraud concerns

  • risk indicators

  • court orders

Renewing or replacing a BPP passport

Most customers with BPP status will already hold or have held a BPP passport. A record of their passport will usually exist on our passport records, G-search or the X drive. You, the examiner, will identify this:

  • when DAP (Digital Application Processing) creates an Applicant has a British protected person passport task
  • by physically checking the customer’s old passport (if you are processing on AMS (Application Management System))
  • if AMS creates a nationality warning

Since 1 January 2013, any customer applying to renew or replace their BPP passport must send us the documents and evidence as if they are applying for a first time passport, unless they have sent them to us previously. You must check the case notes on the customer’s previous passport record to see if they gave us their first time documents. If the case note shows the customer:

  • has sent their documents before you do not need to see them again, unless you have concerns with the application

  • has not sent their documents before you must ask the customer to send their documents again

You must use the correct application type. For example, you must use the renewal or replacement application type if we already have a passport record of the customer’s machine readable passport.

How to renew a BPP passport

To renew a customer’s BPP passport, you must:

1. Decide if you need to do extra checks on the BPP application. If processing application on DAP, you must place the application on hold until the checks are complete

2. Make sure the person still holds BPP status (in line with nationality legislation and this guidance).

3. Send letter 741 to make sure the customer has not taken citizenship of either:

  • the country they are a British protected person of
  • any other country (since 16 August 1978)

4. Ask for advice from your Quality and Examination Support Team (QuESt) if the customer has taken any other citizenship since 16 August 1978, QuESt will decide if we must refuse the application (see Refusing passport applications and passport facilities guidance). If processing the application on DAP, you must place the application on hold until the checks are complete. If we refuse the application, you must send letter 618 to the customer.

5. Check if the customer must be dealt with in line with our Windrush guidance

6. Check the documents and evidence to make sure you have no concerns with the application.

7. Confirm the customer’s identity and compare their photo and personal details on our passport records, G-search or the X drive (if available), against the current application and other supporting documents. If the details do not match, you must confirm the customer’s identity and ask them to resolve the differences.

8. Add the correct case note to the application, depending on if you have found the record. For example:

  • ‘[passport records, G:search, X drive] check record not held’
  • ‘[passport records, G:search, X drive] check record confirms previous passport [insert number] shows BPP with the relevant observations’

9. Add the correct observations to the system.

10. Select the correct nationality status from the:

  • dropdown in Application details – personal details – nationality field if you are dealing with the application on DAP
  • Prepare passport tab if you are dealing with the application on AMS

11. Issue the BPP passport.

You must refer it to the Enhanced Application Checking team (if processing on AMS) or complete additional checks (if processing on DAP) if there are other entitlement reasons why we cannot deal with the passport application, for example:

  • fraud concerns

  • risk indicators

  • court orders

How to replace a lost or stolen BPP passport

If a customer applies to replace a lost or stolen BPP passport, see renewing a BPP passport and lost, stolen and recovered guidance.

British protected persons UK immigration observations

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff what UK immigration observations they must add to a British protected persons passport.

When we issue a customer with a British protected persons (BPP) passport, we must add the correct UK immigration observation. This will either be:

  • subject to immigration control (STC) observation code OBTB, that says:

THE HOLDER IS SUBJECT TO CONTROL UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ACT 1971

  • re-admission to the UK (RUK) observation code OBTE, that says:

THE HOLDER IS ENTITLED TO RE-ADMISSION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM

If we do not use the correct UK immigration observation, especially for customers in the UK, it may:

  • mean if they leave the UK, they can have difficulty when they try to return

  • create similar issues seen with Windrush customers

The UK immigration observation we use in a BPP passport, depends on:

  • if a customer is in the UK or overseas

  • how long a customer has been in the UK

  • what UK immigration observations are in a customer’s previous passports

  • any immigration documents a customer has from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

About incorrect observations on BPP passports

You must be aware:

  • before 25 August 2017, we usually issued a customer’s British protected persons (BPP) passport with, the:

  • from 25 August 2017 to 7 June 2021, we incorrectly issued some customer’s passports with the STC immigration observation instead of the RUK immigration observation – however, we have:

    • since received confirmation from the Passport Policy team this was wrong

    • updated our guidance on 7 June 2021 to correctly show which observation to use

First BPP passport: customer is in the UK

If a UK customer applies for their first British protected persons (BPP) passport, you must check:

  • their supporting documents to see if it shows they:

    • are settled in the UK (for example, indefinite leave to remain (ILR), indefinite leave to enter (ILE) or no time limit (NTL))

    • have valid leave (immigration permission) to be in the UK (for example, a visit visa, limited leave to enter or limited leave to remain)

  • UKVI systems (if the customer does not have documents showing they are settled or have valid leave) to see if the records show if they are settled or have valid leave

If the supporting documents or the UKVI system shows the customer is settled or has valid leave, you must refer to first BPP passport: UK customer is settled or has valid leave.

If the supporting documents and the UKVI systems do not show if the customer is settled or has valid leave, you must:

1. Send the customer letter 137. The letter asks for:

  • evidence that shows their immigration status in the UK

  • the document they used to enter to the UK (if they cannot give us evidence that shows their immigration status in the UK)

  • a signed letter that explains when they travelled to the UK and what document they used (if they cannot give us the document, they used to enter the UK)

2. Add a case note to explain the actions and decisions you made.

3. Store the application while you wait for a response.

When you get the customer’s response, you must refer to:

  • First BPP passport: UK customer is settled or has valid leave (if the customer provides evidence to show they are settled or has valid leave)

  • First BPP passport: asking UKVI if a UK customer is settled or has valid leave, below (if the customer cannot provide evidence to show they are settled or has valid leave)

First BPP passport: asking UKVI if a UK customer is settled or has valid leave

When a customer in the UK applies for their first British protected persons (BPP) passport, we will ask UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to confirm if they are settled or have valid leave, when both of the following apply:

  • the customer could not provide evidence to show they are settled or has valid leave

  • the UKVI system does not show if the customer is settled or has valid leave

To ask UKVI if a customer is settled or has valid leave, you must:

1. Complete the UKVI referral – customer’s immigration status form using the details on the passport application to:

  • ask UKVI to check their records to see if the customer is settled or has valid leave

  • tell UKVI to contact the customer to explain what they need to do about their UK immigration status, if their records do not show the customer is settled or has valid leave

2. Create an email and with the subject field showing:

HMPO request – customer’s settlement status

3. Attach the referral form to the email and send it to UKVI from your team’s mailbox.

4. Add a case note to explain the:

  • customer could not give us evidence to show they are settled or has valid leave

  • actions and decisions you made

5. Store the application while you wait for UKVI to respond (usually within 10 working days).

When you get a response from UKVI, you must refer to:

First BPP passport: UK customer is settled or has valid leave

If the British protected persons (BPP) customer provides evidence to show they are settled or has valid leave, you must first check to see if the evidence is genuine. You must:

1. Check the customer’s documentary evidence agrees with UKVI systems.

2. Refer the application to your operational team leader (OTL), to decide if the evidence is genuine (using a balance of probability) if there is nothing on the UKVI systems.

3. Make sure extra checks are completed, if you suspect the customer’s evidence of settlement is not genuine by:

  • referring the application to Enhanced Application Checking (EAC) (if processing on the Application Management System (AMS)

  • completing additional checks (if processing on the Digital Application Processing (DAP) system)

Providing you are satisfied there is evidence to show the customer is settled or has valid leave (either from the customer’s supporting documents, information from UKVI systems or because UKVI confirmed they are settled or have valid leave), you must:

1. Add the UK immigration observation:

2. Send the customer letter 132, making sure you use the correct phrase to show their nationality status as British protected persons.

3. Add a case note to explain, the:

  • customer is settled or has valid leave (including how)

  • actions and decisions, you made

4. Continue to process the application (in line with current guidance).

First BPP passport: UK customer is not settled and does not have valid leave

If UKVI confirm the British protected person (BPP) customer is not settled and does not have valid leave, you must:

1. Add the UK immigration observation:

2. Send the customer letter 133, making sure you use the correct phrase to show their nationality status as British protected persons.

3. Add a case note to explain:

  • customer is not settled and does not have valid leave

  • the actions and decisions you made

4. Continue to process the application (in line with current guidance).

First BPP passport: customer is overseas

If an overseas customer applies for their first British protected persons (BPP) passport, you must:

1. Add the UK immigration observation:

2. Add a case note to explain the actions and decisions you made

3. Continue to process the application (in line with current guidance).

We do not send letters to overseas customers about UK immigration observations.

Renewal and replacements of BPP passports: UK customer

If a UK customer applies to renew, replace or change the details on their BPP passport, you must:

1. Deal with the application in line with current guidance (for example, lost and stolen).

2. Check if their old passport has the RUK or STC immigration observation.

BPP, renewal and replacement: UK customer has RUK

If the customer’s old British protected persons (BPP) passport has the RUK immigration observation, you must:

1. Add the RUK immigration observation.

2. Send the customer letter 136, making sure you use the correct phrase to show their nationality status.

3. Add a case note to explain the actions and decisions you made:

4. Continue to process the application (in line with current guidance).

BPP, renewal and replacement: UK customer is STC

If the customer’s old British protected persons (BPP) passport has the STC immigration observation, you must check if we issued it:

  • before 25 August 2017

  • after 24 August 2017

This is because we may have previously used the wrong UK immigration on the passport.

UK customer: old BPP with STC issued before 25 August

If we issued the customer’s old British protected persons (BPP) passport before 25 August 2017 with the STC immigration observation, you must check the customer’s passport history on passport records, G-search of the X:drive for the observations shown on their previous passports.

You must deal with their application using the guidance in:

UK customer: old BPP with STC issued after 24 August 2017

If we issued the customer’s old British protected persons (BPP) passport with the STC immigration after 24 August 2017, you must check their passport history to see if the RUK or STC immigration observation is on any of their previous passports.

If any of the previous passports show the RUK immigration observation, you must:

  1. Deal with the application free of charge, in line with the correcting errors on passports guidance (if the reason the customer made it was because of the incorrect observation).

2. Re-add the RUK immigration observation.

3. Send the customer letter 134.

4. Add a case note to explain the actions and decisions you made.

5. Add a passport note to all previous passport records for any passport we issued after 24 August 2017, to explain we wrongly issued the passport with the STC immigration observation.

6. Change the validity on the new passport to match the expiry date on the old passport (if you are dealing with the application free of charge). You must also add observation code OBTZ:

REPLACES PASSPORT NUMBER [INSERT FREE TEXT] DATED [INSERT DATE] WHICH HAS BEEN [INSERT FREE TEXT]

Continue to process the application (in line with current guidance).

If the customer’s previous passports do not have the STC or RUK immigration observation or they only have the STC immigration observation, you must follow the guidance as though they are applying for their first BPP passport in the UK.

BPP, renewal and replacement: UK customer is not STC or RUK

If the customer’s old British protected persons (BPP) passport does not have the RUK or STC immigration observation, you must check what is on their previous passports, using:

  • our passport records

  • G-search

  • X-drive

You must deal with the application using the guidance in:

Renewal and replacements of BPP passports: overseas customer

If an overseas customer applies to renew, replace or change the details on their British protected persons (BPP) passport, you must:

1. Deal with the application in line with current guidance (for example, lost and stolen).

2. Check what date we issued it (as we may have used the wrong UK immigration on the passport).

Overseas customer: old BPP issued before 25 August 2017

If we issued the customer’s old British protected persons (BPP) passport before 25 August 2017 with the STC or RUK immigration observation, you must:

1. Add the same immigration observation (as shown on the old passport).

2. Add a case note to explain the actions and decisions you made.

3.Continue to process the application (in line with current guidance).

You must not send any letters to an overseas customer about UK immigration observations you added to the passport.

Overseas customer: old BPP issued after 24 August 2017

If we issued the customer’s old British protected persons (BPP) passport after 24 August 2017 with no UK immigration observations or only the STC immigration observation, you must:

1. Check what observations are on their previous passports.

2. Deal with the application using the guidance in:

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