Guidance

Observations in passports: caseworker guidance

Tells HM Passport Office staff how to add observations to passports.

• From: HM Passport Office
• Published: 7 February 2012
• Last updated: 1 August 2024 — See all updates

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Observations in passports (accessible)

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Observations in passports

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Details

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff about passport observations, including:

• what they are
• when they are used
• how to add them to a passport

Published 7 February 2012
Last updated 1 August 2024 + show all updates

1. 1 August 2024

   Guidance updated to remove the instruction to add the APC (Application Processing Centre) office in the restricted validity observation (OBTU).

2. 1 December 2022

   This version of the guidance has been updated to reflect the change in our sovereign from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to His Majesty King Charles III. Also the observations needed for standard passports issued to diplomatic staff and their families have changed and Kings Messenger service passports have changed and a new one has been added.

3. 6 October 2022

   Accessible version added.

4. 9 February 2021

   Guidance updated with formatting changes throughout.

5. 7 February 2012

   First published.