Guidance

Restricted validity passports: caseworker guidance

Tells HM Passport Office staff about the process for issuing restricted validity passports.

• From: HM Passport Office
• Published: 7 February 2012
• Last updated: 24 March 2025 — See all updates

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Restricted validity passports (accessible)

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Restricted validity passports

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Details

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff about passport validity, when we will issue a passport with restricted validity, and how to process an application when the customer sends us a restricted validity passport.

Published 7 February 2012

Last updated 24 March 2025 + show all updates

1. 24 March 2025

   This guidance has been updated to tell DAP (Digital Application Processing) examiners issuing a restricted validity (RV) passport to add an OBTU observation to the passport and to send the customer a letter 101 using Comms Builder.

2. 14 November 2022

   Updated to show when the Counter Fraud team will ask Enhanced Application Checking to issue a restricted validity passport (in the Restricted validity passports section).

3. 3 October 2022

   Accessible version added.

4. 18 March 2021

   Updated guidance.

5. 7 February 2012

   First published.