How to Fill Out and Submit the British Passport Renewal Form

You can complete a British passport renewal form online at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport in about 15 minutes, or fill in a paper version picked up from a Post Office. From 8 April 2026, a standard adult renewal costs £102 online or £107 by paper, so the digital route saves both money and time.¹ Whichever route you choose, you will need your current or expired passport, a compliant photo, and supporting documents if any of your personal details have changed.

What to Gather Before You Start

Have your current passport in front of you, even if it expired years ago. His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) uses the old document to verify your identity and cancels it once the new one is issued. If nothing about you has changed since it was last issued, the old passport plus a compliant photo is essentially all you need.

The form asks for your full legal name, date of birth, town of birth, and your parents’ full names and dates of birth. These fields support your claim to British citizenship. Errors in name spelling are one of the most common reasons applications stall, so check every field against your birth certificate before you submit.

If Your Name or Details Have Changed

A name change means sending original supporting documents. What counts depends on the reason:²

Marriage or civil partnership: the marriage or civil partnership certificate.
Reverting to a maiden or previous name: the birth certificate, the marriage certificate showing both names, a signed statement confirming you now use the previous name for all purposes, and where applicable a decree absolute.
Deed poll or other reason: the original change-of-name deed plus at least one document showing the new name in everyday use, such as a bank statement, driving licence, or tax letter.

HMPO accepts originals or officially issued replacements. Photocopies and laminated documents are not accepted, and originals are returned to you after processing.²

The Photo

Your photo must be taken against a plain cream or light grey background, face square to the camera, neutral expression. The image of your head, measured from the bottom of your chin to the crown, must be between 29 mm and 34 mm high.³ No hats, no head coverings unless worn for religious reasons, no sunglasses.

For an online form, the easiest option is a digital photo code from a compliant UK photo booth or photographer. You enter the code during the application and the system pulls the validated image. Alternatively, you can upload a photo yourself and the system guides you through cropping and biometric checks. A paper form requires two identical printed photos.

You do not normally need a countersignatory for a straightforward adult renewal. Countersigning applies only to a first passport, a replacement for a lost or stolen document, a renewal where your appearance has changed so much you cannot be recognised, or a child’s renewal where the child is 11 or under.⁴ When it is required, the countersignatory must have known you for at least two years and be someone who can identify you personally.

Current Fees

Fees increased on 8 April 2026. Rates for applications made within the UK:¹

Adult (16+) standard 34-page, online: £102
Adult (16+) standard 34-page, paper form: £107
Child (under 16) standard 34-page, online: £61.50
Child (under 16) standard 34-page, paper form: £74
Adult 54-page frequent traveller, online: £107.50
Adult 54-page frequent traveller, paper form: £120

The child and frequent traveller figures above were the rates published before the April increase, so check the GOV.UK passport fees page for the latest numbers.⁵ Online applicants pay by debit or credit card at submission. Paper applicants can pay by card using the payment form in the guidance booklet, or by cheque or postal order made payable to “His Majesty’s Passport Office” with the application barcode number written on the back.² Do not send cash.

Filling in the Form Online

Start at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport. The system walks you through identity questions, asks you to enter or upload the photo, and takes payment at the end. You receive a reference number beginning with “PEX”. Save it, because you will need it to track progress.⁶

After submitting, post your old passport to the HMPO address shown at the end of the session. HMPO will not begin processing the renewal until the old passport arrives, so send it promptly. Use a tracked delivery service and keep the proof of postage. If you are also sending name-change documents, include them in the same package.

Filling in the Paper Form

Pick up a paper form at a participating Post Office branch or request one from HMPO. Complete it in full, attach your two printed photos, enclose the correct fee and any supporting documents, and post the package with your old passport to the address on the form.

The Post Office’s Check and Send service is worth considering. A staff member reviews your completed form, photos, and documents for obvious errors before dispatching the package to HMPO by Special Delivery. It costs £16 on top of the passport fee and is available at around 2,500 branches.⁷ There is also a Digital Check and Send version for online applications: staff take your photo in branch, check it against HMPO standards, and forward your old passport by Special Delivery for the same £16 fee.⁸ Applications routed this way carry a reference beginning “POD” instead of “PEX”.

If You Need It Faster

HMPO runs two expedited services for applicants inside the UK:⁹

One-week Fast Track: book an appointment at a passport office, attend in person, and receive the new passport by courier one week later. £178 for an adult standard passport, £145 for a child’s. The 54-page frequent traveller version is £191 (adult) or £158 (child).
One-day Premium: attend a passport office appointment and collect the finished passport the same day. From 8 April 2026 the fee is £239.50 for a standard adult passport. Not available from outside the UK.

Both services cover renewals, replacements for lost or stolen passports, name changes, and children’s passports. Appointment slots fill up quickly in spring and summer, so book as soon as your travel dates are firm.

Tracking and Delivery

Once HMPO has your old passport and begins processing, you can check progress at gov.uk/track-passport-application using your PEX or POD reference.⁶ If you opted in during the application, you also receive email or text notifications as the application is received, approved, printed, and dispatched.

The new passport arrives by secure courier or registered mail. Your cancelled old passport is returned separately, often a few days apart, so do not worry if one turns up before the other. When the new passport arrives, check the name spelling, date of birth, and photo straight away. If anything is wrong, call the Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000 (or +44 300 222 0000 from outside the UK) to arrange a correction at no extra charge.¹⁰

Renewing from Outside the UK

British citizens living abroad use the same GOV.UK online system, but fees are higher. From 8 April 2026 an overseas adult renewal costs £116.50 online or £130 by paper. For children the fees are £75.50 online and £89 by paper.¹

The photo is the main practical problem. UK-compliant digital photo codes are not produced by standard US retailers such as CVS or Walgreens, which only print physical photos. You will need to upload a compliant digital image through the online application, or find a specialist photographer who works to UK biometric standards. You must still post the old passport to HMPO after submitting online; use a tracked international courier and keep the receipt. Overseas processing typically takes longer than domestic, so apply well ahead of any travel.

If Your Passport Is Lost or Stolen

A lost or stolen passport is not a renewal. Report it to HMPO immediately at gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport, which cancels the document and protects you against identity fraud. You can then apply for a replacement through the standard application process, but a countersignatory will be needed because the previous passport is not available for comparison.⁴ If you are abroad and need to travel urgently, the UK-based Premium and Fast Track services are not available; contact the nearest British embassy or consulate about an emergency travel document instead.

1
GOV.UK. New Fees for Passport Applications
2
GOV.UK. Guidance for Paper Passport Applications
3
GOV.UK. Get a Passport Photo – Printed Photos
4
GOV.UK. Countersigning Passport Applications and Photos
5
GOV.UK. Passport Fees
6
GOV.UK. Track Your Passport Application
7
Post Office. Paper Check and Send Service
8
Post Office. Adult Passport Renewals
9
GOV.UK. Get a Passport Urgently
10
GOV.UK. Passport Advice and Complaints