To apply for a British passport, you must first be a citizen of the United Kingdom. There are several ways to obtain British citizenship. The most prevalent is referred to as ‘naturalisation.’ After obtaining British citizenship, you may apply for a British passport. If this is your first British passport application, you should anticipate being interviewed and answering questions to establish your identity.
Additionally, obtaining British nationality does not automatically entitle you to a British passport in some circumstances.
What happens during the passport interview?
If you are over 16 years old and applying for your first British passport, you can anticipate being invited to an interview with the Identity & Passport Service (IPS).
The passport interview’s objective is to minimize identity fraud. Applicants are needed to respond to queries about their personal information in order to establish their identification.
Typically, the interview lasts 30 minutes.
How can I apply for a British passport for my child?
Any youngster under the age of 16 who is not already listed on a parent’s passport must obtain their own.
Is it necessary for me to be a British citizen in order to apply for a British passport?
British citizenship is required in order to obtain a British passport. For instance, if you are an EU citizen who has lived in the UK for six years or longer, you may be entitled to apply for naturalisation and acquire British citizenship.
Requirements
The application for British citizenship must include the following:
- You must have lived in the United Kingdom for at least six years.
- You must have worked, been self-employed, or been a student throughout your time in the UK, so exercising your Treaty Rights.
- You must meet the residency requirements, which include an examination of your absences from the United Kingdom and the location of your intended abode following your application.
- You must pass the Life in the United Kingdom Test.
- Additionally, you must pass an authorized English Language Test.
- You must have a “good character,” which means you cannot have any recent or major criminal convictions, you cannot be bankrupt, and you cannot be linked with anyone who is thought to have a “poor character.”
How long does the process of applying for a passport take?
We recommend about six weeks between passport application and trip. For a price, expedited services are provided for passport renewals and replacements, but not for new passport applications.
How much does it cost to obtain a British passport?
The following are the current fees for British passports:
- £72 for the first British adult passport
- Standard contract renewals, amendments, or replacements – £72
- Fast track services are available only for renewals and replacements:
- £97 for a one-week service
- Same-day service is only available for renewals or changes – £114.
I am an EU national; how does Brexit affect my ability to obtain a British passport?
Since the UK voted to leave the EU, no changes to UK immigration rules have been made that affect EU residents’ eligibility to seek for British citizenship or a British passport.
This position, however, may alter as a result of the UK’s formal exit from Europe and the implementation of a new immigration policy. Faced with this uncertainty, a large number of eligible EEA nationals are applying immediately for naturalisation and permanent residence in the UK.
