Guidance

Damaged British passports: caseworker guidance

Tells HM Passport Office staff how to check a damaged British passport received as a supporting document, and how to replace a damaged British passport.

• From: HM Passport Office
• Published: 13 January 2012
• Last updated: 27 August 2024 — See all updates

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Damaged British passports (accessible)

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Damaged British passports

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Details

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff how to assess British machine readable passports for damage, wear and tear or fraudulent tampering and how to handle applications to replace these passports. Machine readable passports have a burgundy or dark blue (soft) cover.

This guidance does not cover Old Blue (hardback style) passports.

Published 13 January 2012
Last updated 27 August 2024 + show all updates

1. 27 August 2024

   This guidance has been updated to make minor terminology changes.

2. 26 October 2022

   Added version 13.0 of guidance.

3. 28 September 2022

   Accessible version added.

4. 30 July 2021

   Updated guidance renamed as 'damaged British passports'.

5. 10 November 2016

   New guidance published.

6. 13 January 2012

   First published.