Passports(Image: Maksims Grigorjevs via Getty Images)
British passports are set for a significant revamp by the end of 2025, with the first official travel documents bearing King Charles III’s Coat of Arms due to be issued in December.
The new design will feature images representing the four nations of the UK – Ben Nevis, the Lake District, Three Cliffs Bay, and the Giant’s Causeway – all UNESCO-protected natural landscapes.
Touted as the most secure British passport ever produced, it will incorporate advanced anti-forgery technology. This includes holographic and translucent features designed to make passports easier to authenticate and harder to forge or tamper with, reports the Express.
The Government asserts that these changes will help combat illegal entry by individuals without the right to reside in the UK, fulfilling the prime minister’s Plan for Change to bolster Britain’s borders. Migration and Citizenship Minister, Mike Tapp, said: “The introduction of His Majesty’s Arms, iconic landscapes, and enhanced security features marks a new era in the history of the British passport.
New British passport featuring the King’s coat of arms(Image: PA)
“It also demonstrates our commitment to outstanding public service – celebrating British heritage while ensuring our passports remain among the most secure and trusted in the world for years to come.”
This updated passport represents the first complete redesign since 2020 and comes as His Majesty’s Passport Office continues to provide exceptional service to British citizens. In the first half of this year, more than 3.8 million passports were issued, with 99.7 per cent of applications that didn’t need extra information being processed within three weeks, surpassing the target of 98.5 per cent.
People are being urged to check their passport’s expiry date and apply well in advance of any planned trips. Passports bearing Queen Elizabeth II’s Coat of Arms remain valid until the expiration date.
The first modern British passport was introduced in 1915, and the first security feature, a watermark, was added in 1972. Since then, the HM Passport Office has implemented dozens of additional security measures to deter criminals, including intricate patterns that are difficult to duplicate and features only visible under UV light.
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