UK passports to have new features and revamped design(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
The British passport will have a new look soon as part of a revamped design announced by the government. The first British passports bearing His Majesty King Charles III’s Coat of Arms will be issued from December.
The four nations of the UK will be represented through images of four UNESCO-protected natural landscapes, these are Ben Nevis, the Lake District, Three Cliffs Bay, and the Giant’s Causeway. Incorporating the latest anti-forgery technology, it is also the most secure British passport ever produced.
The government has announced cutting-edge holographic and translucent features, making passports easier to verify and even harder to forge or tamper with. Officials say this helps prevent illegal entry by people with no right to be in the UK, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change to secure Britain’s borders.
The Minister for Migration and Citizenship, 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.
“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.”
Passports issued with the Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II remain valid until the expiry date. Sometimes holiday planning can be stressful and when travelling with a family it is important to make sure that everything is in order way in advance of the departure date.
This includes luggage measurements, boarding passes downloaded and passports being valid and in date for use. British passports have undergone several changes over the years, including a shift in cover colour and new security features. Key security features include a secondary image of the holder, and a transparent covering with multiple holograms.
The first burgundy-coloured machine-readable passports were issued in 1988 and over 30 years later, in 2020, the distinctive blue cover was re-introduced following the departure of the UK from the EU.
The blue passports were issued and delivered in March 2020. Full introduction were phased in and from mid-2020, meaning all new passports are blue. However, many people still have a burgundy passport.
Advice on Gov.uk says: “If your passport is burgundy or has ‘European Union’ on the cover, you can still use it as long as it’s valid for travel.”
You must renew your passport before you can travel if either your passport has expired or you do not have enough time left on it. If your passport has been lost or stolen, you must cancel it before applying for a replacement.
Burgundy passports are still allowed to be used in 2025 if they remain valid for travel, so you’ll need to check the expiry date and the rules regarding how much time you should have left on your passport to travel to your chosen destination.
When it’s time to renew your passport next, you’ll be given a blue one, but you don’t need to renew your passport unless yours has expired or it doesn’t have enough time left on it for travel.