Guidance

British subject status

Information about how staff deal with passport applications for customers who hold British subject status.

From:: HM Passport Office
Published: 23 August 2021
Last updated: 23 September 2022 — See all updates

Documents

British subject status (accessible)

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British subject status

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Details

This guidance tells HM Passport Office operational staff:

about British subject nationality status
how people get British subject status
how to deal with passport applications for British subjects

Published 23 August 2021
Last updated 23 September 2022 + show all updates

23 September 2022
Accessible version added.
23 August 2021
First published.

Update history

2026-09-22 15:37
Updated the guidance throughout; a full list of the changes can be found in the section “Changes from last version of this guidance”.

2026-01-21 15:36
Updated the British subject status guidance, a full list of changes can be found in the guide.

2025-07-03 11:08
This guidance has been updated to clarify when British Subject status is lost, and when to request a Form E when processing a renewal or replacement application; explain how a customer who is otherwise stateless may be entitled to, or eligible to register for, British subject status; change terminology from ‘overseas’ to ‘international’ in relation to applications and customers; and remove references to Application Management System (AMS).

2024-12-09 12:01
Updated the guidance to version 15.0.

2022-10-26 15:42
Added version 10.0 of this guidance. Updates include information on checking if a customer has valid leave (permission) to be in the UK when deciding what UK immigration observation to use.

2022-09-23 13:32
Accessible version added.