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: 2326 ~~September~~October 2022 — See all updates

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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 2326 ~~September~~October 2022 + show all updates

26 October 2022
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.

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.