Cancelling British passports
Information for HM Passport Office operational staff about how to physically and electronically cancel a British passport.
Documents
Details
This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff how to:
- physically cancel all types of British passports
- electronically cancel a passport record on Main Index
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Last updated 9
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Updated guidance.
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Accessible version added.
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This guidance has been updated to tell you when you need to manually cancel passports on Main Index.
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First published.
Update history
2026-01-16 16:16
This guidance has been updated: to remove references to Application Management System (AMS); in the Cancelling a British passport in error section; in the Cancelling UK series C and series D e-passports (blue e-passport) section to explain how to cancel the new series D e-passport; in the How to securely destroy a passport section to explain how to destroy the new series D e-passport.
2025-08-27 15:37
This guidance has been updated to remove instructions to transfer application to AMS (Application Management System); change terminology from ‘overseas’ to ‘international’ when referring to local services; reflect changes in passport operational systems; and remove references to Application Management System (AMS).
2024-10-15 12:06
This guidance has been updated. A full list of the changes is available in the document.
2022-11-09 12:44
Updated guidance.
2022-09-26 15:22
Accessible version added.