Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cancellation-of-passports

Change description : 2026-01-16 16:16:00: 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. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-08-27 14:37:16.931197563 +00:00..2026-01-16 16:16:58.079974332 +00:00

Guidance

Cancelling British passports: caseworker guidance

Tells HM Passport Office staff how to physically and electronically cancel a British passport.

From:
HM Passport Office
Published
13 January 2012
Last updated
2716 AugustJanuary 20252026 — See all updates

Documents

Cancelling British passports

HTML

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

Updates to this page

Published 13 January 2012
Last updated 2716 AugustJanuary 20252026 + show all updates

  1. 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.

  2. 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).

  3. This guidance has been updated. A full list of the changes is available in the document.

  4. Updated guidance.

  5. Accessible version added.

  6. This guidance has been updated to tell you when you need to manually cancel passports on Main Index.

  7. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

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.