British subject status: caseworker guidance
Tells HM Passport Office staff how to deal with passport applications for customers who hold British subject status.
Documents
Details
This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff:
- about British subject nationality status
- how people get British subject status
- how to deal with passport applications for British subjects
Updates to this page
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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).
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.