Confirming identity checks
Tells HM Passport Office staff about the identity checks they must do on passport applications from the United Kingdom and overseas.
Documents
Details
This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff about the identity checks they must do on passport applications from the United Kingdom and overseas.
Updates to this page
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Guidance updated, Examiner interventions: using parents’ British passport numbers, to explain we will only accept a parent’s (or grandparent’s) British passport number in place of standard documents, if the number is for a digital passport or biometric e-passport (we will not accept an Old Blue or PIMIS passport number in place of a document).
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The 'automatic checks: international passport applications' section has been updated to explain when you must complete additional checks.
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Updated with minor formatting changes.
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Published version 20.0 of the confirming identity checks guidance. A full list of changes can be found in the guide.
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First published.
Update history
2026-09-23 15:36
Guidance updated, Examiner interventions: using parents’ British passport numbers, to explain we will only accept a parent’s (or grandparent’s) British passport number in place of standard documents, if the number is for a digital passport or biometric e-passport (we will not accept an Old Blue or PIMIS passport number in place of a document).
2026-06-01 16:16
The ‘automatic checks: international passport applications’ section has been updated to explain when you must complete additional checks.
2026-05-18 10:43
Updated with minor formatting changes.
2025-07-17 13:17
Published version 20.0 of the confirming identity checks guidance. A full list of changes can be found in the guide.
2024-09-25 08:54
First published.