How to get your first British passport after naturalisation

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Check eligibility and the name on your documents

After naturalisation, a passport requires a separate HM Passport Office application. The official first adult passport procedure ↗ normally covers applicants aged 16 or older with the appropriate British nationality who have never held a UK passport. If you previously had one, check whether another application category applies.

If you hold another nationality, compare the name and gender on your foreign passport with those wanted on the British passport. GOV.UK requires them to match and directs applicants to change the foreign document where they differ. If that is impossible, seek an official explanation for your circumstances before applying. A deed poll does not guarantee a passport in a different name.

Prepare originals, a photo and an identity confirmer

For a naturalised person born outside the UK, the document list ↗ includes the naturalisation/registration certificate and the specified foreign passport. This passport process requires original documents; photocopies do not replace them. Documents outside English or Welsh need a certified translation.

An online application requires a digital photo, payment card and somebody eligible to confirm your identity under passport rules. These are separate from naturalisation referee requirements. Check the person's eligibility through the application service link and warn them to expect an HM Passport Office email.

Apply and follow the document instructions

Start through the official online application page ↗. At the time of checking, a UK online application costs £102 and a paper application £115.50; current charges appear on the first passport page ↗. Additional services and delivery can affect your total budget, and overseas applications follow a different route.

After payment, the identity confirmer receives an email for online verification. You then receive instructions specifying documents and their destination. Do not reuse an old application's address. Make private scans of originals and retain the reference and posting evidence. Before posting your passport, consider whether you need it for other procedures.

Wait for the passport and returned originals

HM Passport Office may request an identity interview; the official instructions ↗ describe notification and format. Respond to your actual case requests rather than paying an intermediary promising to bypass an interview.

The passport and supporting documents are returned separately. Track both deliveries and check the new passport's details immediately. GOV.UK says not to book travel until you receive the passport. After the ceremony, ordinary resident status usually no longer provides the return route; before travelling, check the dual-national rules ↗, including any limited exception relevant to you.