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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Rebecca Day & Sarah McGee

Blue British passports to return for the first time in almost 30 years

As a way to mark the UK's departure from the European Union, the UK's burgundy passports will be replaced with blue ones.

According to the Manchester Evening News, this change will happen in March and Brits will own a blue passport for the first time in almost 30 years.

The colour changed from blue to burgundy in 1988 as a way to standardise passports across the European Union.

French firm Thales will produce the passports, but the documents will continue to be personalised in the UK.

The back of the passport will be embossed with the floral emblems of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Blue passports signify the UK's departure from the EU (Home Office/PA Wire)

The Home Office has also considered the environment with these new official documents, calling them the 'greenest British passports ever'.

The carbon footprint associated with their production will be offset through environmental projects such as tree planting. 

The Home Office also reassures Brits that their personal data from passports will be kept secure through 'innovative technologies embedded in the document'.

Secure printing and unique design techniques also make the documents 'harder to forge'.

Can I still use my burgundy passport?

Brits can continue to use their burgundy passport until it expires.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "Leaving the European Union gave us a unique opportunity to restore our national identity and forge a new path in the world.

"By returning to the iconic blue and gold design, the British passport will once again be entwined with our national identity and I cannot wait to travel on one."

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