A new designed passport is coming for Brits, just years after we switched from red to blue.
If you have recently applied to renew your passport, you will see a difference in the one that comes back, with new designs, slated to be the start of a “new era” in the history of the UK passport.
There will be a new design and new security measures implemented in the little blue books.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp, said last month: “The introduction of His Majesty’s Arms, iconic landscapes, and enhanced security features marks a new era in the history of the British passport.
“It also demonstrates our commitment to outstanding public service – celebrating British heritage while ensuring our passports remain among the most secure and trusted in the world for years to come.”
Here is all we know about the upcoming changes:
How will the new passport look?
The design change has been done to mark the era of a new monarch, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth.
As announced in October this year, the first British passports displaying His Majesty King Charles III’s Coat of Arms are set to be issued, starting in the coming weeks from the start of December, as part of a revamped design.
From December 2025, British passports will start to feature His Majesty King Charles III’s Coat of Arms and new images of iconic UK landscapes.
— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) October 11, 2025
The new design includes world-leading security features - making our passports more secure than ever.
The change is the first new design for the travel document since 2020, with the inside pages also showing UK landmarks.
The images will be of four UNESCO-protected natural landscapes – Ben Nevis, the Lake District, Three Cliffs Bay, and the Giant’s Causeway.
What other changes will it have?
The new passports will also include the latest anti-forgery technology, making it “harder than ever” to get a fake or cloned passport, say the Home Office.
It’s also the "most secure" British passport ever produced, His Majesty’s Passport Office previously said.
Made with the latest anti-forgery technology, it will incorporate “cutting-edge” holographic and translucent features, making UK passports “easier” to verify and even “harder” to forge or tamper with.
The Home Office adds this will help prevent illegal entry by people with “no right to be in the UK”.
Do I have to change mine?
The new designs do not mean you need to start thinking about changing your passport, unless it needs renewing.
The Home Office have confirmed that passports issued with the Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II remain valid until the expiry date.
What is the current waiting time for a new UK passport?
The waiting times are not extreme at present.
Brits can expect to receive a new UK passport within three weeks of applying in the ordinary time frame.
His Majesty’s Passport Office explains it may take longer than three weeks if more information is needed, or you need to be interviewed.
However, you will be notified about these extra steps within three weeks if they apply to you.
There is also the option of fast tracking appointments, but these are booked separately here.
These appointments last 10 minutes, and for an adult you can normally get your passport same day, however this is not possible for children passports, which need more scrutiny. Children’s fast tracked passports come within the week of a face-to-face appointment.
