How to Renew a UK Passport Online, Step by Step
Renewing an adult passport online costs £102 and takes one sitting if you have a good photo ready. What to have to hand, how the photo step works, when you need a countersignatory, and what happens to your old passport.
By Helal · Last updated
Rules last checked against official guidance on
How do you renew a UK passport online?
You renew through the GOV.UK passport service. The whole thing can be done in one sitting: you answer questions about yourself and your current passport, add a digital photo, pay £102 by card, and then post your old passport to HM Passport Office when the service tells you to. The paper route costs £115.50 and needs two identical printed photos instead.
Everything below assumes you are 16 or over (or turning 16 within three weeks), which is when you need an adult passport. For children, see our guide to child passport photo rules.
GOV.UK's warning is worth repeating before you start: "Do not book travel until you have a valid passport - your new passport will not have the same number as your old one."
Before you start: what you need
- Your current passport, which you will post off after applying.
- Any valid passports from another country that you hold.
- A digital photo, either a file you upload or a photo code from a booth or shop.
- A credit or debit card for the £102 fee.
- A countersignatory's details, only if your appearance has changed so much that you can't be recognised from your current passport photo.
If you have a visa in your old passport that is still valid, you send that passport as normal; GOV.UK says "your previous passport will be returned to you."
Step 1: get your photo ready
The photo is the step most likely to hold your application up, so it is worth sorting first.
You have two options:
- A photo code. Use a photo booth or shop and choose the option to get a code. You type the code into the application and your photo is attached automatically. See the digital passport photo code explained.
- A digital photo taken on a phone or camera. GOV.UK says you will need someone to help you take it. The file must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, between 50KB and 10MB, in colour and "unaltered by computer software."
Whichever you choose, the photo must have been taken in the last month and meet every compositional rule: plain light background, neutral expression, eyes open, no glasses unless medically necessary, and no shadows. Our 15-point checklist runs through them.
Step 2: start the application
On the GOV.UK "Renew or replace your adult passport" page, choose to apply online. The service asks about your current passport (number, issue and expiry dates), your personal details, and whether anything has changed, such as your name. A name change needs supporting documents and is a slightly different application.
Step 3: add the photo
When you upload a file, the service runs its own automated check and tells you if it thinks there is a problem, such as the photo being too dark or your face not being centred. You can retake and re-upload at this point. Taking the warning seriously is much faster than having an examiner reject the photo later. See what happens when a passport photo is rejected.
If you entered a photo code, the photo is pulled in from the booth or shop's system. Check that the photo displayed is you and is the one you expected.
Step 4: a countersignatory, if you need one
For a renewal you only need a countersignatory if "your appearance has changed and you cannot be recognised from your existing passport." Examples are major weight change, significant surgery, or a renewal many years after a childhood photo. If it applies, the countersignatory must have known you for at least two years and be a person of good standing, and cannot be a relative, partner or someone who lives with you. The full rules are in who can countersign a passport photo.
Step 5: pay and send your old passport
Pay the £102 by card. The service then tells you how to send your current passport to HM Passport Office. Send it as soon as it asks, because the application does not progress until the old passport arrives. Use a trackable postal service if you can.
Step 6: wait, and track progress
HM Passport Office updates you by email, and you can track the application online. Your new passport is sent by courier or Royal Mail. For realistic timings, and when to consider the faster services, see how long a UK passport takes and 1 week Fast Track vs 1 day Premium.
Online or paper: which is better?
For most people online is better: it is £13.50 cheaper, the photo is checked as you apply, and you avoid printed photos. The paper form, available through the Post Office's Check and Send service or from the Passport Adviceline, makes sense if you need someone to check the whole application in person. Our comparison of Check and Send and applying online goes through the trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to renew a UK passport online?
£102 for an adult passport online, or £115.50 on a paper form, at the time of checking.
Can I use my old passport photo to renew?
No. The photo must have been taken in the last month. See how long a passport photo is valid.
Do I need a countersignatory to renew my passport?
Only if your appearance has changed and you can't be recognised from your existing passport.
Can I take my own photo for an online renewal?
Yes. GOV.UK says you'll need someone to help you take it. The file must be at least 600 x 750 pixels and 50KB to 10MB. See can you use a selfie for a passport photo.
Will my new passport have the same number?
No. That is why GOV.UK tells you not to book travel until the new passport arrives, and why bookings made with the old number may need updating.
Sources
- GOV.UK, Renew or replace your adult passport
- GOV.UK, Renew your passport
- GOV.UK, Get a passport photo
- GOV.UK, Countersigning passport applications and photos