The simple answer is: yes, you need to send your old passport back when renewing. This allows HM Passport Office to check everything and make sure all the details match up. While this step may seem concerning, it's a standard part of the renewal process.
It will be cancelled, typically with clipped corners, and returned to you. You should not dispose of your old passport; it can still serve as proof of identity, and discarding it could leave you vulnerable to identity theft.
Can I throw away my passport? When your passport has expired, you may feel like throwing it away. However, this is one of the many ways your identity can be compromised. Not only that but if you are a victim of identity theft, this exposes you to fraud and will hinder any application to renew your passport.
Your passport is valid if it is not expired and if it has been issued within the last 10 years. If your passport is expired or has been issued more than 10 years ago, you will need to renew it. You can renew your passport online with U.K.ABROAD.
Do I need to send in my old UK passport when renewing?
Do they return old passports?
Yes. In most cases when you renew by mail, we will return the old passport to you. The old passport may not arrive for up to four weeks after you receive your new passport.
In case of lost Passport, you need to apply for re-issue of Passport. Following documents must be submitted along with the application: Proof of Present Address. Proof of Date of Birth.
HM Passport Office needs this document to verify your details and ensure they match your online renewal forms. Why the Concern: Many applicants worry about sending their current passports, fearing loss or damage during transit. Such fears are natural, given the document's importance.
To be accepted as a valid form of ID, your document must meet these basic conditions: Current and Not Expired – Your ID must be up to date. Expired passports or driving licences are rarely accepted. (There were certain exceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic).
Is it illegal to cancel someone's passport in the UK?
If the child's passport has genuinely been lost, report the loss to your local police station and inform HM Passport Office so that you can get a replacement. If you report a passport as being lost or stolen but know that it is being held by another person, this is deemed as a malicious cancellation.
What to do with expired passport of deceased person in the UK?
If you are wondering what to do with a passport when the passport holder has died, you'll need to start by returning a form to the Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO). They will be able to give you more information about how to send a deceased person's passport back to HMPO.
If you need your documents back to travel, you must withdraw your application. If you are not withdrawing your application, you can only get your documents back to prove your identity. The Home Office only return documents to addresses linked with the application in their records.
The U.S. State Department advises people against disposing of their old passport. But Pierce says that while there's no penalty for destroying an old passport, there's also no real incentive to do so. “Generally, passports can be used as proof of U.S. citizenship, no matter how long ago they expired,” he says.
Passports issued after 2018 are valid for exactly 10 years. However, if a UK passport was issued before September 2018, it could be valid for up to 10 years and nine months. This is because before 2018 the passport office used to add up to nine months from an old passport on to a new one.
Yes, your old passport book or passport card will be returned (you need to mail in your most recent passport if you are renewing by mail). It usually will be sent separately from the new passport.
This means some people have passports that haven't officially expired and are still valid for travel worldwide. The exception is travel in Europe, where passports must be less than 10 years old. To travel to Europe and Schengen countries, your passport must be: Issued less than 10 years before your departure date.
Should I send my passport recorded delivery in the UK?
It is advisable to send your application by Special Delivery or Recorded Delivery as this helps you tracks delivery. This service is available at certain post office branches for £8.75.
Many countries enforce what's known as the six-month passport validity rule, a requirement that your government-issued ID (typically a passport) remain valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry.
If you are in the U.S. and your passport is lost or stolen, you must use Form DS-11 to apply for a new passport in person. Follow the guidance from the State Department, which is based on how quickly you need your new passport. Check current processing times to find out how long it will take.
If Royal Mail has lost a document like a passport or driving licence. Contact the organisation that issued the document as soon as possible. For example, if Royal Mail lost your passport you should contact the Home Office on GOV.UK. Ask the organisation to cancel the document.
