Guidance

Guidance notes for care leavers when applying for a British passport

Published 24 September 2026

Introduction

This guidance is for adults who spent some or all their childhood in care and now want to apply for a British passport.

We know that getting identity or nationality documents can be difficult, and it may feel overwhelming. This guidance explains who can get a British passport and what we need to confirm your nationality, identity, and entitlement.

If you are under 18 and currently in care, there is separate guidance available for local authorities.

Application process

Free support services and facilities are available for those with disabilities.  For more information visit: Passport services if you’re disabled.

You can apply for a passport online.

Applying online usually costs less than using a paper form.

When you apply online, we’ll ask you questions based on the information you give us. This helps us tell you exactly what details you need to provide and which documents to send.

If you prefer, you can apply using a paper form. You can get this form from a post office that offers passport services.

You can also use the Digital Check & Send service at the post office. Staff will help you complete your online application and check your documents before sending them to us. This service costs a little more, but it can help you get things right first time.

For more information about applying for a passport and what documents you need, visit:

• Getting your first adult passport: Who can apply if you’re applying for your first passport
• Getting your first adult passport: What documents you need to apply for information about which documents you may need to send when applying for your first passport
• Renew or replace your adult passport for information about renewing a passport

British nationality

We can only issue a British passport if you are a British national. To confirm this, we need evidence of your claim to British nationality under the British Nationality Act 1981.

Please give us as much detail as possible about your biological or adoptive parents. Being born in the UK after 31 December 1982 does not automatically make you a British citizen.

You can check if you have an automatic claim to British citizenship.

If you do not have an automatic claim, you may be able to register or become a British citizen. Find out more at: Check if you can become a British citizen.

If you apply for a passport online, we will give you a list of the documents you need and the address to send them to. This will usually include as a minimum:

• your birth or adoption certificate
• your parents’ birth certificates

If you apply by paper, the supporting guidance booklet that comes with the paper form tells you what documents we need.

If you cannot get the documents we ask for, we will consider other evidence that shows you are a British citizen. We look at each application individually, but we can only issue a passport if your nationality is confirmed.

We understand that getting documents can be difficult, especially if family members are not co‑operative or cannot be contacted. In exceptional cases, we may work with local authorities to review your situation and make a decision based on the information available.

If you are having problems getting documents, you can contact the Passport Adviceline for help.

Where to get documents

If you need documents to support your passport application, you can usually apply for replacement certificates.

England and Wales

To get copies of birth, marriage or death certificates, visit:

• Order a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate
• General Register Office

You can also check answers to common questions on the General Register Office website.

Northern Ireland and Scotland

The process is different for certificates issued in Northern Ireland or Scotland:

• General Register Office for Northern Ireland
• National Records of Scotland (NRS)

Family history searches

If you don’t have enough information to identify the right certificate, you can research family records:

• Research your family history using the General Register Office
• General Register Office guides to researching your family tree

These pages explain what information is on certificates and what to do if you cannot find one.

Certificates issued abroad

If you need a certificate from another country, contact the issuing authority there or ask the relevant embassy or consulate for advice.

Who can confirm your identity

When you apply for a passport, you may need to provide the details of someone who can act as a referee to confirm your identity. The process depends on how you apply:

If you apply online or use the Digital Check & Send service

You will need to give us the email address of the person confirming your identity. We will contact them and ask questions about you and themselves. This method is usually quicker and helps avoid delays.

To act as a referee for your application, your chosen person must:

• be 18 years old or over
• live in the UK
• have a current UK or Irish passport
• have known you for at least 2 years
• know the person applying as a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)
• work in (or be retired from) a ‘recognised profession’

Your referee cannot be:

• related to you by birth or marriage
• in a relationship with you
• employed by HM Passport Office
• employed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and working on British citizenship or right of abode applications
• a doctor - unless you know the person personally (for example, they are a good friend)

Find out more (including examples of ‘recognised professions’) at: Confirm someone’s identity online for a passport application: Who can confirm someone’s identity.

If you apply using a paper form

You must ask an eligible person to countersign your form after you’ve filled it in, signed, and dated it. They must meet the criteria set out above. They also need to:

• Complete their details in the boxes provided on the application form
• Confirm they’ve known you for at least 2 years
• Sign and date one of your passport photos

For more information visit: Countersigning passport applications and photos: When you must get a signature and who can sign.

If you have problems finding someone to confirm your identity

Contact the Passport Adviceline for help.

Lost, stolen or damaged passports

If you had a British passport as a child or young adult in care and you cannot find it, you must report it lost or stolen before you apply for a replacement.  If you have damaged your passport, you should apply for a replacement.

• Report a lost or stolen passport
• Apply for a replacement passport

Fees

You will need to pay a fee for the passport application.

Check the current fees.

Contacting us for extra help

You may need help before we can issue your passport, for example, if we are asking you to provide documents or information you do not have. You can ask someone else to contact us on your behalf, but you must give them permission first. We may need this in writing to be able to fully discuss your application and circumstances with them.

You could ask:

• someone you know
• a charity or support organisation
• your local authority

Here are some useful links:

• Support for care leavers
• Barnardo’s leaving care support
• Leaving foster or local authority care

You can also find your local council.

For ways to contact us, help or advice regarding your passport application, visit: Passport advice and complaints.