Guidance

Post-dated passports

Published 12 October 2026

Version 20.0

His Majesty’s Passport Office guidance on dealing with applications for post-dated passports

About: Post-dated passports

This guidance tells His Majesty’s Passport Office operational staff about applications for post-dated passports, including:

• what post-dated passports are

• what customers must send us when they apply for a post-dated passport

• how to deal with applications for post-dated passports

• what to do if we issue a post-dated passport to a customer who cancels or re-arranges their marriage or civil partnership ceremony

Contacts

If you have any questions about the guidance and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the guidance has factual errors then email HM Passport Office’s Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this guidance (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the guidance then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the guidance was published:

• version 20.0

• published for Home Office staff on 10 August 2026

Changes from last version of this guidance

This guidance has been updated in the sections When you get an incomplete or no PD2 form and Post-dated applications received more than 3 months before the ceremony, to tell examiners when they must send the customer a PD2 forms too early, out of date or other issue Comms builder letter.

Post-dated passports

This section tells His Majesty’s Passport Office operational staff what post-dated passports are. It includes how customers apply for a post-dated passport, what they must send with their application and what they must be aware of, if they apply for a post-dated passport or decide to use their current passport in their previous name for travel, after they have married or entered into a civil partnership.

Customers who are changing their name because they are getting married or entering into a civil partnership, may apply for a post-dated passport (a passport we will issue in their future name but is only valid from the date of the ceremony).

Customers can ask for a post-dated passport up to 3 months before the ceremony, if they apply:

• from the United Kingdom

• internationally, and they live in a:

  • group 1 or 2 country

  • group 3 country and they already hold a British passport

We do not accept first time applications for post-dated passports from a group 3 country, as we cannot guarantee we will process the application in time for the ceremony.

What customers must know when applying for a post-dated passport

We make customers (who are applying for a post-dated passport) aware:

• they must send us any:

  • current British passports they have with their application, so we can change their name on all of them (customers must complete an application and pay for each passport they want post-dating)

  • foreign passports they have (the name on the foreign passport must match the name they want on their post-dated passport, in line with the Names: aligning names on foreign document). The customer may send a colour photocopy of all pages, including blank pages.

• we will cancel their current British passport (when we issue their new post-dated passport) and they will not be able to use it

• their new passport will be post-dated, meaning they cannot use it until the date of their marriage or civil partnership ceremony

• some countries do not issue visas for post-dated passports (customers must check with the relevant country’s consulate)

• if the ceremony does not go ahead, they must:

  • return their post-dated passport to us

  • pay for a new passport in their current name

How customers can apply for a post-dated passport

Customers can apply for a post-dated passport:

• by post

• online

• at a counter (Digital Fast Track applications only)

• using the correct international channel, for example, Local Services

What we need to issue a post-dated passport

When customers apply for a post-dated passport, they must send:

• a completed passport application in their future name

• new passport photos

• the correct fee

• their old passport

• other supporting documents we need to process their application (for example, their birth certificate)

• a completed Post-Date form 2 (PD2) that includes a ‘wet signature’ from the customer and the person conducting the legally binding ceremony (for example, a Minister of Religion or a Superintendent Registrar)

If a customer applies using a paper application and their appearance has changed so much that we cannot recognise them from their old photo, they will need a referee who must countersign 1 of the photos. They must include on the back of the photo:

• a statement to say ‘I certify that this is a true likeness of [customer’s current name], who after marriage/civil partnership, will become [customer’s future name]’

• their signature

• their full name

• the date they countersigned the photo

Customers applying online may be asked to provide a digital referee. The Digital Customer Services system will ask the referee to confirm the customer’s identity (which will be shown using the customer’s future name).

Where customers can get a PD1 and PD2 form

The Post-Date form 1 (PD1) tells customers how to complete the PD2. Customers can get a PD1 and PD2 form:

• from the post office

• from a UK customer services centre

• by contacting the passport advice line

• by downloading and printing them from GOV.UK

PD1 and PD2s are usually A5 in size but may have been downloaded and printed on A4 size paper. We will accept them in either size, as long as the form is completed correctly and contains wet signatures from the relevant people.

About the PD2 form

There are 2 parts to the PD2 form:

• part 1- the person performing the ceremony (for example, a Minister of Religion or a Superintendent Registrar) must complete part 1, with:

  • their name and address

  • the details of who is being married (or entering into a civil partnership)

  • the date of the ceremony

  • their signature

• part 2 - the customer must complete part 2 in their current name, including:

  • the address where they would like us to send their post-dated passport

  • the name of the person they are marrying (or entering into a civil partnership with)

  • the date of the ceremony

  • their current signature

  • the date

The customer must also complete the ‘To be retained by the Minister of Religion or Superintendent Registrar’ section of the PD2, with the address of the office where the application is being sent. For:

• postal applications, it is the address on the envelope of the passport application form

• Digital Fast Track applications, it is the address where the customer is attending their appointment

• online applications, it is the general HM Passport office address in Southport (as customers will not know where their application is sent until they submit their application)

The Minister of Religion (or Superintendent Registrar) must also complete and keep the ‘To be retained by the Minister of Religion or Superintendent Registrar’ section of the PD2, with:

• the names and dates of birth of the people getting married or entering into a civil partnership

• the date of the ceremony

• their name

• the date the customer signed the PD2 form

This is because the Minister of Religion (or Superintendent Registrar) must tell us if the marriage or civil partnership ceremony does not take place.

About the Post-Date form 1:

Customers may use the Post-Date form 1 (PD1), for:

• more information about post-dated passports

• advice on how to complete the PD2 form

Post dated passports: customer completed application using their current name

If the customer is applying for a post-dated passport but entered their current name on their application (instead of their intended future name), you must:

1. Phone the customer to:

   • ask for a signed and dated letter confirming the surname they want on the passport (for example if they are double barrelling their names or want their new married surname only)

   • tell them we will put their application on hold until we receive their letter

2. Add a case note to show all the actions and decisions you made.

3. Put the application on hold while you wait for the customer to respond.

If you cannot contact the customer by phone, you must send the Comms builder letter, Need a signature.

When you receive the letter, you must:

1. Deal with it in line with current guidance (for example, to confirm nationality, identity, and entitlement).

2. Update the name on the system with the name they want from their signed letter.

3. Add a case note to record the customer’s decision and your actions.

4. Issue a post-dated passport and cancel the old one.

Customers who decide not to apply for a post-dated passport

Customers changing their name after marriage or civil partnership, may decide to:

• wait until after their ceremony to apply for a passport in their new name

• use their current valid passport for travel (even though it will be in their previous name)

If you know a customer intends to travel using a passport in a previous name, you must phone them to tell them to:

• take their marriage or civil partnership certificate when they travel

• check with the consulate of the country they are travelling to before booking travel arrangements, as some countries:

  • insist the details on the travel booking documents match the details in the passport

  • may not consider a passport in a previous name to be valid

If you cannot contact the customer by phone, you must send system letter 429.

You must add a case note to show what you told the customer or what letter you sent.

Post-dated passports: customers who have another passport

This section tells His Majesty’s Passport Office operational staff how to deal with applications for post-dated passports when the customer has another passport.

If the customer has a foreign passport in a different name to the one they want in their post-dated passport, they must align the name in the foreign passport first.

If the customer cannot align the name, you must consider if it is because of a naming convention or if meets one of our exceptions (see Names: aligning names on foreign documents guidance).

If the customer does not align their name on their foreign passport and the reason:

• does not meet one of our exceptions and there are no naming conventions, you must:

  • not issue them a post-dated passport in their future name

  • offer them the option of renewing their passport in their current name (making sure their names align in all their passports)

• is because it meets one of our exceptions or there is a naming convention, you must:

  • issue the post-dated passport with an observation to show the customer has a foreign passport in another name (see Names: aligning names on foreign documents guidance)

Post-dated passport: customer has other British passports

Customers applying for a post-dated passport who have other British passports (for example, additional or diplomatic passports) must apply and pay to have each passport post-dated in their future name. This is because we need to align the name on all their British passports at the same time (so they do not have multiple passports in different names).

When you get an application for a post-dated passport, you must:

1. Deal with it in line with current guidance (for example, to confirm nationality, identity, and entitlement).

2. Issue a post-dated passport and cancel the old one.

Post-dated passport applications: international applications

This section tells His Majesty’s Passport Office operational staff how to deal with applications for post-dated passports from international customers. We accept applications for post-dated passports from group 1 and group 2 countries, unless we get the application more than 3 months before the marriage or civil partnership ceremony. Customers must:

• follow the application process for the country they live in

• allow at least 4 weeks for us to issue their passport in their future name, in time for their marriage or civil partnership ceremony (if they need it by then)

When you get an application for a post-dated passport, you must:

1. Deal with it in line with current guidance (for example, to confirm nationality, identity, and entitlement).

2. Issue a post-dated passport and cancel the old one.

International post-dated passport applications: group 3 countries

We do not accept first time applications for post-dated passports from group 3 countries as we cannot guarantee we will be able to issue a passport within 3 months. This is because the:

• application may not be straightforward

• customer may need to attend an interview

If you get a first time application for a post-dated passport from a group 3 country, you must contact the customer to:

1. Tell them you cannot guarantee they will get their post-dated passport before their marriage or civil partnership ceremony.

2. Offer them the option of:

   • continuing with the application in their current name

   • putting the application on hold until after their marriage or civil partnership ceremony so they can send us their marriage or civil partnership certificate

   • withdrawing their application and returning their fee

Group 3 post-dated passports: customer wants a passport in their current name

If the customer wants to continue with the application for their first British passport in their current name, you must:

1. Ask them to send you:
   • a new passport application in their current name (it must be a paper application as the customer will have to pay again if they do it online)
   • a letter to confirm you can withdraw the original application they made in their future name
2. Tell the customer you cannot guarantee they will get their passport before the ceremony.
3. Add a case note to explain:
   • the customer applied for a post-dated passport in their future name but you cannot issue one
   • the customer is sending us a new paper application, as they want to continue with a passport application in their current name
   • you will withdraw the original application (in their future name) when you get the new application (in their current name)

4. Check the fee has been reallocated from the original application to the new application. If it has not, you must reallocate it (see passport fees for reallocating fees).

5. Withdraw the original application when you get new application (see passport application withdrawals).

6. Arrange for the supplier to scan the new application on the system (see scanning supporting documents).

7. Add a case note to the new application to explain:
   • it replaces an application the customer made for a post-dated passport that you could not issue and include that application’s reference number
8. Deal with the new application in line with current guidance.

Group 3 post-dated passports: customer wants to withdraw their application

If a customer wants to withdraw their application, you must:

1. Tell the customer to send you a letter to confirm they want to withdraw their application. Electronically store the application in your team while you wait for the customer to respond.

2. Add a case note to explain all the actions and decisions you made.

3. Withdraw the application, in line with passport application withdrawals:
   • when you get the letter from the customer to confirm that you can withdraw their application
   • if the customer does not respond
4. Return the fee (see passport fees for how to do refunds).

Group 3 post-dated passports: customer wants to wait until after their marriage ceremony

If the customer wants us to wait until after their ceremony, you must:

1. Tell the customer to send you the marriage or civil partnership certificate (when they get it).

2. Add a case note to explain:
   • the customer applied for a post-dated passport in their future name but you could not issue it
   • the customer will send us their marriage or civil partnership certificate after their ceremony and you are keeping the application open, while you wait for it

3. Electronically store the application in your team, while you wait for the customer to send you the certificate. Withdraw the application if the customer does not respond (in line with passport application withdrawals).

4. Deal with the application in line with Names: change of name passport applications, when you get the certificate (in line with current guidance).

Renewal and replacement applications for post-dated passports from group 3 countries

We accept renewal and replacement applications for post-dated passports from group 3. Customers must:

• follow the application process for the country they live in

• allow at least 4 weeks for us to issue their passport in their future name, in time for their marriage or civil partnership ceremony (if they need it by then)

When you an application for a post-dated passport, you must:

1. Deal with it in line with current guidance (for example, to confirm nationality, identity, and entitlement).

2. Refer to how to issue a post-dated passport and cancel the old one.

How to issue a post-dated passport

This section tells His Majesty’s Passport Office operational staff how to process applications for post-dated passports on DAP (Digital Application Processing).

Processing a post-dated passport

To issue a post-dated passport you must:

1. Confirm the customer’s identity, nationality, and entitlement in line with current guidance.

2. Review a scan of the Post-Date form 2 (PD2) form using the documents tab and check the:
   • customer and a Minister of Religion (or Superintendent Registrar) have completed the PD2 form (if there is no PD2 or it is incomplete, see incomplete or no PD2 form)
   • date of the ceremony is in the next 3 months (if it is not, see applications for a post-dated passports more than 3 months before the ceremony)
   • name on the foreign passport (if there is one) matches the customer’s new name

3. Update the date of issue of the customer’s new passport to the date of marriage shown on the PD2 form.

4. Add a case note to show why you have changed the validity period of the passport.

5. Update ARD (Application Receive Domain) handling instructions, to send the PD2 to confidential waste once the application is completed.

6. Update the delivery details for the passport and documents to show the customer’s current name.

When you, the examiner, have changed the validity of the passport, completed all the tasks on an application and clicked Submit, the passport will be issued with the date of issue you have selected.

Updating the validity period of a post-dated passport

If you, the examiner, need to change the validity for a post-dated passport you must:

1. Select the Application details tab.

2. Select New passport details.

3. Select Change under Validity period.

4. Select Post-dated, for 10 years (standard validity).

5. Enter the date of issue of the new passport (this should be the date the customer will be married).

6. Case note to show why you are changing the validity and click continue.

7. Select Save changes.

8. Cancel the old passport, in line with the passport cancellations guidance (the customer will be aware we will cancel their old passport, as we explain it on the PD1 form).

9. Return the old passport and supporting documents to the customer.

When you get an incomplete or no PD2 form

If the customer has not sent us a PD2 form or has sent an incomplete one, you must:

1. Send the customer a PD2 forms too early, out of date or other issue Comms builder letter, to ask them to complete a PD2 form.

2. Add a case note to show all the actions and decisions you made.

Post-dated applications received more than 3 months before the ceremony

We can only issue a post-dated passport up to 3 months before the ceremony is due to take place. If you get an application more than 3 months before, you must:

1. Send the customer a PD2 forms too early, out of date or other issue letter (created using the Comms builder but sent using your team mailbox), to tell the customer:

   • you cannot issue a passport more than 3 months before the ceremony

   • you will keep their application open and deal with it within 3 months of the ceremony

2. Add a case note to show all the actions and decisions you made.

3. Place the application on hold until the date you can issue the passport.

4. Process the application in line with the guidance above, 3 months prior to the ceremony.

When you are issuing the PD2 forms too early, out of date or other issue letter to the customer in this scenario, you must not send the letter using Comms builder

This is because Digital Application Processing (DAP) will put the application in an awaiting documents state if the letter is sent using Comms builder (which could cause the application to be automatically withdrawn due to no response, in line with DAP timescales).

Examiners will need to use the on-hold function instead, as this will allow the application to be processed from 3 months before the ceremony date.

Post-dated applications received after the ceremony date

If you, the examiner, receive a post-dated passport application after the ceremony date shown on the PD2 form, you must request the customer’s marriage certificate and proceed in line with the change of name evidence guidance.

When a marriage or civil partnership ceremony is cancelled or delayed

If we issue a post-dated passport but the customer rearranges or cancels their marriage (or civil partnership ceremony) see changes to a marriage or civil partnership ceremony.

Changes to a marriage or civil partnership ceremony

This section tells His Majesty’s Passport Office Customer Services Management team (CSMT), what to do when we issue a post-dated passport but the customer rearranges or cancels their marriage or civil partnership ceremony.

We may find the customer rearranged or cancelled their marriage or civil partnership ceremony, when:

• they tell us themselves

• a Minister of Religion (or Superintendent Registrar) tells us by writing to the:

  • office that issued the passport

  • the Customer Services Management team (CSMT) in Southport

If a Minister of Religion (or Superintendent Registrar) tells us in writing, you (the CSMT examiner) must:

• acknowledge the letter

• refund their postage costs (see compensation guidance for out of pocket expenses)

• add a passport note to explain you received a letter to confirm the ceremony has been postponed and include:

  • the date of the letter

  • who sent the letter

Ceremony changes due to ill health or death

We will issue a free replacement post-dated passport, if a customer rearranges their marriage or civil partnership because:

• they (or their partner) became ill

• of the death of an immediate family member, for example:

  • mother

  • father

  • brother

  • sister

  • child

The customer must:

• return their post-dated passport to us (within 2 weeks of when we were told they rearranged or cancelled their marriage or civil partnership ceremony)

• send us:

  • a new application

  • a new Post-Date form 2 (PD2)

  • evidence of the illness or death

If a customer has to urgently travel before they can arrange their marriage or civil partnership ceremony, we will issue a free replacement passport in their original name. The customer must:

• return their post-dated passport to us

• send us:

  • a new application (in their old name)

  • evidence of the illness or death

If a customer does not return their post-dated passport to us, see when the customer does not return their post-dated passport to us.

Ceremony changes due to other reasons

The customer must pay for a:

• replacement post-dated passport if they rearrange their ceremony, other than because they or their partner became ill, or because of the death of an immediate family member

• for a replacement passport in their current name if they need to travel before they can rearrange the ceremony

Customers must:

• return their post-dated passport to us (within 2 weeks of when we were told the customer rearranged or cancelled their marriage or civil partnership ceremony)

• send us a:

  • letter to explain why they are returning their passport

  • new application in their future name and a PD2 form (if they are applying for another post-dated passport)

  • new application form in their current name (if they are applying for a replacement passport in their current name)

If the customer does not return the post-dated passport, see when the customer does not return their post-dated passport us.

When the customer does not return their post-dated passport to us

You must allow the customer 2 weeks to return their post-dated passport to us, from the date we were told they rearranged or cancelled their marriage or civil partnership ceremony.

If you do not get the passport within 2 weeks, you must:

1. Send a letter to the customer (using the address they put on their application form) to ask them to return the post-dated passport to us. Allow 4 weeks for a response.

2. Check passport records and G-search, if after 4 weeks you do not get a response, to see if:
   • the customer has applied for a passport using their current name
   • we issued the customer with a new passport using their current name
3. Phone the customer using the number they put on their application (if there is one) and ask them to return the passport, if passport records or G-search shows:
   • we have not issued them with a new passport
   • the customer has not applied for a new passport
4. Tell the customer they must return the passport in the next 2 weeks (if you managed to contact them by phone). If they did not answer, try to contact them again.

You must add a passport note each time you tried to contact the customer.