Guidance

Urgent government business or compassionate reasons: how to deal with requests

Tells HMPO staff how to deal with requests from a customer who urgently needs a passport for urgent government business or compassionate reasons

• From: HM Passport Office
• Published: 21 February 2025
• Last updated: 11 February 2026 — See all updates

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Urgent government business or compassionate reasons: how to deal with requests

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This guidance tells His Majesty’s Passport Office staff how to deal with requests from a customer who urgently need a passport for urgent government business or compassionate reasons.

Published 21 February 2025

Last updated 11 February 2026 + show all updates

1. 11 February 2026

   Guidance updated throughout.

2. 24 October 2025

   Published version 10.0. A full list of changes is in the guide.

3. 19 September 2025

   Updated guidance: a full list of changes can be found in the guide.

4. 9 May 2025

   Updated to the latest version of the guidance.

5. 21 February 2025

   First published.