UK passport: renew, apply for or replace it before you travel

Your UK passport has to be valid for your destination, and the application, renewal or replacement starts on GOV.UK, which says it usually returns a passport within 3 weeks. Check the dates before you book anything: GOV.UK advises not to book travel until you hold a valid passport.

This page is the starting point of our passport guides. It sums up what GOV.UK says on fees, timing, lost passports and photos, then sends you to the guide that goes deeper: renewing a passport, a child passport, a first adult passport, a lost or stolen passport and passport photo rules. We do not take applications and we never ask you to pay us anything.

Rules and fees change, so every table carries its sources and the date we checked them. For anything not covered here, the GOV.UK passport page is the one to trust.

Pick the row that matches you, then use the GOV.UK link to apply. We explain the rules; the application itself is only on GOV.UK or at a Post Office.

An adult UK passport costs £102 online or £115.50 on a paper form, according to GOV.UK passport fees. A child's costs £66.50 online or £80 on paper. The 54-page frequent traveller passport costs £14 more online for an adult and £14 more for a child.

If you need a passport urgently, GOV.UK's urgent passport page lists two services, each with its own fee and an appointment. Only the 1 week fast track also covers replacing a lost, stolen or damaged passport and child passports.

HM Passport Office says you will usually get your passport within 3 weeks, and that it may take longer if it needs more information or has to interview you. The clock starts from when it receives your documents, according to its services and timescales page.

Apply early. A new passport does not carry the same number as your old one, so GOV.UK says not to book travel until you hold a valid passport. Our guide to passport validity and renewal times goes through the dates in more detail.

1. Look at the expiry date and the date of issue on your passport.
2. Check the entry rules of your destination in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice.
3. Apply on GOV.UK with a comfortable margin before the trip.
4. Book your travel once the new passport is in your hands.

For the Schengen area, the date of issue must be less than 10 years before you arrive and the expiry date at least 3 months after you plan to leave. GOV.UK's France entry requirements states both conditions for a British citizen passport.

Each destination has its own rule, so read its page on GOV.UK foreign travel advice before you book. Our guide to entry requirements for British passport holders lists them country by country as we check them.

Cancel it as soon as possible, which lowers the risk that someone else uses your passport or identity. GOV.UK has an online service on its report a lost or stolen passport page; keep a photo or photocopy of the passport to help you answer the questions.

If you are abroad and need to travel urgently, GOV.UK says you might be able to apply for an emergency travel document, for which you pay a fee. You then cancel the passport as part of that application. Our guide to a lost or stolen passport follows the steps.

For an online application you need a digital photo taken against a plain light-coloured background, at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, in a file of 50KB to 10MB. The full list sits on GOV.UK's photos for passports page.

Our guide to passport photo rules explains the size, background and common mistakes. We do not recommend a photo service.

Each guide stands on its own. The list grows as new guides are checked and published.

Sorting the rest of your preparation? Start with travel tips for UK travellers and entry requirements for British passport holders. Planning the trip itself: holiday ideas from the UK, airports and airlines.

• How long does a UK passport take to arrive?

  HM Passport Office says you will usually get your passport within 3 weeks. It may take longer if it needs more information or has to interview you, and the time starts when it receives your documents.

• How much does it cost to renew an adult passport?

  GOV.UK lists £102 to renew an adult passport online and £115.50 on a paper form. The 54-page frequent traveller passport costs £116 online and £129.50 on paper.

• How much does a child's passport cost?

  GOV.UK says £66.50 online and £80 on a paper form for a standard child passport. A child passport is valid for 5 years.

• Who can apply for a child's passport?

  GOV.UK says someone with parental responsibility for the child must apply.

• What if I need a passport urgently?

  GOV.UK lists a 1 week fast track at £192 for an adult and £156.50 for a child, and a 1 day premium at £239.50 for adult renewals only. Both use an appointment.

• Should I book my trip before my new passport arrives?

  GOV.UK says not to book travel until you have a valid passport, because your new passport will not have the same number as your old one.

• How valid must my passport be for a trip to France?

  GOV.UK says the date of issue must be less than 10 years before you arrive and the expiry date at least 3 months after you plan to leave the Schengen area.

• What should I do if my passport is lost or stolen?

  GOV.UK says to cancel it as soon as possible using its online service. If you are abroad and must travel urgently, you might be able to apply for an emergency travel document, which has a fee.

• What are the basic rules for a passport photo?

  For an online application, GOV.UK asks for a digital photo against a plain light-coloured background, at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall, between 50KB and 10MB.

• Can your site apply for my passport?

  No. We explain the rules and send you to GOV.UK, where the application is made. We do not take applications, check them or charge for anything.