The Home Office will begin rolling out the updated British passport next month, marking the first time the document carries the official coat of arms of King Charles on its cover. Passport designs normally undergo a refresh every five years, combining visual changes with security upgrades aimed at stopping forgers.
The previous overhaul in 2020 restored the dark blue cover once familiar before the EU’s burgundy design rules. That version swapped cultural illustrations for simpler geometric designs.
During the life of a passport, smaller updates can also appear. In 2023, the inside text was amended to reflect King Charles’s coronation, noting “His Britannic Majesty”. Likewise, the words “European Union” were taken off the cover in April 2019, ahead of the full return of blue passports and before the UK had formally left the EU.
What has changed on the new passport
The headline difference is the introduction of King Charles’s coat of arms, replacing the design tied to Queen Elizabeth II. For most people the tweaks will be subtle: the lion and unicorn appear smaller next to the main crest, and the crown has a rounder top.
More noticeable updates appear inside. The inner pages now feature watermark-style images of well-known British landscapes, including Ben Nevis, Lake Windermere and Three Cliffs Bay. The passport keeps its dark blue cover, meaning the last burgundy versions should be phased out by the end of the decade.
Is the new passport more secure?
Security features have also been strengthened. The Home Office says the document will be the most secure yet – a claim also made in 2020.
The photo page now uses more holographic and translucent elements, designed to reveal specific shapes and patterns when tilted, helping officials spot tampering. As before, the photo page is made from ultra-thin polycarbonate, the same material used in driving licences, to make it harder to damage over time.
When travellers can expect the new design
The Home Office says the updated passports will be issued from December, meaning anyone applying after that point should receive the new version. There is no need to wait for an existing passport to expire, although any remaining validity cannot be transferred to a replacement.
Standard passports last for ten years from the date of issue. Early renewals typically allow applicants to carry over up to nine months of remaining time.
How much the new passport will cost
Passport fees increased earlier this year. A standard online application now costs £94.50 for an adult and £61.50 for a child, which is about 25 per cent more than the price in 2022. Postal applications cost more at £107 for adults and £74 for children, while the one-day premium service is priced at £222 for adults and £189 for children. Applicants applying from abroad usually pay slightly higher fees.
There has been no announcement about further increases in 2026, though the fact that both Conservative and Labour governments have raised fees three times in three years may offer a clue about future trends.
Anyone receiving a new passport will need to reapply for any visa waivers linked to the old document, including the US ESTA, and must re-register for the EU’s Entry-Exit System (EES).
Will my current passport still be valid?
The introduction of the new design will not affect existing passports, which will continue to be valid until their expiry date.
