The British passport is undergoing a significant transformation, just five years after its celebrated return to a blue cover. The Home Office has announced it will start issuing the newly designed travel documents from December 2025.
A New Royal Era Begins
Marking a new chapter following the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the passport cover will, for the first time, display the official coat of arms of King Charles III. This change replaces the heraldic design associated with his late mother, who passed away in 2022. The passport's colour, however, will remain the now-familiar dark blue, a change originally implemented after the Brexit vote.
Celebrating Britain Inside and Out
Beyond the cover, the internal pages have been completely reimagined. They will be adorned with elegant watermark images of some of the UK's most iconic landscapes. Travellers will find depictions of Ben Nevis, Lake Windermere, and the stunning Three Cliffs Bay as they flick through their passport.
The redesign also introduces a major security upgrade. The photograph page will make greater use of holographic and translucent images, making it significantly more difficult to forge or tamper with the document. This page continues to be crafted from a durable, ultra-thin polycarbonate material to better withstand wear and tear, a feature first seen in the 2020 redesign.
An Enhanced, Secure Future for Travel
Mike Tapp, the Labour Party's Minister for Migration and Citizenship, heralded the update. He stated, "The introduction of His Majesty's Arms, iconic landscapes, and enhanced security features marks a new era in the history of the British passport." He further emphasised that the new design demonstrates a "commitment to outstanding public service" and ensures British passports remain among the most secure and trusted in the world.
It is important to note that this redesign does not affect the validity of existing passports. Current blue and older burgundy passports will remain valid until their printed expiry date. The rollout of the new design is set to begin before Christmas, five years after the last substantial update in 2020, which saw the end of the European Union's burgundy passport for British citizens.
