A significant overhaul of British passports has commenced today, featuring a fresh cover, new interior imagery, and a range of security elements to combat criminals and counterfeiters.
The latest design showcases the coat of arms of King Charles III, marking the first 300 passports in circulation with this emblem. Inside, the updated design highlights 4 UNESCO-protected natural landscapes – Ben Nevis, the Lake District, Three Cliffs Bay, and the Giant’s Causeway – representing the diverse regions of the UK.
This marks the first complete redesign of the UK Passport since 2020, incorporating advanced anti-forgery technology, establishing it as the most secure passport ever produced, according to the Home Office.
Mike Tapp, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, expressed pride in the new British passports, emphasizing the inclusion of His Majesty’s Coat of Arms and landscapes from all four nations, celebrating the nation’s heritage while enhancing security measures.
The HM Passport Office (HMPO) has introduced numerous security enhancements to passports since the initial modern version in 1915. These features include intricate patterns difficult to replicate and details visible only under UV light to outsmart criminals.
Following four years of effort, the Home Office successfully transferred over a billion UK passport records, including personal data, to a secure cloud-based platform. This transition has streamlined passport processing, with the system handling over 350 million queries swiftly, leading to the issuance of 4 million passports more efficiently.
Additionally, this migration has significantly reduced carbon emissions by 88%, equivalent to saving 57,000 miles of driving in an average petrol car annually, as per the Home Office.
In the first nine months of 2025, 5.1 million passports were issued promptly, with the government reporting that 99.7% of straightforward applications were processed within three weeks.