The British passport has undergone significant changes starting today, featuring a new cover, updated interior images, and enhanced security measures to combat fraud and counterfeiting.
In a notable shift, the new design showcases the coat of arms of King Charles III, with the initial batch of 300 passports already in circulation. Internally, the revamped passport includes images of four UNESCO-protected natural landscapes – Ben Nevis, the Lake District, Three Cliffs Bay, and the Giant’s Causeway – symbolizing the unity of the four UK nations.
This marks the first complete redesign of the UK passport since 2020, incorporating advanced anti-forgery technology, making it the most secure version ever produced, according to the Home Office.
Mike Tapp, the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, expressed pride in the new British passports, highlighting the inclusion of His Majesty’s Coat of Arms and landscapes from all four nations as a celebration of heritage alongside heightened security features.
The HM Passport Office (HMPO) has integrated numerous security enhancements into passports over the years, with the first watermark introduced in 1972. The latest passports boast intricate patterns and UV-visible features to deter counterfeiters and maintain security standards.
Moreover, the Home Office has completed a four-year project to transfer over a billion UK passport records to a secure cloud-based platform, facilitating smoother processing of passport applications. This transition has significantly reduced carbon emissions, equivalent to the annual mileage of 57,000 miles in an average petrol car.
In the first nine months of 2025, 5.1 million passports were issued on schedule, with the government reporting that 99.7% of straightforward applications were processed within three weeks, demonstrating efficient service delivery.