Q.What do I do if my passport has been lost or stolen?

A. You must report the incident immediately to the local authorities and the nearest embassy or consulate. Please check our Lost or Stolen Passports section for more information.

Q. What if I find a passport that I earlier reported lost or stolen?

A. You must not use it. Instead return it to the nearest embassy as soon as possible. If you are in the UK, return it to the nearest passport office.

Q. Can I renew a passport overseas?

A. Yes. You can renew your passport at most British embassies. You’ll find further details in our Renewing your Passport section. Please check the opening hours and the individual requirements of the Embassy or Consulate you wish to apply at.

Q. Can I travel abroad without a passport?

A. Never travel without your passport.

Q. How much will a new passport cost?

A. It depends on the type of passport. You’ll find a table in our Fees section.

Q. What kind of photograph should I send?

A. Passport photographs must meet the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). These can be found in the IPS guide to taking a good photo for your passport.

Q. I am a British dual national with a foreign passport. Can I also hold a UK passport?

A. The UK government has no objection to dual or multiple citizenship, or to a person holding passports from more than one country. However, some countries do object. You should check with the authorities of the other country concerned.

Q. Can I send photocopies of documents with my passport application?

A. No. We must see originals. Photocopies or not arised copies are not acceptable.

Q. Can a child be included on a parent’s passport?

A. No. Since October 1998 all children have to hold their own passport.

Q. Do I need to send my birth certificate and expired passport?

A. If you hold a valid passport, we normally do not need to see your birth certificate. But we always need your expired or expiring passport if you have one.

Q. Do I need to have my application counter signed if it is a straight forward renewal?

A. If your passport was issued in the last 10 years, this is not normally necessary unless your appearance has noticeably changed.

Q. Why can’t I provide my ‘short-form’ birth certificate to support my first passport application?

A. Some of the information we need is not included in the short form birth certificate. Sometimes, we need to confirm your place or town of birth and your parents’ details. For instance, we may want to know your parents’ details if you were included in a parent’s passport, for nationality purposes, or if you were the child of diplomatic parent.

If you require any further information please send an e-mail to:

Passports.Mexico@fco.gov.uk