Applying for a post-dated passport (HM Passport Office guidance)

Passports for newly weds and civil partners (PD1)

Introduction

If you are getting married or forming a civil partnership and you are travelling abroad immediately after the ceremony, Her Majesty’s Passport Office can issue a British Passport in your new name, up to three months before the ceremony.  HM Passport Office will cancel your old passport, and post-date your new passport in your new name, making it valid from the date of your ceremony.  This means you can’t use it until the ceremony has taken place.

Your new passport will be valid for ten years, and HM Passport Office will add any remaining validity (up to a further nine months), to your new passport.

If you decide to apply for a post-dated passport you need to be aware that:

• You will need to send HM Passport Office your current passport along with your application form.
• Your current passport will be cancelled, and you will no longer be able to use it for travel.
• Your new passport will be post-dated so it will not be valid until your ceremony has taken place.
• Some countries will not issue visas for post-dated passports.  You should check with the consulate of the country concerned.
• If the ceremony does not go ahead for some reason, the passport cannot be used and must be returned to HM Passport Office.  You will have to pay for a new passport in your old name.

If you decide to amend your passport before the ceremony

You will need to complete a standard passport application form and a Post-Date form 2 (PD2).

You can get both forms from a Post Office branch that offers the Check & Send service, by calling the Passport Adviceline and getting them to send one to you in the post, or you can download the PD2 form.

Completing the PD2 form

You must complete both parts of the PD2 form:

Filling in the passport application form

You should complete the application form in full, including the signature at section 9 of the form, using the name you will take after your ceremony.

If your appearance has changed so that you can’t be recognised from the photograph in your current passport, you will need to have your application countersigned.  The person who countersigns your application should certify the back of one (not both) of your photographs as follows:

“I certify that this is a true likeness of ......................................................
who, after marriage/civil partnership, will become ......................................................”
Signed ......................................................
Name ......................................................
Date ......................................................

Other points

The full application fee is payable for the issue of a post dated passport.

If you hold a valid passport and don’t want to replace it with one showing your new name, you can continue to use your current passport and take your marriage or civil partnership certificate with you when you travel.  However, some countries may insist that the details on your travel documents match those in your passport.  HM Passport Office advises you to check with the consulate of the country you will be travelling to before booking your holiday.

Some countries will not grant visas for post-dated passports.  You should check with the consulate of the country you will be travelling to before applying.

If you want to apply for a post-dated passport in your new name, but you want to continue to use your maiden name for professional purposes, you should make a statement at section 8 of the application form and we will add a note on the observation page of your passport showing your maiden name.

Applications for post-dated passports for minors who are going to get married or enter into a civil partnership do not need to be supported by the written consent of a parent.

Only those who are a British citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen, British National (overseas), British Overseas Citizen, British Subject or British Protected Person before marriage are eligible for a British passport.  You can find more information on how to apply for British citizenship at the United Kingdom Border Agency website at www.gov.uk.

Visit www.gov.uk for guidance on applying for a passport and information on passport fees.