UK passports to get major new change from today

Brits who order a UK passport from today will receive a new design. The divisive navy cover will remain, but designs such as the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coat of arms will no longer feature on the travel document from December 2025, while security features have been added.

The Home Office has confirmed the geometric designs from 2020 will be replaced by watermark-style illustrations of famous British landscapes to represent the UK’s four nations. These images will depict UNESCO sites, including the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, Ben Nevis in Scotland, Lake Windermere in the Lake District and Three Cliffs Bay in Wales.

On the photo page, holographic and translucent elements will reveal certain shapes when tilted to catch the light.

On the front cover, the late Queen’s coat of arms will be replaced with King Charles’ design. The subtle changes include the lion and unicorn being slightly smaller, and the crown being rounder at the top.

The Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp said: “The introduction of His Majesty’s Arms, iconic landscapes, and enhanced security features marks a new era in the history of the British passport.

“It also demonstrates our commitment to outstanding public service – celebrating British heritage while ensuring our passports remain among the most secure and trusted in the world for years to come.”

Passports are typically redesigned every five years, and the Home Office confirmed the updated look will be circulated from December.

In the last major redesign, the iconic burgundy cover, first issued in 1988, was swapped for navy following Brexit to mark a return to the blue and gold design from almost 100 years prior.

It was hailed as a success by Nigel Farage, who posted on social media: “In the 2016 referendum, we wanted our passports back. Now we’ve got them back!”

However, at the time, Labour MP Mary Creagh responded: “No-one under 45 will have owned a blue passport, and most will think they’re not worth £50 billion and crashing the economy.”