Passport Change of Address

Everything you need to know for a passport change of address in the UK

Passport Change of Address

When it comes to a passport change of address it can be difficult to get a straight answer. Do I need to update my address on my passport? If I don’t, can I still travel? How would I even update the address on my passport.

This guide will cover everything you need to know to change your address on your passport in the UK and any other questions you are likely to have.

SlothMove helps you update your address across all of your accounts online simultaneously. We’ll help you get your passport change of address questions answered.

So let’s jump straight in and get started.

Update Your Address Online

So, in a nut shell, you don’t need to update your address on your passport.

However, you must do so for the DVLA, Council Tax and most people forget to do things like a Tesco/Boots Clubcard change of address etc…

We can help you update your address across all of your accounts by using our online change of address service. You can inform your TV Licence, Loyalty Cards, Councils – who ever you need to and it can be done within 5 minutes.

Do I need to change my address on my passport?

According to HMRC, you do not need to inform the passport service that you have changed address or that your contact details have changed.

As a matter of fact, you don’t need to inform HMRC if any of the following change:

You get a new job (congratulations, though!)
Your Marital status changes
You change your address, move home or move apartment
Your appearance changes slightly (for example, you die your hair, you pierce your nose, you tan etc…)
You become a national of another country
You emigrate from the United Kingdom

When do I need to change my passport?

The good news is that you might not need to change your passport. When it comes to her Majesty’s Passport Office, you only need to change your passport under three circumstances. This is if you;

Change your name;
Change your gender; or
Your appearance changes to such an extent that you cannot be recognised from the photo in your passport anymore (such as surgery, for instance)

How do I replace my passport?

If you think you might have lost your passport, it’s too damaged to be legible or you meet any of the requirements listed above you will need to replace your passport. You can start your application process by following HMRC’s online form which can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to replace my passport?

According to The Passport Service & HMRC as of 2019, it costs £75.50 if you apply online and £85 if you apply via post. You can apply for a replacement passport online here.

If you would like to apply via post to change your passport, you can use the Post Office’s Check & Send Service or get in touch with the Passport Adviceline.

How do I change address on my passport UK?

If you’re moving home you would probably assume that you need to update the address on your passport. The truth is that you don’t actually need to update the address on your passport when you move home. If you have other services, such as DVLA, Student Finance, Loyalty Cards etc… then we would recommend you get started with our online change of address portal.

Does it cost to change address on my passport?

It doesn’t cost anything to change address on your passport. And that’s simply because you don’t need to tell HMRC when you change address to update your passport. You may need to let HMRC know for other services which you can learn about on our article on HMRC change of address.

Does address on passport matter?

When it comes to your passport, your address doesn’t matter. It does matter however with other services like the DVLA, other HMRC services etc… This is because HMRC recognise that most people will move home within 10 years and there are two reasons for not requiring the address to be up to date. So, why don’t you need to update your passport address? Firstly, the administrative cost of process the address change would be too high. Secondly, the address doesn’t actually matter and doesn’t verify your identity. This is different than the DVLA, where your address update is required because you actively must register a vehicle to your place of residence.

Whilst you don’t need to update your passport, you should look at your other services. we can help you get started with updating those below; we can also help you update your address across your loyalty cards, Council, Water and others.

How do I get a passport fast-track?

If you need to get a passport urgently, you can get a passport using the 1-week fast track service. That means it will be sent to you within one week of your appointment. It costs £142 for an adult and £122 for a child.

Unfortunately, you cannot apply for this online yet. You need to:

Grab a paper application from the Post Office;
Book an appointment online with HMRC and pay the fee (£142 for adults or £122 for children)
Get your documents ready

Ensure that you bring two identically-sized passport photos, your completed application form, and any supporting documents to your appointment.

Passport Change of Address and Beyond

And now you know everything you need to about a passport address change. Hopefully this article has been useful. If you’re in the process of moving, be sure to check out our moving house checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything during your move. We have covered that you don’t need to update the address on your passport, but that it is important to make sure your address is updated across the rest of your accounts. HMRC, DVLA, NHS and other need to know that you’ve moved home.