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A passport is one of the essential documents that allow international travel. There are many types of British passports, and they are a gateway to rights, privileges, and responsibilities tied to British nationality. The United Kingdom recognizes multiple passports reflecting the country's historical ties, political relationships, and varied citizenship statuses. If you want to get familiar with the different types of British passports, then stay tuned with us.
In this blog, we will shed light on the types of British passports. Apart from this, we will also learn their purposes and how they cater to unique demographics, offering clarity on which passport best suits your needs.
Blue passport or we can say the standard British passport that is issued to citizens, belongs to the United Kingdom. After a long time of being red during the UK's participation in the European Union, it reclaimed its characteristic blue cover in 2020.
British citizens: born in the UK. (Those born abroad with a claim to British citizenship).
This Blue British passport is versatile and used as a traveling document and citizenship proof. It is commonly used for identification in various legal processes within the UK.
British Overseas Territories (BOTs) are remnants of the British Empire. Citizens of these territories are issued the BOTC passport, denoting their connection to the UK.
Residents of the BOTs with British Overseas Territories Citizenship (BOTC).
Introduced in 1987, the BN(O) passport was designed for individuals in Hong Kong who had British nationality but were not automatically granted full British citizenship when Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997.
Residents of Hong Kong who registered for BN(O) status before 1997.
The status cannot be passed to descendants.
The BN(O) passport gained prominence after the UK introduced pathways for BN(O) holders to settle in the UK amid political changes in Hong Kong.
It is another type of British passport that is issued to individuals who have British overseas citizenship (BOC). A status was established for those who were disqualified for other post-colonial British nationality categories.
Those who held British nationality in former colonies but were not granted citizenship of the newly independent states.
The British Protected Person passport is issued to individuals linked to former British protectorates or protected states.
Former British-protected state nationals who did not obtain citizenship in another country before their independence.
The British Subject passport reflects an older form of British nationality, predominantly linked to individuals from former British India and Ireland.
Individuals who retained British subject status after the independence of former colonies.
The ETD is a temporary passport issued to British nationals in urgent situations, such as lost or stolen passports while abroad.
Who Is Eligible?
All British nationals stranded abroad without a valid passport.
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Contact USThis passport is reserved for British diplomats and officials traveling on government business.
Members of the UK’s diplomatic service. Certain government officials and royal family members.
Similar to the diplomatic passport, this is issued to nondiplomatic government employees traveling for official purposes.
UK government officials on official assignments abroad.
It’s all about the different types of British passports. Now we will check out the difference between all the above-mentioned passports based on residency rights, visa-free access, and eligibility.
Type |
Residency Rights |
Visa-Free Access |
Eligibility |
---|---|---|---|
Standard British Passport |
Full rights in the UK |
High |
British citizens |
BOTC Passport |
Limited |
Moderate |
BOT citizens |
BN(O) Passport |
No automatic right |
Moderate |
Hong Kong BN(O)s |
BOC Passport |
Limited |
Few |
BOCs from former colonies |
BPP Passport |
No automatic right |
Few |
BPPs from protected states |
British Subject Passport |
No automatic right |
Few |
An older form of British status |
Your eligibility for a British passport depends on your nationality status, often determined by ancestry, place of birth, or ties to a former British territory. Ensure you have accurate documentation when applying to confirm your eligibility.
This is all about the British overseas territory variant passport. Alongside the above, we also talked about the difference between all British passports and covers applying for a British passport.
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British citizen passport, British Overseas Territories citizen passport, British National (Overseas) passport, British subject with right of abode in UK passport, non-EU common format passport, and biometric passport.
HM Passport Office, usually takes up to three weeks to renew a UK passport.
No, you don't need a passport to fly within the UK, but you do need to provide a form of photographic identification
The cost of a UK passport depends on the type of passport.