Overview
- The agency issued a public reminder on X on March 21 stating that a passport cannot be used for travel until it is signed.
- Holders are instructed to sign only on the designated signature line using a black ballpoint pen.
- A passport may be deemed invalid if the signature is in coloured ink or pencil, includes extra information, differs from the usual signature, or is erased, crossed out, or corrected with fluid.
- Passports issued with a digitally printed signature, or those explicitly stating “The holder is not required to sign,” continue to be valid.
- UK adult passports typically last 10 years and children’s five, with current fees of £94.50 online (£107 paper) for adults and £61.50 online (£74 paper) for children.