Overview

• New passports will be issued from December 2025 in the first wholly new design since 2020, replacing Queen Elizabeth II’s arms on the cover with King Charles III’s.
• Inside pages will showcase four UNESCO‑protected landscapes representing the UK nations: Ben Nevis, the Lake District, Three Cliffs Bay and the Giant’s Causeway.
• The document adds advanced security measures, including new holographic and translucent elements and laser‑marked page identifiers to make counterfeiting harder and checks faster.
• Passports displaying Queen Elizabeth II’s coat of arms remain valid until their printed expiry dates, and travelers are urged to check validity and apply well ahead of trips.
• Officials say the upgrade supports efforts to prevent illegal entry as part of the government’s border‑security plan, with HM Passport Office reporting strong processing performance in 2025.