Guidance

Place and country of birthbirth: caseworker guidance

GuidanceTells forHM Passport Office staff about the customer’s place and country of birth and how they must be shown on the passport and in our records.

From:
HM Passport Office
Published
17 June 2021
Last updated
26 OctoberFebruary 20222024 — See all updates

Documents

Place and country of birth (accessible)

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Place and country of birth

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Details

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff dealing with passport applications:

  • how the customer’s place and country of birth is part of their identity
  • the customer’s place and country of birth affects their nationality
  • how the customer’s place and country of birth may affect their entitlement
  • the impact place and country of birth may have on a vulnerability
  • how the customer’s place and country of birth may affect consent for a passport
  • about the importance of the name of the place and country of birth, and how to correctly record them
  • what documents a customer must send us, as evidence of their place and country of birth
  • how and when you must make changes to the customer’s place and country of birth
Published 17 June 2021
Last updated 26 OctoberFebruary 20222024 + show all updates

  1. Removed reference of China and Taiwan. Updated Place of birth: common name changes section to show we must use Kyiv instead of Kiev. Updated Place of birth and country of birth: UK nationality certificates to show how we will deal with naturalisation or registration certificates that show Hong Kong as the customer’s country of birth. Updated When to record the customer’s place of birth as unknown if a UK issued adoption certificate does not give a place and country of birth. Added information to show a customer can choose to have their place of birth written in Welsh if they were born in Wales. Updated Rangoon to Yangon in place of birth field. Added information that if a customer asks for their place of birth to be changed, you do not need to ask them to complete another declaration form. Updated throughout to reflect a change in the name and roles of HM Passport Office's Guidance team.

  2. Added version 18.0 of guidance.

  3. Accessible version added.