Guidance

DNA testing for British passport applications: caseworker guidance

Tells HM Passport Office staff about inviting customers to volunteer DNA evidence to support a biological relationship, during a UK or overseas British passport application.

From:
HM Passport Office
Published
23 April 2021
Last updated
5 May 2026 — See all updates

Documents

DNA testing for British passport applications (accessible)

HTML

DNA testing for British passport applications

PDF, 288 KB, 31 pages

Details

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff:

  • that we follow Home Office DNA guidance
  • that we cannot require customers to provide DNA evidence as part of their passport application
  • that we have no specific statutory power to require DNA evidence
  • what we do when we receive DNA evidence to support a British passport application

Updates to this page

Published 23 April 2021
Last updated 5 May 2026 + show all updates

  1. This guidance has been updated to tell examiners they must only remove the original full DNA report when the application, and any other applications the document is associated with, are complete.

  2. Updated the DNA testing for British passport applications, a full list of changes can be found in the guide.

  3. Updated guidance - the updates are listed in the document.

  4. Guidance updated, changes are detailed on page 4.

  5. Added version 7.0 of guidance.

  6. Accessible version added.

  7. First published.

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