Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of first-time Passport applicants were required to attend an interview in each of the last three years.
The table below shows proportions of UK based First Time Adult (FTA) customers attending interview over the last 3 years. However, not all FTA, for example HM Forces service personnel serving in the UK and overseas are required to attend an interview.
Year | Number of UK First Time Adult Applications | Number of UK First Time Adult Interviews | Proportion of UK FTA Intake to Interviews |
2015 | 286,640 | 222,264 | 78% |
2016 | 325,793 | 244,555 | 75% |
2017 | 293,647 | 177,540 | 60% |
The reduction in the 2017 proportions being interviewed is due to the option for individuals applying for citizenship to opt for the Joint Citizenship and Passport Application Process (JCAP).
HM Passport Office does not require FTA customers using JCAP to attend an interview as identity is confirmed through the naturalisation process.