Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has for UK nationals applying for passports who are unable to obtain full original birth certificates from the countries they were born in.

His Majesty’s Passport Office engages with customers on a case by case basis where they tell us they are unable to obtain original core supporting documents, including full birth certificates, from their countries of birth. Published HM Passport Office guidance provides advice to customers and passport examiners in considering these cases and what alternative evidence can be accepted.

Supporting documents guidance assists the passport examiner and customer on what original documents we need and may ask for - Getting your first adult passport: What documents you need to apply - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Balance of probability guidance assists passport examiners in exercising discretion and what alternative documentation can be asked for in place of the missing original documents – Balance of probabilities: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Supporting documents not available guidance assists passport examiners to decide which alternative documentation to ask for from customers who are unable to obtain/provide original documentation - Supporting documents not available: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

All of the relevant guidance referenced in this response is available online for customers to read or they can contact the advice line where additional support is needed.