UK Passport Service Introduces New Photo, Document Rules

~~Adz:Right~~ Roadtown, Tortola- The UK’s Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has announced new rules for photographs and other documents submitted as part of an application for a British passport.

Registrar-General Mrs. Stephanie Benn said the Civil Registry & Passport Office was notified days ago that effective immediately, the IPS will no longer accept laminated documents. The reason given was that the IPS cannot ensure whether laminated documents are genuine.

Mrs. Benn said that the rule applies to all documents which might be submitted with a passport application, such as birth, marriage, death, adoption, registration, naturalisation, baptismal, residence and belonger certificates; affidavits, deed polls, and divorce decrees. “The only exception is in relation to marriage certificates and change of name deeds produced to document a change of name,” Mrs. Benn said.

Separately, the IPS last week published new guidelines for photographs submitted as part of UK passport applications. According to the new guidelines, black and white photographs will not be acceptable and photographs cannot be taken on a white background; the background must be cream or grey. The new photograph guidelines take effect on October 1.

The full text of the new photo guidelines has been posted on the Deputy Governor’s Office website at www.dgo.gov.vg.

Mrs. Benn urged all persons planning on applying for a UK passport to ensure that their photographs and documents meet the standards set by the IPS.