Passport Control

Passport control The Identity and Passport Service, which is an executive agency of the Home Office, is responsible for issuing UK passports. The Agency builds on the strong foundations of the UK Passport Service (UKPS) to provide passport services. Visit the website.

Passport Safety

You should always carry a passport when travelling abroad, even if one is not required to enter the country.
Before you leave home make two copies of your passport identification page, and leave one copy at home with friends or relatives and carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport. If your passport is lost or stolen, this will speed up the replacement process.
If you plan to be abroad for more than two weeks, you may want to register with the British embassy in the country you are visiting.
To avoid being a target of crime, don't be too conspicuous with it. Not only do you risk having the passport stolen, but your other identification, credit cards and money as well. Take it out only when you need to provide it to officials. At all other times keep it on your person. There are travel accessories available which can help keep your personal items safe, such as belt bags, waist wallets, neck wallets and leg stashes.
Do not leave your passport in checked luggage (but do leave a photocopy of it in your luggage), a handbag or an exposed pocket.
When possible, leave your passport in a hotel safe, not in an empty hotel room.
One person should never carry all the passports for an entire group.
Never lend your passport to anyone, use it as collateral or ask someone to hold it for you.

Lost or stolen passports

If it is lost or stolen while you are in the UK, you must report the loss or theft of your passport as soon as possible to the Identity and Passport Service. To reduce the possibility of anyone else using your passport or your identity, you will need to fill in and sign a lost or stolen declaration form (LS01). All cases of theft must also be reported to the local police, as the crime reference details must be inserted in the relevant section of the LS01 form.

You can get this form from:

the 24-hour Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000
your local passport office
your local police station
certain Post Office ® branches that offer the Check & Send service.

In addition, the IPS recommend that you apply for a replacement passport as soon as possible. You can apply as long as you are a British national and also:

a UK resident
in the UK at the time you are applying.
If it is lost or stolen while you are abroad, you must report the loss or theft of your passport as soon as possible to the local police and to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Consulate, Embassy or High Commission of the country you are in.
You can get details of your local FCO post by calling +44 20 7008 1500 (0870 606 0290 within the UK) or by visiting the FCO website.
When you make the report to the FCO post, you will also need to fill in and sign a lost or stolen declaration form LS01. The form is also available through the posts overseas. All cases of theft must also be reported to the local police, as the crime reference details must be inserted in the relevant section of the LS01 form.
The FCO post will record the loss or theft of your passport and forward the information to the Identity and Passport Service. They will then cancel your passport to reduce the risk of someone else using your identity. The FCO post will issue you with replacement travel documents so you can travel back to the UK.