British passport applicants, including those making applications for British Overseas Territories Citizen passports, must now adhere to the UK’s one name policy
Where a dual national holds a passport or travel document issued by another country in a name different to that set out in section 2 of the application for a British passport, the Passport Office will not issue a passport until the names are aligned. The policy was established in the interest of identity protection, and requires individuals to use one name for all official purposes. It applies primarily to applicants who show different names in their British passport application from their current or expired – but not cancelled – national passport.
Where the foreign passport has expired and the applicant has no intention of obtaining another passport from their native country, they must engage with the appropriate authorities in their native country to obtain written confirmation from the appropriate authority that the name or change of name is recognised, that their records have been updated and any future foreign passport or national ID card would be issued in that name. If the applicant has never held a national passport, an original sworn affidavit from the applicant must be provided confirming this position.
