UK Damaged Passport Replacement
Replacing a damaged UK passport costs GBP 102 online, the same as a standard renewal. The differences are in the process: you must surrender the damaged passport, and chip damage may force you to apply by post. Updated 8 April 2026.
No surcharge for damage
HMPO charges the same fee for a damaged-passport replacement as for a standard renewal. There is no extra cost for the inconvenience. The catch is the chip: if it has been damaged, the online flow may fail, forcing you onto the GBP 115.50 postal route.
What HMPO Considers Damaged
The official HMPO definition covers a range of issues. The common pattern is that anything that makes the passport unsuitable for border-force checks counts as damaged:
- Water damage (dropped in bath, washing machine, sea)
- Photo page laminate peeling or bubbled
- Pages torn out or stuck together
- Bite marks or chewing damage (often a dog or toddler)
- Writing or drawing on a page by a child
- Bent cover that will not lay flat
- Visible damage to the chip area (e.g. snapped in half)
- Faded or unreadable photo
- Slight bending of the cover from pocket use
- Small ink marks that do not affect the data page
- Visible stamp wear on visa pages
- Slight scuffing of the cover
- A small crease, provided it does not cross the data page
- Normal yellowing or ageing of the cover
The judgement call sits with border officials, not HMPO. If you are unsure whether your passport will be accepted, HMPO recommends erring on the side of replacement. A damaged-passport replacement applied in time costs GBP 102; a missed flight because of a refused passport costs significantly more.
The Online vs Postal Decision for Damaged Passports
HMPO prefers online applications and the GBP 102 fee reflects that preference. But for damaged passports the online route is not always available:
| Damage type | Online possible? | Fee | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface damage (cover, pages) | Yes | £102 | Chip and data page still readable |
| Photo page peeling | Maybe | £102 to £115.50 | Depends if scanner can still read |
| Chip damage (snapped, fried) | No | £115.50 | Online application reads from the chip |
| Water damage | Maybe | £102 to £115.50 | Depends on extent |
| Major page damage | No | £115.50 | Postal lets you explain in writing |
Try the online application first. If it cannot read your existing passport details, the gov.uk flow will redirect you to the postal form. You only pay the GBP 102 fee if the online submission succeeds; the GBP 115.50 postal fee applies if you must use the paper route.
Surrendering the Damaged Passport
The damaged passport must be surrendered with your application. This is non-negotiable:
- Online application. You will be asked to post the damaged passport to HMPO within 10 working days of submission, using the freepost address provided. The new passport will not be issued until HMPO receives the damaged one.
- Postal application. Send the damaged passport with the paper form. Use a recorded delivery service; HMPO does not refund lost-in-post claims.
- Fast track or premium. Bring the damaged passport to your appointment. HMPO will cancel it there and then.
HMPO returns the cancelled damaged passport with your new one. The corner will be clipped to make the cancellation visible. Some people keep it as a memento; the cancelled passport has no further use.
If You Need It Fast
Damaged passport discovered just before travel is a common scenario. Service options for urgent replacement:
Adult fee. Process the damaged-passport replacement at a passport office. Bring the damaged passport. About 1 week to delivery.
Travel in 2 to 8 weeks; passport office appointment required.
Adults only. Collect within 4 hours of the appointment.
Travel within 2 days; book the appointment immediately if your travel is imminent.
Both services require an in-person appointment at one of the 7 UK passport offices. Bring the damaged passport, proof of travel, and a photo meeting GOV.UK standards. The chip-damage caveat applies: if the office cannot read your existing chip, expect a longer interview to verify identity.
Common Causes of Passport Damage
The HMPO-published list of common damage reasons gives some sense of what passes for damage in practice:
- Washing machine. The single most common cause. Wallets containing passports left in trouser pockets is a classic.
- Children. Pen, marker, crayon, or scissor damage by toddlers. The chip can usually survive ink; pen-through-pages cannot.
- Pets. Dogs in particular. The leather smell of the cover seems to attract attention.
- Water bottles in luggage. A leak in checked luggage can soak a passport. The chip sometimes survives, the data page rarely.
- Hot ironing. Surprisingly common. Passports left in pockets that get ironed warp the chip.
- Sea, swimming pool, sand. Holiday damage. Pool chlorine and salt water both attack the laminate.
- Coffee, tea, wine. The classic accidental spill. Photo page bleeding is the issue.
Damaged vs Lost: Different Process
Damaged passport replacement and lost passport replacement use different applications, though the fees are identical:
- Damaged. You still have the passport; you surrender it. HMPO confirms identity via the existing document. Usually faster.
- Lost or stolen. You do not have the passport. HMPO must cancel it first (you report the loss via gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport), then process the replacement. The cancellation is critical: a lost passport reported to HMPO is added to international watch lists. See our lost passport guide for the full process.