Skip to main content
Apply for a passport

Beta This is a new service – your feedback (opens in new tab) will help us to improve it.

Accessibility statement for Apply for a UK passport

This accessibility statement applies to the apply for a UK passport service.

This website is run by His Majesty’s Passport Office. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

  • zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
  • navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
  • navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
  • listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

It will help us if you can tell us what assistive technology you use.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems, or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact us.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

If you are in Northern Ireland and are not happy with how we respond to your complaint you can contact the Equalities Commission for Northern Ireland who are responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’) in Northern Ireland.

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

We provide a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.

Our offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit we can arrange a sign language translator or other support to help you complete the service in person.

Find out how to contact us.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

His Majesty’s Passport Office is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

On pages with conditional radio buttons, the expanded status of those buttons is not conveyed to all screen reader users. For example, on the “Do you live in the UK?” page, when the user answers “No”, the radio button expands and a conditional menu opens to select a country. This is a known issue with the accessible components in the GOV.UK Design System. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 4.1.2 Name, role, value. A fix is dependent on the GOV.UK Design System’s response to a decision from the ARIA working group.

On all service pages, when viewed at 400% zoom, the footer menu has links which are too small and too close together. In particular, the centres of the Cookies and Privacy links are fewer than 24 pixels apart. This is a known issue with the accessible components in the GOV.UK Design System. This fails WCAG 2.5.8 Target size (minimum).

There are no autocomplete attributes to help users enter personal information which they have entered in their browser before, for example name, email address and telephone number. This fails WCAG 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose. However, autocomplete has not been implemented because of security concerns related to the use of shared devices and browsers. This decision complies with Government Digital Service (GDS) criteria, which allows exceptions where security concerns are present.

There are some accessibility issues with the post-application feedback survey:

  • the question label “1. How did you apply for your passport?” is not linked to the group of radio buttons below it
  • the colour and contrast between the text and background on some elements, make it harder for users to see content
  • some graphics and non-text components need to have good contrast against the background

We have raised these issues with the supplier of the survey website and will follow up on progress by September 2026.

Disproportionate burden

At this time, we have not made any disproportionate burden claims.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

Since this website was last tested for accessibility, we have fixed 9 issues that failed to meet WCAG 2.2 AA compliance.

We are aware of issues with the colour palette of the dial to explain the result of the photo upload check. This will be included as part of a wider full review of the photo guidance.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 23 September 2020.

It was last reviewed on 11 June 2026.

This website was last tested between 23 February and 9 March 2026 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard. The test was carried out by the Government Digital Service (GDS).

Different tests were completed to check against WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria. Testing was based on a sampling approach and limited to a fixed time period. A further full audit is required to test all application journeys in the service.