Documents for First Passport Application

I'm wondering if someone has had a similar experience or can help clarify something:
I've successfully naturalised and will go through the ceremony at the next available date (next month). We have just sold our house and are completing a couple of days after the ceremony. We can't move into our new home for a couple of months (just due to delays in exchange, etc.) so in the meantime we will spend some time living at our close friends' place and then in an AirBnB until the new place is ready.

Can I just put my friend's address (where we'll be) on my 'first passport' application, or does the address go through some sort of background check? I don't have any ties to that address such as electoral register or utilities (but I could probably change my mobile contract address to send mail there).
If I enter the address as an 'alternate', will this cause delays to my application or an interview request?


It's not really possible to wait the 2-3 months to move into a new place before I can apply for a passport as I have to travel before then to my elderly parents (I thought I'd be giving myself a good buffer either way, but it would be too long if I wait until we have a new residential address).

So frustrated that it took much longer than anticipated to both sell our house and get naturalisation approved, now it all had to happen at the same time...

We don't know what background checks HMPO carry out, though I have seen that they might ask for proof of address. Perhaps you could contact the HMPO helpline for further information (https://www.gov.uk/passport-advice-line).
Passport interviews are held at random and they are a last identity check before issuing a passport. It's not for reviewing your application from scratch.

Would OP be able to use their EU passport and apply when they get back?

I've successfully naturalised and will go through the ceremony at the next available date (next month).

Not successfully naturalised yet, only approved to be naturalised.

Can I just put my friend's address (where we'll be) on my 'first passport' application, or does the address go through some sort of background check?

You can put any address where you want your passport sent to. The passport office is a separate body/department.

Would OP be able to use their EU passport and apply when they get back?

OP can continue using EU passport until it is actually blocked (in future if/when the American style of you must enter the UK with a British passport happens). OP has settled status, so Polish passport works just fine.

Thank you all for your responses.

So in general, if I am staying at my friend’s house, I can put that as my residential address and they’ll send my new passport/my documents there?

Should I explain in a letter that I’m in between selling my house and buying a new one, so no fixed address for the time being, therefore staying at friends?

I’m just worried they’ll make it difficult since I won’t be in the same house address I’ve lived at for years and all my utilities, mobile contract, etc are linked there.
What do people do if for example they are travelling around different airbnbs and have no fixed address?

TIVAman wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 07, 2023 1:14 pm

Thank you all for your responses.

So in general, if I am staying at my friend’s house, I can put that as my residential address and they’ll send my new passport/my documents there?

Should I explain in a letter that I’m in between selling my house and buying a new one, so no fixed address for the time being, therefore staying at friends?

I’m just worried they’ll make it difficult since I won’t be in the same house address I’ve lived at for years and all my utilities, mobile contract, etc are linked there.
What do people do if for example they are travelling around different airbnbs and have no fixed address?

You are making a mountain our of it even after you got responses! Put your friend's address, does not warrant any explanation.
You think your address is being monitored or what? People change address everyday. Whatever you do choice is absolutely yours.

Thank you all for you kind responses on my previous post on first passport addresses.
If anyone was wondering, I had a chat with an HMPO advisor who confirmed they'd be happy with any address that you say you live in, no explanation needed unless you think it necessary.

The advisor did confuse me a bit with what documents are needed though. She told me I need to supply the original naturalisation certificate, original foreign passport, and an original full birth certificate. The HMPO website does not mention that as a requirement for first time passport applications if naturalised. Do I need to supply a full original birth certificate?

Also, I hold 2 foreign passports (via birthright to parents of different nationalities; one EU, one other, both allow dual citizenship). The advisor said I can supply my original EU passport (used to enter the UK) and a colour photocopy of all pages of my other passport. I did say I'm applying from within the UK! Very confusing.

Does anyone have experience in a similar situation? What documents are actually needed to support a first time passport application?

You need to submit
- naturalisation certificate
- foreign passports uncancelled
All in original. You should be ok with just supplying one nationality passport. Enclose a colour copy of the other one.
This is quite a standard procedure, looks more complicated than it really is.