‘New era’ for British passports as King’s coat of arms appears on cover 

The King’s coat of arms will be on the front of all new British passports from December, the Home Office has announced. 

The inside pages have also been updated to include images of natural landscapes from all four UK nations, including Ben Nevis, the Lake District, Three Cliffs Bay, and the Giant’s Causeway.

The Home Office said the new passport is the first wholly new design in five years, and it will be the “most secure passport ever produced”.

It will include the latest anti-forgery technology, including new holographic and translucent features.

The updated features will improve verification and make passports significantly more resistant to forgery or tampering, the Home Office said.

Migration and citizenship minister Mike Tapp said: “The introduction of His Majesty’s arms, iconic landscapes, and enhanced security features marks a new era in the history of the British passport.

“It also demonstrates our commitment to outstanding public service – celebrating British heritage while ensuring our passports remain among the most secure and trusted in the world for years to come.”

The Home Office has confirmed that passports bearing Queen Elizabeth II‘s coat of arms will remain valid until their printed expiry date.

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However, it advised travellers to check their passports’ validity and renew them well in advance of any upcoming trips.

The first modern British passport was introduced over a hundred years ago, in 1915.