Clarifying "Two Different Kinds" of British Passports and the "6 Valid Passports"

Clarifying "Two Different Kinds" of British Passports and the "6 Valid Passports"

Based on your follow-up, it seems you're referring to the distinction between two main kinds of British passports (standard passports for British citizens vs. variant passports for other forms of British nationality) and the UK government's recognition of 6 valid types of British passports overall. This is accurate according to official HM Passport Office (HMPO) guidance. I'll break it down below, drawing from the latest UK government publications (updated as of August 2024).

To recap briefly from our previous discussion: Yes, individuals can hold multiple valid British passports concurrently (up to two in most cases, with rare exceptions), but this is separate from the types of passports. Multiple passports are usually of the same type (e.g., two standard British citizen passports for frequent travelers). However, people with dual British nationality statuses (e.g., a British citizen who is also a British Overseas Territories Citizen) can legally hold passports of different types simultaneously, as long as they meet eligibility criteria.

The "Two Different Kinds" of British Passports

UK passports broadly fall into two categories based on nationality status and issuance:

1. Standard (Common Format) Passports:

   - Issued to British citizens (the most common nationality status).

   - Burgundy or blue cover (blue since 2020 post-Brexit).

   - Full travel rights, including the right of abode in the UK (live/work without restrictions).

   - Issued by HMPO in the UK or overseas British embassies/consulates.

   - Biometric (ePassports) since 2006.

2. Variant Passports:

   - Issued to holders of other British nationality statuses (e.g., British Overseas Territories Citizens (BOTCs), British Overseas Citizens (BOCs), British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)s), or British Protected Persons (BPPs)).

   - Similar design to standard passports but with variations (e.g., different cover text, observations limiting EU rights pre-Brexit).

   - Issued by local governments in British Overseas Territories (BOTs) or dependencies like the Channel Islands/Isle of Man.

   - Travel rights vary: e.g., BOTC passports allow entry to the UK but may not include full right of abode without additional citizenship.

   - Holders eligible for both kinds (e.g., a BOTC who is also a British citizen) can apply for a standard passport in the UK while keeping their variant one.

These "two kinds" reflect the UK's complex nationality laws, stemming from its colonial history. There are 6 types of British nationality in total (British citizen, BOTC, BOC, BN(O), British subject, and BPP), but not all have dedicated passports—some use standard ones with endorsements.

 

 The 6 Valid Types of British Passports According to the UK Government

The HMPO explicitly lists 6 types of valid British passports in its caseworker guidance ("Types of British Passports," v10.0, published August 2024). These are all genuine, government-issued documents recognized as valid for travel and identity. They include both current and legacy formats still in circulation (e.g., old burgundy EU-style passports remain valid until expiry). Here's a summary:

 

Type	Description	Cover Color/Design	Who It's For	Key Notes/Validity
1. Standard British Citizen Passport	The everyday passport for British citizens. Biometric with chip.	Blue (post-2020) or burgundy (pre-2020 EU style). Words: "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."	British citizens with full UK rights.	Most common; valid 10 years for adults. No observations unless restricted (e.g., no EU free movement pre-Brexit).
2. Variant Passports (e.g., BOTC, BN(O))	Customized for non-citizen British nationals; similar to standard but with territorial notes.	Blue/burgundy; cover shows territory name (e.g., "Gibraltar" or "Hong Kong").	BOTCs, BOCs, BN(O)s, or BPPs.	Issued locally (e.g., Gibraltar government); valid travel document but limited UK rights. Dual holders can have both standard and variant.
3. Channel Islands/Isle of Man Passports	Issued in dependencies; styled like standard but with local governance notes.	Blue/burgundy; cover: "Bailiwick of Guernsey" or "Isle of Man." Greeting from local governor, not monarch.	British citizens in Channel Islands (Jersey/Guernsey) or Isle of Man.	Valid for all countries except where local status affects EU/Schengen (pre-Brexit observation removed).
4. Diplomatic Passports	For high-level official travel; black cover.	Black; words: "Diplomatic passport."	Diplomats, senior officials, and royal family members on official duties.	Limited personal use; must be surrendered on leaving post. Valid 10 years but task-specific.
5. Official Passports	For non-diplomatic government business.	Black; words: "Official passport."	Government employees (e.g., civil servants, military) on official assignments.	Not for private travel; valid only for official tasks. Endorsed with restrictions.
6. Collective (Group) Passports	For organized groups; covers multiple children.	Burgundy/blue; labeled "Collective passport."	Groups of up to 15 children under 18 on educational/cultural trips to Europe (with adults).	Valid only for return to UK/EU; not for individuals. Issued to group leaders; rare since Brexit.

 

Additional Notes on These 6 Types:

- All are valid until their expiry date, even legacy ones (e.g., pre-2006 non-biometric or 1960s visitor passports, though the latter are phased out).

- Specimen passports (for training/fraud prevention) are genuine but marked "SPECIMEN" and not valid for travel, they're not counted in the 6.

- Emergency travel documents (e.g., ETJs) are not full passports but temporary substitutes; they're not included in the 6.

- As of November 2025, all new passports are blue biometric ePassports (Series C design, updated to "His Majesty" since 2023).

- The UK government stopped issuing burgundy passports by December 2020, but existing ones remain valid.

 

 Possessing Multiple Passports Across Types

- You can hold passports from different types if eligible (e.g., a British citizen BOTC with a standard passport AND a Gibraltar variant passport).

- Limits still apply: Generally, no more than two valid full passports at once, regardless of type. Exceptions require HMPO approval.

- To apply: Use the standard form for your type or contact local authorities for variants. Provide evidence of need (e.g., dual status proof).