When someone dies, one of the tasks that often gets overlooked is dealing with their passport. A British passport belongs to the Crown, not to the holder, and once the holder has died it must be cancelled to prevent fraudulent use of the deceased’s identity.
If you use the Tell Us Once service when you register the death, the Passport Office is notified automatically. But there are also steps to take if you want to return the physical passport – and you have choices about what happens to it afterwards.
This guide covers the full process: the quickest routes to cancellation, how to return the passport by post, what happens if it has been lost or if the death was overseas, and what to do if there was a live passport application at the time of death.
Do you need to return the passport?
You are not legally required to return the physical passport, but you must cancel it. A British passport is a document issued by the Crown – it is not the property of the holder or their estate. When the holder dies, the document must be reported to HM Passport Office so the record can be formally cancelled.
The reason this matters is identity fraud. A valid, uncancelled passport is a powerful identity document. It can be used to open bank accounts, apply for credit, or assume someone’s identity entirely. Cancelling the passport quickly removes that risk and protects the deceased’s estate from fraudulent activity.
If you use Tell Us Once (see below), cancellation is handled electronically and you do not need to post the physical passport unless you choose to. If you are not using Tell Us Once, returning the passport by post is the standard route.
(Source: gov.uk – deceased person’s passports)
How to cancel the passport
There are two main routes to cancellation: Tell Us Once and direct postal return. Both are equally valid. You can also combine them – use Tell Us Once to trigger the electronic cancellation, then post the passport if you want it permanently off your hands.
Route 1: Tell Us Once (recommended)
Tell Us Once is a free government service that lets you notify multiple departments of a death in a single step. When you register the death, the registrar will either complete Tell Us Once with you at the register office, or give you a unique reference number to use online or by phone within 28 days.
When you complete Tell Us Once, the Passport Office is notified automatically and the passport record is cancelled. You do not need to send the physical passport. The notification is handled by the Customer Service Liaison Team in Peterborough, who mark the passport record as “holder deceased” in the system.
What you will need for the passport element of Tell Us Once:
- The deceased’s passport number (if you have it)
- Their date of birth and date of death
- Your details as the person reporting
Note: Tell Us Once does not cover Northern Ireland. If the deceased was living in Northern Ireland at the time of death, you will need to notify HMPO separately – either by phone or by post using the D1 form.
This is the quickest and easiest option for most families.
(Source: gov.uk – Tell Us Once)
Route 2: Postal return with D1 form
If you prefer to return the passport physically – or if you are not using Tell Us Once – you can send it to HM Passport Office by post.
Before posting: Cut across one corner of the passport (top right-hand corner). This physically cancels the document for travel purposes before it is formally processed, and reduces the risk of misuse if lost in transit. Do not shred or destroy the passport – just snip the corner.
What to include in the envelope:
| Item | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The passport (with corner removed) | Yes | Cut the top right-hand corner before posting |
| Death certificate (original) | Yes | HMPO will return it to you. Certified copies are accepted if the original is not available. |
| Covering letter or D1 form | Yes | State the deceased's full name, date of birth, and date of death; your name and relationship; whether you want the passport returned or destroyed |
Where to send it:
HM Passport Office PO Box 767 Southport PR8 9PW
Use Royal Mail Special Delivery or another tracked service. You are sending original documents – tracked post gives you proof of sending and confirmation of receipt.
Getting the D1 form: You can print the D1 form from GOV.UK, or request one by calling the adviceline on 0300 222 0000. Using the form instead of a handwritten letter is equally valid – both are accepted.
(Source: gov.uk – what to do with a passport when the passport holder has died)
What if the passport has been lost or stolen?
You do not need to produce the physical passport. Send the following to HM Passport Office at the Southport address:
- Completed D1 form (or a covering letter)
- Original death certificate
- A note explaining that the passport was lost or stolen
HMPO will cancel the record in their system and refer the case to their Lost, Stolen and Recovered team to flag the document appropriately. There is no requirement to file a separate police report for a lost passport that belongs to someone who has died, though you should mention if it is believed stolen.
You can also handle this by phone (0300 222 0000) or through Tell Us Once – you do not need the physical passport for either route.
What if the death happened abroad?
If the death occurred overseas, do not post the passport to the Southport address. Instead, contact the nearest British Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate in the country where the death occurred.
The consular team will handle the passport notification through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). They can also assist with repatriation of the deceased’s remains if needed.
Once the death has been registered in the UK (which is typically required for estate administration), you can also complete Tell Us Once to ensure HMPO’s records are updated – but let the local consulate handle the initial passport notification in the first instance.
Find your nearest British Embassy or consulate: gov.uk/world
What if there was a live passport application?
If the deceased had applied for a new passport and it had not yet been issued at the time of death, the application fee is refundable.
Contact HMPO on 0300 222 0000 and provide:
- Original death certificate
- Evidence of your authority to act (executor status, administrator appointment, or confirmation as named informant on the death certificate)
- A signed, dated letter requesting withdrawal of the application
HMPO will verify the documents, withdraw the application, and process a manual refund. Processing typically takes several weeks. There is no refund available once the passport has been issued – even if the holder died shortly after receiving it.
What HMPO does with the passport
Once HM Passport Office receives the D1 form or covering letter and the passport:
- They verify the death certificate and confirm the details match the passport
- They cancel the record by marking it “holder deceased” in the system
- They send an acknowledgement letter via Royal Mail
- They return your death certificate – keep this safe, you will need it for other notifications
- They deal with the passport according to your instructions (return or destroy)
If you ask for the passport to be returned: HMPO will physically mark it as cancelled and post it back to you.
If you do not specify, or ask for destruction: HMPO will securely destroy the passport by default.
Be explicit about your preference in the covering letter or D1 form. If you forget to specify, HMPO will default to destruction.
Processing takes approximately 2–4 weeks from receipt.
(Source: gov.uk – deceased person’s passports)
Can you keep the passport as a memento?
Yes. Many families choose to keep a passport as a personal keepsake – it contains the holder’s photograph and details, and can hold significant sentimental value.
Option 1: Keep it after Tell Us Once
If you have used Tell Us Once to notify the Passport Office, the record is cancelled electronically. You can keep the physical passport without sending it anywhere. There is no legal requirement to post it once Tell Us Once has been completed.
Option 2: Ask for it back after postal return
If you are returning the passport by post, state clearly in your covering letter (or on the D1 form) that you would like the passport returned once it has been cancelled. HMPO will physically mark it as cancelled and post it back to you.
If sentimentality is a factor, Option 1 is simpler – complete Tell Us Once and keep the passport at home.
Tell Us Once: what else it covers
For HMPO specifically, Tell Us Once removes the need to send the physical passport. But the service also notifies a wide range of other government departments simultaneously, including:
- DVLA – cancels the driving licence and removes the deceased as vehicle keeper
- HMRC – updates tax records and cancels relevant tax credits or Child Benefit
- DWP – cancels benefits including State Pension and Universal Credit
- Local council – cancels Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and Blue Badges
- Veterans UK – notifies Armed Forces pension schemes if applicable
Tell Us Once does not notify private organisations – banks, insurers, utilities, and private pension providers must be contacted separately. For a full list of who to contact, see our guide to notifying organisations.
(Source: gov.uk – Tell Us Once)
What about surviving family members’ passports?
Your own passport is entirely unaffected by someone else’s death. Tell Us Once and all other bereavement notifications only affect the deceased’s records. You can travel normally on your own passport.
One area where confusion can arise: if the deceased held a joint travel insurance policy, check the terms of that policy separately. Travel insurance is not covered by Tell Us Once, and the status of joint policies after one holder’s death varies by insurer.
The deceased’s passport must not be used for travel by anyone. Even before it is formally cancelled, a passport is only valid for the named holder. Using a deceased person’s passport for travel is a criminal offence.
Tips and things to watch out for
Send by tracked post. If returning the passport and death certificate by post, use Royal Mail Special Delivery or another tracked service. You are sending original documents that cannot be replaced if lost.
Do not destroy the passport yourself. Shredding is not recommended – cut the top right-hand corner only. Shredding leaves no official record and can complicate things if HMPO needs to verify cancellation later.
Keep a copy of the bio-data page. Before sending the passport anywhere, photograph or photocopy the page with the photo and details. This gives you the passport number and a reference if you need to correspond with HMPO later.
State your preference about return or destruction. HMPO will default to destroying the passport if you do not specify. If you want it back, say so clearly.
Multiple passports. Some people hold more than one passport – dual nationality or a second British passport held by frequent travellers. Each passport must be dealt with separately through the relevant country’s passport authority. For two British passports, both should be returned to HMPO.
If the passport cannot be found. Write to HMPO at the Southport address, use Tell Us Once, or call 0300 222 0000 and explain you cannot locate the document. HMPO will cancel the record without requiring the physical passport.
Summary
Cancelling a deceased person’s passport is straightforward and takes very little time to arrange. The quickest route is Tell Us Once, which notifies HMPO automatically when you register the death – no form-filling or posting required.
If you want to return the physical passport, send it with a covering letter (or D1 form) and an original death certificate to HM Passport Office, PO Box 767, Southport, PR8 9PW. State whether you want the passport returned or destroyed. Use tracked post.
If the passport is lost, stolen, or if the death happened abroad, separate routes apply – see the sections above.
Key contacts:
- Tell Us Once: gov.uk/tell-us-once
- HMPO postal address: HM Passport Office, PO Box 767, Southport, PR8 9PW
- HMPO adviceline: 0300 222 0000 (Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9am–5:30pm)
- Deaths abroad: Contact nearest British Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate
- HMPO gov.uk guidance: What to do with a passport when the holder has died
For a complete list of organisations to notify after a death, see our bereavement notification guide. If the deceased also held a UK driving licence, the process for notifying DVLA after a death is similarly straightforward and is covered by Tell Us Once. For DWP benefits and pension notifications, see our DWP bereavement guide.