When someone dies, one of the tasks that often gets overlooked – alongside the more prominent ones like notifying the bank or cancelling benefits – 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.
The good news is that this is one of the simpler notifications you will need to make. If you use the Tell Us Once service when you register the death, the Passport Office is notified automatically. But if you have the passport in your possession, there are also steps to take to physically return it – and you have a choice about whether to get it back as a keepsake.
This guide explains the full process: why cancellation matters, how to return the passport, what HMPO does with it, and how Tell Us Once fits in.
Do you need to return the passport?
Yes. HM Passport Office expects bereaved families to return a deceased person’s passport so that it can be formally cancelled. A British passport is a document issued by the Crown – it does not become the property of the holder or their estate. When the holder dies, the document should be returned or cancelled through an official channel.
The reason this matters is identity fraud. A valid, uncancelled passport is a powerful identity document. In the wrong hands, it can be used to open bank accounts, apply for credit, or assume someone’s identity for other purposes. Cancelling the passport quickly removes that risk and protects the deceased’s identity and the estate from fraudulent activity.
You are not legally obliged to return the passport within a specific timeframe, but HMPO guidance is clear that it should be reported and cancelled as soon as possible after the death. If you are using Tell Us Once (see below), the cancellation is handled automatically and you do not need to post the passport unless you want to. If you are not using Tell Us Once, returning the passport by post is the recommended route.
(Source: gov.uk – deceased person’s passports)
How to cancel and return the passport
There are two main routes: Tell Us Once, and returning the passport directly by post. You can also do both – use Tell Us Once to trigger the cancellation, and then still send the physical 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 Tell Us Once report is handled by the Customer Service Liaison Team in Peterborough, and the passport record is marked as “holder deceased” in the system.
This is the quickest and easiest option for most families.
(Source: gov.uk – Tell Us Once)
Route 2: Postal return (D1 form)
If you prefer to return the passport physically – or if you are not using Tell Us Once – you can send the passport directly to HM Passport Office.
Before posting: Cut across one corner of the passport (HMPO guidance specifies the top right-hand corner). This physically cancels the passport for travel purposes before it is formally processed and reduces the risk of it being misused 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 or certified copy) | Yes | HMPO will return it to you |
| Covering letter | Yes | State the deceased's full name, date of birth, and date of death; your name and relationship; and whether you want the passport returned or destroyed |
| D1 form (optional) | No | Available from gov.uk or by calling the adviceline – using this form instead of a letter is equally valid |
Where to send it:
HM Passport Office PO Box 767 Southport PR8 9PW
Use recorded or tracked post so you have proof of sending and can confirm receipt. This is important when sending original documents – see the tips section below.
(Source: gov.uk – what to do with a passport when the passport holder has died)
What HMPO does with the passport
Once HM Passport Office receives your letter and the passport, they cancel the record in their system by marking it “holder deceased”. They will acknowledge receipt and return the death certificate to you – keep this safe, as you will need it for other bereavement notifications.
The passport itself is dealt with according to your instructions:
- If you ask for it to be returned: HMPO will return the passport to you, physically marked as cancelled. You can then keep it as a family record or dispose of it yourself.
- If you do not specify, or ask for it to be destroyed: HMPO will securely destroy the passport.
You should state your preference clearly in the covering letter or D1 form. If you forget to specify, HMPO will typically destroy the document by default, so it is worth being explicit if you want it back.
Processing takes approximately 2–4 weeks from receipt. You will not receive an individual acknowledgement unless you specifically request one – the return of your death certificate is the standard confirmation that your notification has been processed.
(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 for some people it holds significant sentimental value.
There are two ways to do this:
Option 1: Keep it without returning it
If you have used Tell Us Once to notify the Passport Office, the record is cancelled in the system. You can keep the physical passport without sending it anywhere. While it is formally cancelled in HMPO’s records, the document itself remains with you. There is no legal requirement to post it once Tell Us Once has been completed.
Option 2: Send it, then ask for it back
If you are returning the passport by post, you can ask HMPO to return it to you after cancellation. In your covering letter (or on the D1 form), state clearly 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.
Either route is valid. If sentimentality is a factor, Option 1 is simpler – use Tell Us Once to trigger the cancellation, and keep the passport at home.
Tell Us Once and the Passport Office
Tell Us Once is one of the most useful tools available to bereaved families. When you register the death, you can use Tell Us Once to notify a wide range of government departments simultaneously, including:
- HM Passport Office – cancels the British passport
- DVLA – cancels the driving licence and removes the deceased as vehicle keeper
- HMRC – updates tax records and cancels any 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
For HMPO specifically, Tell Us Once removes the need to send the physical passport or fill in the D1 form. The notification is handled electronically by HMPO’s Customer Service Liaison Team, who update the passport records directly.
You can complete Tell Us Once online at gov.uk/tell-us-once, or by phone if you have the reference number given to you by the registrar. The reference number is valid for 28 days from the date of death registration.
Tell Us Once does not cover every government body, and it does not notify private organisations such as banks, insurers, or utility companies. For a full list of who to contact after a death, see our guide to notifying organisations.
(Source: gov.uk – Tell Us Once)
What about passports for travel?
A common point of confusion in the weeks after a death is whether surviving family members can still use their own passports for travel. The answer is yes, without qualification – your own passport is entirely unaffected by someone else’s death.
Tell Us Once and any other bereavement notifications only affect the deceased’s passport record. Your passport remains valid and can be used normally for travel.
There is also no issue with travelling for the funeral or to deal with affairs abroad. If the death occurred overseas and you need to travel to arrange repatriation or attend to the estate, your own passport is valid and you should use it.
One related area where confusion can arise: if the deceased held a joint travel insurance policy, you will need to 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. Contact the insurer directly – do not assume you are covered.
The deceased’s passport should 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 it by tracked post. If you are returning the passport and death certificate by post, use Royal Mail Special Delivery or another tracked service. You will receive proof of posting and can confirm the parcel has been received. This matters because you are sending original documents that cannot be replaced if lost.
Do not destroy the passport yourself. Some people assume they should shred a passport rather than send it back. Shredding is not the recommended approach – it can invalidate any future confirmation of cancellation and leaves no official record. Snipping the top right-hand corner is the accepted method if you are posting it; otherwise, leave cancellation to HMPO.
Keep a copy of the passport page. Before sending the passport anywhere, photograph or photocopy the bio-data page (the one with the photo). This gives you a reference for the passport number and details, which can be useful 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 in your letter.
Do not forget if the deceased had multiple passports. Some people hold more than one passport – for example, if they had dual nationality. Each passport should be dealt with through the relevant country’s passport authority. For a second British passport (which some frequent travellers hold), both should be returned to HMPO.
If the passport is lost or not in your possession. You are not obliged to produce the physical passport if it cannot be found. Write to HMPO at the Southport address, or complete Tell Us Once, and explain that you are unable to locate the document. HMPO will cancel the record in the system without requiring the physical document.
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 a copy of the death certificate to HM Passport Office, PO Box 767, Southport, PR8 9PW. State whether you want the passport returned or destroyed. Use tracked post and keep your proof of sending.
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 to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5:30pm)
- 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 also covered by Tell Us Once. For DWP benefits and pension notifications, see our DWP bereavement guide.