Fake Passport Renewal Fee Scams in the UK
How fraudulent websites and emails impersonating His Majesty's Passport Office collect renewal fees and identity documents from UK applicants seeking a new or renewed passport.
Part of: Fake Passport and ID Renewal Scams
Last reviewed: 9 June 2026
UK passport applications and renewals are processed through His Majesty's Passport Office, which operates the official GOV.UK passport service. This well-known gateway has been consistently mimicked by fraudulent services that insert themselves into the application journey by appearing in search results, running advertisements, or sending emails that closely match official HMPO communications.
The UK context creates specific risks that differ from other countries: the standard adult passport fee is well established and broadly known, which means a fake service charging a similar or slightly higher amount does not immediately raise suspicion. Additionally, the requirement to submit identity documents — a birth certificate, previous passport, or biometric data — is a real part of the UK application process, making requests for documents feel routine.
This guide focuses on the specific ways UK passport scams operate, the GOV.UK indicators that distinguish the genuine service, and what to do if you have submitted documents or paid through an unofficial channel.
How this scam works on the UK
A UK resident searching for passport renewal services may encounter paid advertisements or high-ranking search results for services that present themselves as expedited or assisted application services. These sites charge significantly more than the official HMPO fee, often framing the additional cost as a service or convenience charge for handling the paperwork.
More dangerous versions impersonate GOV.UK itself, presenting pages that closely mirror the official design and requesting the full set of documents required for a genuine application — a digital or posted copy of the existing passport, a countersigned photograph, and personal details including National Insurance number for identity verification. The fee is collected by card and the documents are harvested for identity theft.
In the email variant, a message purporting to be from HMPO states that an existing application needs supplementary documentation or an additional fee, with a link to a page outside the GOV.UK domain. Applicants who are already partway through a genuine application may not notice the inconsistency.
Common red flags
- Website domain is not service.gov.uk or a clear HMPO subdomain of gov.uk
- Fee is significantly higher than the official HMPO fee listed on GOV.UK
- Site asks for a National Insurance number as part of the passport application — HMPO does not require this
- Application can be completed and paid for entirely through the unofficial site without any redirect to GOV.UK
- Email link goes to a non-gov.uk domain even if the sender address appears official
- No way to verify a submitted application through the official HMPO tracking service
How to protect yourself
- Apply for or renew your passport only through the official service at gov.uk/apply-renew-passport
- Check the exact URL in your browser before entering any personal details or payment — it should be a gov.uk domain
- Verify the current fee on the official GOV.UK page before paying, and treat any significant premium as a red flag
- If you have submitted documents to an unofficial site, contact Action Fraud and place a fraud alert with the major credit reference agencies
- Use the official HMPO tracking service to verify the status of any application
How to report it
- Report fraudulent sites to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk
- Report phishing emails impersonating HMPO to [email protected]
- Contact HMPO using the details on GOV.UK if you believe your genuine application has been intercepted
- If card payment was made, contact your bank to dispute the charge
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a passport website is the official UK government site?
The genuine UK passport service is at gov.uk — look for the padlock in your browser and confirm the domain is exactly gov.uk or a direct subdomain such as service.gov.uk. Any other domain, however official it looks, is not the government's own service.
I used a third-party passport service and am not sure if it is legitimate. What should I do?
Check whether your application appears in the official HMPO tracking system. If it does not, contact HMPO directly and report to Action Fraud. Some third-party services are legitimate but charge a premium fee — the key risk is those that handle your identity documents without any legitimate purpose.