Accessibility statement for Apply for a UK passport

This accessibility statement applies to the apply for a UK passport service.

This website is run by His Majesty’s Passport Office. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

  • zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
  • navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
  • navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
  • listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

It will help us if you can tell us what assistive technology you use.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems, or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact us.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

If you are in Northern Ireland and are not happy with how we respond to your complaint you can contact the Equalities Commission for Northern Ireland who are responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’) in Northern Ireland.

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

We provide a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.

Our offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit we can arrange a sign language translator or other support to help you complete the service in person.

Find out how to contact us.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

His Majesty’s Passport Office is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

When an application is nearing timeout, people using a screen reader find the content in the dialog box difficult to read. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.4.3 (Focus Order).

PDFs that are essential to providing our services, for example to confirm identity or provide proof of payment need to be updated to make it easier for people using screen readers to navigate. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.4.2 (Page Titled), 3.1.1 (Language of Page), 1.1.1 (Non-text Content), 1.3.2 (Meaningful Sequence), and 2.4.3 (Focus Order).

Some error messages do not describe the error and need to provide more advice for the user on how to continue. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 3.3.1 (Error Identification).

On the contact details page the country code field and telephone number are not read out correctly for people using voice activation software. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.5.3 (Label in Name).

Disproportionate burden

At this time, we have not made any disproportionate burden claims.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We have fixed 10 issues that failed to meet the WCAG version 2.2 AA standard.

We will update the service to GOV.UK Frontend v5 and fix the remaining issues that fail to meet the WCAG version 2.2 AA standard. We will update this page when the issues are fixed.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 23 September 2020.

It was last reviewed on 30 September 2024.

This website was last tested on 9 May 2024 and was checked for compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2. Testing was carried out by the Digital Accessibility Centre.

The service was tested based on a user’s ability to complete key journeys. All parts of the chosen journeys were tested, including documents. Journeys were chosen on a number of factors including usage statistics, risk assessments and subject matter.