Gosh has anyone tried to do this recently? It is incredibly onerous. I am trying to get a UK passport for my US-born child. I am UK citizen born in the UK and the other parent is a US citizen. Since I was born after 1983 they are asking for birth and marriage certificates for all grandparents (even though only my parents are relevant anyway - the others are Americans).
Plus they want original documents!
Why can't they simply ask for passport details for me and my parents to validate in their systems.
Anyone have experience at ignoring the non-relevant docs? Then at least I only need to do it for my parents.

Applicant’s documents

Send the following:

• full birth (civil and hospital) or adoption certificate showing both the child’s and parents’ details
• the passport used to enter the country from which you are applying (if this applies)
• if this applies, any court orders relating to the child (for example that describe parental responsibility or residency arrangements)

If you don’t have parental responsibility, also send the following:

• a signed and dated letter from the mother (or other person with parental responsibility) giving consent for the issue of the child’s new passport

Parents’ documents

For 1 of your parents, send 1 of the following:

• full birth or adoption certificate (showing both the child’s and parents’ details)
• naturalisation or registration certificate

Grandparents’ documents

Send all of the following for both maternal grandparents:

• full birth or adoption certificate (showing both the child’s and parents’ details)
• grandfather’s marriage certificate to your grandmother (if this applies)

And all of the following for both paternal grandparents:

• full birth or adoption certificate (showing both the child’s and parents’ details)
• grandfather’s marriage certificate to your grandmother (if this applies)

Gosh it sounds really complicated! My daughter (UK citizen/naturalized American citizen) applied for UK passports for her US born children (my grandchildren) and I can't remember it being that complicated. Her children are aged 10 and 8 so it was a while ago. I don't think that she needed the children's grandparent's information so that appears to have changed.

My daughter got her first British passport earlier this year (2025), not having previously had her birth registered (consular registration of birth), and she certainly didn't have all those documents. - I'd need to check what she sent, but I am 99% certain that she didn't submit any documents regarding her grandparents, certainly not her British grandparents (and her US grandparents aren't relevant). .... It must have been because I was born prior to 1983, and was therefore British by virtue of being born in the UK.

As you were born after 1983 then you need to prove how you are a British citizen before the passport examiner can assess whether your child is eligible for a British passport. As such you’ll need to send your parents’ birth certificates (assuming they were born in the UK) and their marriage certificate. You can ignore the request for the American grandparents’ certificates as they are irrelevant to your child’s claim.

If your parents were born and married in the UK then you can order a set of their certificates from here to use for the application.

My son successfully got his UK passport two years ago. Along with his own documents, he had to supply my birth certificate/ marriage certificate (born in Bermuda pre 1983) plus a copy of my UK passport along with his maternal grandparents birth certificates and marriage certificate.
His grandmother was reluctant to give him her documents as it's very difficult to get replacements from Bermuda, so he sent certified copies instead. Luckily they were accepted

Why is their marriage certificate important. I would think if they both and I are all born in the UK then that is sufficient to prove I can pass on my citizenship?

In any case, to update this case I simply sent my birth certificate, those of both of my parents' and their marriage certificate (plus the applicant's birth certificate). I also sent a short cover letter explaining.
They approved it relatively quickly.

Your father would have needed to have been married to your mother when you were born to pass on his citizenship. Your mother would have needed to have been married but if she was married then the marriage certificate is evidence of her change of name. Either way it would be required by HMPO.

Huh? Even if my parents had not been married, if they were both born in the UK and I was born in the UK, then my daughter born outside the UK would be British automatically.

Sorry, that should have read:

Quote:

Your father would have needed to have been married to your mother when you were born to pass on his citizenship. Your mother would have not needed to have been married but as she was married then the marriage certificate is evidence of her change of name. Either way it would be required by HMPO.

No they wouldn't.
Even if my parents had not been married, if they were both born in the UK and I was born in the UK, then my daughter born outside the UK would be British automatically.

That’s correct, but as your mother was married to your father, then you still needed to provide their marriage certificate as evidence of your mother’s change of name.