Do you still have to post your old passport back to blighty, or is it all online now? Been a while since last renewed it...

If you apply on line, then, no, you do not send your old passport to UK.

Has it changed? I renewed mine online a year ago, they wanted me to return it. I received it back at the same time as my new one.

Yes you do - and they send it back to you with the corner cut off.

I am resident in Spain and applied to renew my UK passport one week ago. I was most definitely required to return the old one to HM Passport Office in the UK. Just a few minutes ago I received an email from them to say my application had been approved and the new passport was being printed, I received an earlier message last Thursday evening confirming that they had received my old passport. The process is now so much easier and more efficient than it used to be, a really good service.

Whoops sorry; it's the US passport where, if renewed on line, one does not have to send in the old passport

I have to do this now. How did you send the old passport to the UK? Is it OK to use mail with tracking that they'll sign for?

I haven't renewed it yet

From Japan I used EMS, the most expensive option but it was tracked and notified when signed for. Sometimes the extra cost can be justified.
The passport office returned mine using DHL.

Granted it was back in 2020 when I last renewed it, but I sent it via Canada Post registered mail, with tracking.

Go to the gov.uk site to renew passport (don’t go through a third party site as it’s more expensive) and follow their instructions. You may be able to submit your own photograph- follow their general rules and try to submit - it’ll tell you if it doesn’t meet specification.

It is also worth noting that for those who want to renew their UK passport when visiting the UK, if you have a passport from a second nationality, you cannot use the same day service but you can use the 1 week service so allow enough time.

This new immigration rule the government is pushing for Feb25 is very annoying

Canadians can visit on a ETA but we cannot !! How stupid is this, you can fly France and get a dingy to uk I bet

so now there be a mad rush for UK passports I bet. We visit maybe once every 2-3 years and have been happy to travel as Canadians

its BS and just another reason Labour are wrong for England when we cannot just visit

I’m fuming !!! We have a wedding to attend next Feb in my home country and I need a document to go back now it’s madness !!

I am having a meltdown as I have a booking to the UK in March and have just recently learned of the new rules for dual citizens. I am living in Canada and my uk passport expired in 1991. I am now a Canadian citizen and I just renewed my passport and paid for an eTA which was approved. I applied last night for a British passport as I do not want to pay the outrageous sum for the certificate. I am not sure I will get my passport in time for my travel. I am just annoyed with this situation.

Join the club and I bet those who return as dual citizens on their UK passport will not be covered by the NHS as you are not a resident in the UK. At least you won’t need a UK driving licence but you won’t be eligible to get insurance put onto a relatives policy. So do you have a credit card that will cover the damage, collision aspects if renting a vehicle.

Sadly other countries are doing the same and if you were a dual citizen who has been living in the UK for many years you need a Canadian passport if flying back to Canada.

At least if you got into trouble you should be able to contact the Canadian Embassy/Consulate for assistance.

I wonder how a criminal case would be dealt with and not fully conversant with the current UK law if arrested then the Police have to ask if you wish to contact in this case Canadian officials.

Another downside might be not eligible for Legal Aid in the UK or entering competitions to win money as not a resident of the UK and other such things.