The British visitor's passport. A new simplified type, the British Visitor's Passport, was introduced in 1961. It was a single-page cardboard document valid for one year obtainable for many years from Employment Exchanges, as agents of the Passport Office, and then from a Post Office.
OLD school British passports will be making a comeback when the country quits the EU next month.
The Government has agreed to our demand to scrap the EU’s burgundy model, enforced on the nation from 1988. Here's the latest...
Are blue passports coming back after Brexit?
Blue passports are making a comeback for citizens of Britain and Northern Ireland.
We'll be returning to the old design which traditionally marked out the UK passport from the rest after we leave the EU in March 2019.
The announcement in December 2017 followed a campaign by The Sun for the Government to bring back our famous dark blue passport — as a symbol of the UK regaining sovereignty from the EU.
Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said: “The restoration of our own British passport is a clear statement to the world that Britain is back.'
What colour were the old British passports and how are they different from EU ones?
Traditionally, the British passport was dark blue with the lion and the unicorn royal coat of arms embossed in gold on the front.
Unlike the modern passport, it had a hardcover.
Passports in all EU member states' passport booklets have common design elements, and, with the exception of Croatia, have burgundy coloured covers.
Unlike the old British passports, the new design will be similar in look and feel to the old one, though with the distinctive dark blue colour.
Immigration minister Brandon Lewis has promised the new document will have “a raft of new security measures to protect against fraud and forgery”.
The page with the holder's photograph and details will be replaced with a new 'super-strength plastic polycarbonate material that will be more difficult to alter,' according to the Government.
The UK passport is an expression of our independence and sovereignty – symbolising our citizenship of a proud, great nation. That's why we have announced that the iconic #bluepassport will return after we leave the European Union in 2019. https://t.co/pgQvrBIna5
— Theresa May (@theresa_may) December 22, 2017Where will they be made?
Not in Britain or Northern Ireland seemingly.
It emerged in March that British company De La Rue is to be stripped of its long-standing contract to produce the nation’s new identity documents.
In November 2018, The Standard reported that De La Rue is shaking up its passports division after losing out on the £500 million tender to make the new, blue British passport.
The national identity: A timeline showing the history of the UK passport
THE first passport-type papers appeared in 1414 with a 'safe conduct' document referred to in an Act of Parliament in Henry V's reign.
1540: Travel papers are called passports for the first time.
1540: Travel papers are called passports for the first time.
1641: Oldest surviving British passport was issued.
1794: The Home Office takes control of issuing them in a role it still has today.
1835: Row breaks out over 'degrading' demands for British passports to include physical descriptions.
1858: Passports are written in English for the first time. They had been in French, the official language of diplomacy.
1915: Passport books similar to those we use today were first issued.
1920: Our iconic blue book created.
1972: Watermarks were introduced.
1975: Laminated photos were added to help prevent pictures being switched.
1988: Blue book ordered to be abolished after the EU demands Britain use European Common Format Passport.
1993: The blue passport was ditched.
2002: Famous last-minute London Passport Office leaves Petty France, Westminster, for Victoria.
When can I get a new blue passport?
All those renewing or applying for a new passport from October 2019 will automatically get one designed with dark blue and gold.
But new British passports issued between the Brexit deadline of 29 March, 2019, and the all-blue passport date of October 2019, will initially continue to have the EU burgundy colours.
However, the embossed words 'European Union' at the top of the front cover will be removed, along with the same words on the first proper page.
According to The Independent, around four million new passports will take this temporary form, based on estimates on the number of passports issued between April and September 2016.
In January 2018 it was announced the price of a British passport is set to rise by £12.50 from March 27 - but only if you are applying for one by post.
It will see prices go up from £72.50 to £85 while the cost of online applications will also increase - but only by £3 to £75.50.
Where are blue passports being made?
British company De La Rue will no longer produce British passports.
Instead, the lucrative business will be handed over to French firm Gemalto, The Sun can reveal.
De La Rue produced its first passport for Britain back in 1915.
The decision sparked outrage among Tory MPs who accused the Home Office of 'a national humiliation'.
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Every passport issued by the UK will continue to be valid as a EU travel document until 29 March 2019.
From the date of EU departure, all current British passports will still be valid as a UK travel document, but will no longer have the rights associated with EU membership.
The very last EU British passport will run out by the end of 2029.
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