Collecting and delivering passports and supporting documents including UK visas and immigration travel documents will now be handled by the the Royal Mail after the company was awarded a five-year contract.
Royal Mail will also manage the delivery of internal mail between HM Passport Office branches and other government offices.
The contract also includes working with the General Register Office on collecting and delivering birth, marriage and death certificates to and from local government registration services.
Royal Mail has already begun delivering some documents on behalf of HM Passport Office and will become the main supplier by October 2023.
“We are immensely proud to have been awarded the contract for delivering the UK’s passports," said Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail.
Henley & Partners most powerful passports - in pictures
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Japan takes top spot in the index. All photos: Unsplash -
Second place: Singapore and South Korea -
Third place: Germany and Spain -
Fourth place: Finland, Italy and Luxembourg -
Fifth place: Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden -
Sixth place: France, Ireland, Portugal and the UK -
Seventh place: Belgium, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the US -
Eighth place: Australia, Canada, Greece and Malta -
Ninth place: Hungary and Poland -
10th place: Lithuania and Slovakia -
11th place: Latvia and Slovenia -
12th place: Estonia -
13th place: Iceland -
14th place: Malaysia -
15th place: Liechtenstein and the UAE. Victor Besa / The National -
The report said the UAE was a 'great success story' after climbing 49 spots in 10 years. Photo: Federal Authority For Identity and Citizenship
“Everyone knows and trusts their postie and trust is so important for critical items like this.
“We are already working with HM Passport Office on further enhancements to the service that will roll out later this year.”
Lord Murray, the Minister with responsibility for HM Passport Office, says: “The safe delivery of passports and supporting documents is a key element of our service, and we look forward to working alongside Royal Mail to meet the needs of British passport customers."
