Overview
- His Majesty's Passport Office posted a '#TravelReady' message on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, saying unsigned passports can cause delays at border control and urging travellers to check documents before leaving.
- Government guidance says you must sign a new passport as soon as you get it and that a 'sign after receipt' passport is not valid for travel until the holder signs it.
- The guidance tells holders to sign on the 'holder's signature' line using a black ballpoint pen to avoid problems at airports or on arrival.
- Children aged 11 or under and people who cannot sign due to a disability are exempt and their passports will note that the holder is not required to sign.
- The reminder is a routine, practical nudge ahead of the summer peak and pairs with advice to check passport expiry and destination entry rules, with the EU still enforcing stricter validity requirements.