On 19 May 2004, the Home Secretary announced a Gratis (free) passport scheme for all British passport holders born on or before 2 September 1929, in recognition of all the sacrifices made by World War II veterans and civilians. It applies to British Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), British Protected Persons, British Subjects and British Overseas Citizens. This scheme began on Monday 18 October 2004.

All Gratis passports are issued in the United Kingdom and take a minimum of 10 weeks to be processed. To apply for a Gratis passport, please complete a UKPS application form (not a yellow C1 application form, which is only for passports issued overseas).You can obtain the UKPS form by contacting the British High Commission in Canberra either by post or by phone (charges apply).

Please note that Gratis applications cannot be processed by Australia Post and must be sent directly to the British High Commission in Canberra at the following address:

Veteran Passport Applications
Locked Bag 5011
Consular Section
Piccadilly House
39 Brindabella Circuit
Canberra Airport
ACT 2609

What you need to send with the application form:

• Your existing British Passport or full birth certificate;
• Marriage certificate or Change of name certificate (for first time issue or if your name has changed since your last passport was issued); 
• Three recent identical passport photographs 
• A return paid self-addressed envelope. We recommend applicants use Australian Post Express Post Platinum or a similar service to ensure applications and documents are traceable. Applicants are responsible for the secure & traceable transportation of applications/documents to and from the British High Commission.
  
  

If you are submitting an existing British passport for renewal, you only need to complete sections 2, 3 and 9 of the UKPS application form.  Please complete section 2 using your address in Australia (even though it is designed for UK addresses).  Please sign the declaration at section 9 as though you are in the UK (even though you are in Australia).

If you are submitting an existing British passport for renewal, you do not need to complete section 10.  Please only complete section 10 if you are applying for the first time, or have had your British passport lost or stolen – in which case you should also ensure that one photograph is endorsed on the back.

When your application has been received, the High Commission in Canberra will forward it to the United Kingdom on your behalf for processing.

Please note that if you need to travel within the 10 week minimum processing time, you can instead apply for a British Passport in Australia in the normal way. You should be aware that we are obliged to ask for the standard passport fee, and that you would not be entitled to a refund under these circumstances. Please refer to the left hand side menu for further information, or if you have any further enquiries please contact our office.