Travel urgently from abroad if you have not previously had a UK passport

If you have previously had a passport that was issued on or after 1st January 2006, you can apply for an Emergency Travel Document online (opens in new tab).

If you have not had a UK passport that was issued on or after 1 January 2006, you might be able to get an emergency travel document if all the following apply:

• you have, or are eligible for, British nationality
• you’re outside the UK
• you need to travel within 6 weeks
• you have an urgent and unplanned reason to travel due to exceptional circumstances

Exceptional circumstances may include if:

• your child was born unexpectedly
• you need urgent medical treatment that you cannot access without travel to another country
• you wish to attend the funeral of a close relative

You cannot get emergency travel documents for activities such as holidays, weddings, family events and job interviews.

You’ll have to explain and provide evidence to show why your journey is urgent and essential. Applications are assessed on a case by case basis.

After you apply

You’ll be asked to provide evidence of:

• your British nationality, or eligibility for British nationality
• your exceptional circumstances

These applications require additional eligibility, nationality and safeguarding checks and an interview is mandatory in all cases.

We are therefore unable to provide an estimate of how long an application may take and will not be able to process applications quickly to meet booked travelled dates.