UK Passport Check and Send
Some UK Post Offices offer a Check and Send service that checks your passport application before it is sent on, for a GBP16 charge on top of the passport fee. This guide explains the digital and paper differences, what to bring, and the refund rules. Based on GOV.UK pages.
What Check and Send is
Some UK Post Offices offer a Check and Send service: they check your passport application before it goes to HM Passport Office. The government states plainly that it’s less likely that your application will be rejected if you use Check and Send — and it uses Special Delivery to send it on, which is usually faster than posting it yourself.
Digital vs paper: the photo difference
| Service | Photo | Cost on top of the fee |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Check and Send | Staff take your photo and help you fill in the application online | £16.00 (photo included) |
| Paper Check and Send | Does not include the photo — you bring it | £16.00 plus the cost of your photos |
The service is free if you qualify for a free passport. You can pay by cash, credit/debit card, or postal order payable to ‘Post Office Limited’.
What the passport itself costs
| Passport | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Adult standard (34 pages) | £102 | £115.50 |
| Adult frequent traveller (54 pages) | £116 | £129.50 |
| Child standard (34 pages) | £66.50 | £80 |
| Child frequent traveller (54 pages) | £80.50 | £94 |
Add the £16.00 Check and Send charge on top. Returning supporting documents is free by second-class post, or about £5 extra for secure delivery.
What to bring, by application type
- Renewing or replacing: your old passport if you still have it; proof of a new name if you changed it; and, if the passport is lost, the name and email of someone who can confirm your identity.
- First adult passport: the email of someone who can confirm your identity, plus your parents’ details (names, dates and places of birth, nationality, and UK passport details if they have them).
- Someone under 16: both parents’ details as above, and the email of someone who can confirm the child’s identity (unless it is a renewal for a child 12 or over with the old passport).
Refunds
You can only get a refund if HM Passport Office sends you a letter saying the Post Office made a mistake. You cannot get a refund if your application is rejected — and using Check and Send does not guarantee success.
Not using Check and Send? Take the photo yourself and apply online — see app vs professional, the printing guide and the channel comparison. For the visa route, see the UK visa documents checklist. Verify any photo with the passport photo checker.
Frequently asked questions
Is Check and Send worth it?
It is less likely your application will be rejected and it is usually faster, for a £16.00 charge on top of the passport fee.
Does Check and Send take the photo for me?
Digital Check and Send includes the photo (staff take it and help you apply online); paper Check and Send does not — you bring your photos.
Can my application still be rejected?
Yes. Using Check and Send does not guarantee your application will be successful.
Can I get a refund?
Only if HM Passport Office writes to say the Post Office made a mistake; you cannot get a refund if your application is rejected.
What do I need for a first adult passport?
The email of someone who can confirm your identity, plus your parents’ details (names, dates and places of birth, nationality and UK passport details if they have them).
What about a child application?
Both parents’ details as above, and the email of someone who can confirm the child’s identity unless renewing for a child aged 12 or over with the old passport.
Sources: GOV.UK “Passport Check and Send service” (gov.uk/how-the-post-office-check-and-send-service-works) and “Passport fees” (gov.uk/passport-fees). Retrieved 2026-09-28. Fees change, so confirm the current position before you apply.