Identity and Passport Service

Press release archive

Items 1 - 6 of 6 displayed.
Page 1

This section holds news items related to passports and the Identity and Passport Service, which have been published prior to 1 April 2006.

• Identity Cards Bill receives royal assent

  Thursday 30th March 2006

  The Identity Cards Bill received Royal Assent today, placing on the statute book important measures which will help Britain meet the challenges of the 21st century. The National Identity Scheme will provide all UK residents aged over 16 with a universal, highly secure means for safeguarding their identity. The...

• The changing face of British travel documents - UK Passport Service issues first British ePassport

  Monday 5th March

  The UK Passport Service confirmed its place as one of the frontrunners in the international race to combat fraud and forgery when it issued the first British biometric ePassport today. The new passports will have a new design with additional security features, including a chip with the holder´s...

• Civil Partnership Act introduced

  Monday 17th October 2005

  The ´Civil Partnership Act´ came into force on 5 December 2005. The Act allows for adults of the same sex to enter into a legally binding civil partnership. Couples who form a civil partnership will have a new legal status, that of ´civil partner´. The UKPS will accept civil partnership certificates...

• Visa-free travel to the US for British visitors extended for a further year

  Friday 17th June 2005

  The US Department of Homeland Security announced, on 15 June, a one-year extension of its Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) to 26 October 2006. VWP countries, including the UK, are required to have a biometric passport issuing system in place by 26 October 2006 in order to continue as members of the Programme...

• ID Cards scheme to be introduced

  Thursday 26th May 2005

  The Government has announced plans for a compulsory national identity cards scheme. The scheme is to be phased in over a number of years and will include basic personal information and biometric identifiers. These unique biometric identifiers (such as iris pattern or fingerprints) will help prevent...

• Freedom of Information at the UKPS

  Tuesday 21st December 2004

  Since 1 January 2005, the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 now gives you the right to request any information held by the UKPS, or any other public body. We will respond to your request within 20 working days. Most documented information will be eligible for release, expect that which falls under...