British Passport Certified Copy – Same-Day Remote UK Solicitor Certification

Need a British passport certified copy for a bank, company, lawyer, employer or overseas authority? Ginkgo Advisory provides an express remote UK solicitor service for certified copies of British passports.

We can assist with the current British biometric passport, including GBR-AO-07001 – BRITISH PASSPORT, first issued on 1 December 2025.

Our remote verification process can include inspection of the original passport by video, comparison of security features and, where appropriate, verification of the passport’s biometric chip using an NFC-enabled smartphone.

Same-day service is available where we receive all required evidence and the solicitor is satisfied that the document can properly be certified.

British Passport Certification for GBR-AO-07001

The GBR-AO-07001 is the current ordinary British passport issued by the United Kingdom.

Its official title is:

BRITISH PASSPORT

Key details include:

• Issuing country: United Kingdom
• Country code: GBR
• Document category: passport
• Document type: ordinary passport
• Document reference: GBR-AO-07001
• First issued: 1 December 2025
• Construction: passport booklet
• Size: approximately 88 × 125 mm
• Number of pages: 34
• Maximum validity: 10 years
• Cover colour: blue

The passport contains a range of physical and optical security features that can assist a solicitor when assessing the original document remotely.

British biometric passports can also contain an electronic chip capable of being read using suitable NFC technology.

Therefore, our verification process can combine physical inspection, video evidence and electronic passport information before a certified copy is issued.

What Does British Passport Certification Mean?

A certified copy is a copy of a passport that a solicitor has checked against the original document.

The solicitor then adds appropriate certification wording to the copy.

For example, the certification may state that the document is a:

true copy of the original document seen

However, the precise wording may depend on the organisation receiving the certified copy.

A solicitor-certified passport copy will normally include:

• the solicitor’s signature;
• the date of certification;
• the solicitor’s full name;
• professional status;
• firm or business details; and
• appropriate certification wording.

Before we complete the certification, you should tell us who will receive the document and what the certified copy will be used for.

This allows us to consider whether the recipient has requested any specific form of certification.

Remote British Passport Certification

You may not need to attend a solicitor’s office to obtain a certified copy of your British passport.

In suitable cases, the process can be completed remotely.

We use several forms of evidence so that the solicitor can assess both the passport and the person presenting the document.

1. Send a Clear Copy of Your British Passport

First, send us a clear colour scan or high-quality photograph of the passport identity page.

The entire relevant page should be visible.

The copy should clearly show information such as:

• your photograph;
• full name;
• nationality;
• date of birth;
• passport number;
• date of issue;
• date of expiry; and
• machine-readable zone, or MRZ.

The solicitor uses this copy as part of the comparison with the original passport.

2. Provide Video Evidence of the Original Passport

We may then ask you to provide a short video.

The video should normally show:

• your face;
• the original physical passport;
• the passport identity page;
• your passport photograph;
• the front and back of the passport;
• movement or tilting of the passport; and
• other pages or security features where requested.

This provides considerably more information than a flat scanned image alone.

For example, moving and tilting the passport can help demonstrate optically variable security features that change according to the viewing angle.

3. Complete an NFC Passport Check

British biometric passports contain an electronic chip.

Where appropriate, we may therefore ask you to scan the passport using an NFC-enabled smartphone and a suitable passport-reading application.

An NFC passport scan may provide electronic information such as:

• passport data;
• facial image data;
• MRZ information;
• data stored on the passport chip; and
• electronic authentication results supported by the application being used.

This provides another point of comparison with the physical passport.

However, an NFC scan is not itself solicitor certification.

Instead, it provides supporting electronic evidence that the solicitor can consider as part of the verification process.

Why We Use Video and NFC Verification

Remote passport certification requires a careful verification process.

A scanned passport copy shows the information printed on the document. However, a scan alone does not necessarily demonstrate that the customer currently possesses the original physical passport.

For that reason, our process may combine several checks.

Depending on the circumstances, these can include:

passport copy + original passport video + passport holder’s face + MRZ comparison + NFC chip information

The solicitor can therefore review several independent forms of evidence before deciding whether the passport copy can properly be certified.

The exact checks required may vary from case to case.

Security Features of the GBR-AO-07001 British Passport

The current GBR-AO-07001 British passport contains numerous physical and optical security features.

These features help protect the document against alteration and reproduction and can also assist when examining the original passport.

Blue Passport Cover

The passport has a flexible blue outer cover.

The front uses gold-coloured hot foil stamping, while the rear cover also incorporates raised relief embossing.

Integrated Biodata Card

The passport contains an integrated biodata card carrying the passport holder’s identity information.

The identity side contains the principal facial image together with various security elements.

Black-and-White Facial Images

The integrated biodata card contains a black-and-white facial image of the passport holder.

The reverse side of the integrated card also contains a facial image.

These provide additional points of comparison when examining the passport.

Colour Facial Image on Page 3

Page 3 contains another facial image of the passport holder, this time in colour.

The presence of multiple representations of the holder’s face provides another useful security characteristic.

Optically Variable Devices

The integrated biodata card incorporates sophisticated optically variable devices, or OVDs.

These include a DID – Diffractive Identification Device, using positive and negative relief techniques.

The document also incorporates a computer-generated DOVID.

These optical features can appear differently as the passport is moved or viewed from different angles.

Consequently, showing and tilting the original passport during a video verification can provide information that cannot be seen from a simple scanned copy.

UV Security Features

Different parts of the passport contain security features designed to react under ultraviolet light.

UV features are present on the integrated biodata card, the reverse of the integrated card, the inside covers and various internal passport pages.

Some fluorescent security printing is invisible under ordinary light.

Watermarks

The paper used for a number of the inner passport pages incorporates watermarks.

These can be examined using transmitted light.

Additional Security Features

Page 3 also contains an additional security feature designed to be viewed using oblique lighting.

These physical features provide further evidence when examining an original passport.

Security Printing

The inside front and back covers contain specialised printing features.

Some of these features are intended to be examined under oblique light rather than ordinary direct lighting.

Stitched Binding

Pages 6 to 33 are bound using thread stitching through the spine.

The binding thread is white.

Examining the construction and binding of a passport can sometimes provide additional evidence that the document being presented is the original physical booklet.

Biometric Chip and NFC Verification

Modern British passports are biometric passports containing an electronic chip.

The chip can store passport information and biometric information associated with the passport holder.

Using a compatible NFC-enabled smartphone, it may be possible to read information from the passport chip through an appropriate passport-reading application.

For remote verification, this can provide useful supporting evidence.

For example, we may compare:

• information printed on the passport;
• the machine-readable zone;
• the photograph displayed on the passport;
• the facial image retrieved from the chip; and
• electronic passport data returned by the NFC application.

This can strengthen the verification process when the original passport is not physically brought into the solicitor’s office.

However, NFC technology does not replace the solicitor’s professional assessment.

The solicitor makes the final decision on whether a copy can properly be certified.

Same-Day British Passport Certified Copy Service

Ginkgo Advisory offers an express same-day British passport certification service.

This can be useful where a certified passport copy is required urgently.

Customers commonly require certified copies for:

• KYC checks;
• AML checks;
• banks;
• financial institutions;
• investment accounts;
• company formation;
• Companies House matters;
• company compliance;
• property transactions;
• employment;
• professional registration;
• university administration;
• legal matters;
• powers of attorney;
• inheritance and probate matters; and
• overseas applications.

For same-day completion, please provide all requested documents and verification evidence as early as possible.

Same-day service remains subject to successful verification.

The solicitor must be satisfied that the original passport has been adequately verified and that the copy can properly be certified.

British Passport Certification in London and Across the UK

Our remote process means that you will not necessarily need to visit a solicitor’s office.

We can assist customers throughout the United Kingdom, including those in:

London, City of London, Westminster, Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith, Fulham, Richmond, Putney, Wimbledon, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, Croydon, Ealing, Hounslow, Reading, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Southampton and elsewhere in the UK.

Because the verification can usually be carried out remotely, your location does not normally determine where the solicitor certification must take place.

British Passport Certification for Clients Overseas

You may also need a British passport certified while you are living or working outside the United Kingdom.

Depending on the circumstances and the requirements of the receiving organisation, remote solicitor certification may still be possible.

We will normally need to know:

• where you are currently located;
• who requires the certified passport copy;
• the destination country;
• why the certified copy is required; and
• whether any particular certification wording has been specified.

We can then confirm whether solicitor certification is appropriate.

British Passport Certified Copy for UK and Overseas Use

A certified copy of a British passport may be required either within the United Kingdom or overseas.

For many purposes, certification by a UK solicitor may be sufficient.

However, some overseas authorities require additional formalities.

These may include:

• notarisation;
• an apostille;
• embassy or consular legalisation; or
• specific certification wording.

Therefore, please tell us the destination country and intended purpose before the document is certified.

This can help avoid unnecessary repeat certification.

Certified Copy, Notarisation and Apostille: What Is the Difference?

These procedures are different.

Solicitor-Certified Passport Copy

A solicitor examines the original passport and certifies that the copy corresponds with the document seen.

This is commonly requested for UK compliance, KYC, banking, company and professional purposes.

Notarised Passport Copy

A Notary Public carries out the certification.

Certain overseas organisations specifically require certification by a Notary Public rather than a solicitor.

If the recipient states that the document must be notarised, ordinary solicitor certification may not be sufficient.

Apostille

An apostille is a separate legalisation procedure.

Where appropriate, it authenticates the signature or professional capacity of the person whose signature appears on the document being legalised.

If the receiving organisation requires an apostille, please tell us before the passport copy is certified so that the correct certification and legalisation route can be considered.

What We Need for British Passport Certification

For a typical remote application, we may request the following.

Clear Passport Copy

Send us a clear colour scan of the passport identity page.

Short Video

Show your face together with the original physical British passport.

Original Passport Movement

Move and tilt the passport as requested so that relevant physical and optical characteristics can be viewed.

We may also ask you to show the cover and selected internal pages.

NFC Passport Scan

Where required, use a compatible NFC passport-reading application to scan the passport’s electronic chip and provide or demonstrate the results.

Additional Evidence

The solicitor may request further information or evidence if any aspect of the passport or verification requires clarification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a UK solicitor certify a British passport?

Yes. A UK solicitor can certify a copy of a British passport where the recipient accepts solicitor certification and the solicitor is able to carry out an appropriate comparison with the original document.

Can you certify the new GBR-AO-07001 British passport?

Yes. We can assess the GBR-AO-07001 British passport, first issued on 1 December 2025, for remote solicitor certification.

Can I get my British passport certified online?

In suitable cases, yes.

Our remote process can use a combination of passport images, video evidence and NFC passport data so that the solicitor can assess the original document without requiring an office appointment.

Do I need to send my original passport by post?

Usually not for a suitable remote case.

Instead, we can ask you to demonstrate possession of the original passport through video and other verification evidence.

Does a British passport contain an NFC chip?

Modern British biometric passports contain an electronic passport chip that can be read using compatible NFC technology.

Why do you request an NFC scan?

An NFC scan can provide electronic information stored in the passport.

It gives the solicitor an additional source of evidence to compare with the physical passport and scanned copy.

Is an NFC passport check the same as solicitor certification?

No.

NFC verification provides supporting electronic data.

The solicitor carries out the professional assessment and makes the final decision about whether the passport copy can be certified.

Why do I need to tilt my passport during the video?

The GBR-AO-07001 contains optically variable security features.

Their appearance can change depending on the viewing angle.

Movement of the original passport can therefore provide useful evidence that cannot be obtained from a static scan.

Can you provide same-day British passport certification?

Yes.

We offer same-day British passport certification, subject to receipt of all required evidence and successful verification.

Can the certified passport copy be emailed to me?

A scanned certified copy can normally be supplied electronically where this is acceptable to the receiving organisation.

If the recipient requires the original wet-ink certified document, a physical copy may also be required.

Can I use a solicitor-certified British passport overseas?

Possibly.

Requirements vary significantly between countries and organisations.

Some recipients accept a UK solicitor-certified copy, while others require notarisation, an apostille or further legalisation.

Always confirm the recipient’s requirements before proceeding.

Is a solicitor-certified passport copy the same as a notarised copy?

No.

Certification by a solicitor and certification by a Notary Public are different procedures.

If your bank, lawyer, authority or other recipient specifically asks for a notarised copy, you should not assume that solicitor certification will be accepted.

Express British Passport Certification by UK Solicitor

Ginkgo Advisory provides a fast remote service for customers who need a British passport certified copy from a UK solicitor.

Our service can include:

• certified copy of British passport;
• GBR-AO-07001 passport certification;
• remote UK solicitor certification;
• same-day passport certification;
• video passport verification;
• biometric passport checks;
• NFC passport chip checks;
• MRZ comparison;
• identity verification;
• certified passport copy for KYC;
• certified passport copy for AML;
• certified copy for banks and financial institutions;
• certified passport copy for company purposes; and
• certified British passport copy for UK or overseas use.

If you need a British passport certified copy, send us a clear copy of your passport and tell us who requires the certification, the destination country and the intended purpose.

We can then confirm the appropriate verification and certification process.