-
Buch Alstrup posted an update 7 months, 4 weeks ago
Getting a UK passport is arguably one of the most exciting times in a person’s life. Not only can it provide the freedom to travel to any country in the world, but it also gives the holder the ability to settle in the country of choice, whether that be England, Scotland, or Wales. As a result of this, the UK passport application process has become a bit of a catch-22 situation, with applicants having to prove their commitment to the country they wish to be a permanent resident of, while at the same time desperately wanting to avoid being tied down to one place for the rest of their lives.
The Birth Of The UK Passport
It was during the reign of Queen Victoria that the concept of a UK passport was first conceived. Back in 1868, the waiting time for british citizenship government commissioned a blue-ribbon committee to inquire into various aspects of international travel, and among their recommendations was that a unified passport should be established, which would allow for instant identification of a nationality. It wasn’t until after World War II that this idea came to fruition, with the UK passport application process beginning in earnest in the 1950s.
It was during this era that the concept of a ‘right of abode’ was introduced, giving birth to the “Permanent Residence” passport classification. It was also during this time that the phrase “I believe in marriage, but I also believe in freedom” was coined, with “marry[ing] whom you [want]” becoming a popular choice for those looking to tie the knot. These two factors combined would lay the foundation for a future in which same-sex couples could also become legally married, furthering equality in the UK.
The Post-War UK Passport Landscape
Following World War II, the demand for passports soared, with approximately 250,000 applications being processed every year. The majority of these were from UK citizens, with non-Brits making up the second-largest group of applicants. This was largely due to the vast majority of eligible countries allowing for the naturalization of foreign nationals following the war, including such populous countries as India, Pakistan, and China. Given that the majority of applicants were from the UK and that most of these applications were from post-war orphans or the children of deceased service personnel, the Office of the Registrar General decided in 1951 that a new category of passport should be established, which they labeled the “Foundation Series.”
The UK passport Foundation Series was designed to allow for the quick naturalization of newly arrived incomers and to incentivize the government to accept applications from deceased persons. A Foundation Series passport would allow for a simplified application process for the family members of UK service personnel who died overseas. The passport also came with a 20-year validity period, a feature that was unique at the time.
Changes In The Post-War Landscape
It wasn’t just post-war orphans fueling the demand for a UK passport. During the 1950s and 1960s, thousands of British women traveled abroad for an education, with approximately 30% of the total student population in the UK attending university on a full-time basis. It wasn’t just students that were traveling during this time either, with many professionals also seeking to further their careers through post-graduate studies. In light of this demographic shift, passport offices around the UK were besieged by applications, with only short-straws being processed due to over-demand.
What was originally envisioned as a temporary measure became permanent, with the UK Independence Party (UKIP) campaigning on a platform of “ending mass immigration” and restoring “British jobs for British citizens” during the 1964 General Election. They went on to successfully pressure the government into increasing the limit on student visas, with only children of post-war immigrants being allowed to study in the UK until they were 18 years of age. The last batch of baby-step visas were issued in 1971.
Fast-forward To Today
It wasn’t just students and working professionals that began applying for a UK passport during the post-war expansion, as the Baby Boomer generation began to emerge and travel abroad during the early 1960s. The concept of a “gap year” emerged, with many young adults taking a year out of their education after graduation to travel and work abroad. This would later develop into a trend, with millions of UK citizens taking advantage of the newfound freedom to travel abroad during the ‘70s and ‘80s.
It wasn’t just the baby boomer generation that began to apply for a UK passport, with a distinct trend emerging among the next generation of travelers, namely Gen Z. The generation, which is more commonly referred to as “digital nomads,” began to emerge in significant numbers in the 2010s, with many traveling the world in search of adventure and educational opportunities.
The number of applications for a UK passport nearly tripled between 2017 and 2018, hitting an all-time high of 859,800. The vast majority of these were from the UK, with only 64,800 applications originating from outside of the country. It wasn’t just the popularity of the country that fueled the increase in applications, with increasing numbers of people wanting the freedom to live and work abroad.
What Does The Future Of The UK Passport Look Like?
With hundreds of thousands of applications being processed each year, it’s fair to say that the future of the UK passport looks fairly positive. The government is committed to extending lifelong security to those that apply, while actively encouraging those that can contribute to the UK economy to apply for a passport. Additionally, the government will continue to reward those that contribute to the country through their studies or work, with many opportunities available for those that are proficient in a foreign language. With more people wanting to travel abroad than ever before, coupled with increasing job opportunities available to those that are offered citizenship, the popularity of the UK passport among prospective travelers looks set to continue.