You can now apply to renew, replace or update your passport and pay for it online. The new online passport renewal service has been launched by the government to improve efficiency and convenience by providing a modern and secure service to millions of passport holders and applicants.

The HM Passport Office piloted the new process last year with 240,000 people. The process will take an average of ten minutes to complete and applicants can choose to upload a suitable digital photo from a smartphone or tablet, it ill then take around three weeks for the Home Office to send out a new passport.

To be eligible, applicants must live in the UK, be 26 or older, not hold dual-nationality and be in possession of their current passport, which cannot have expired before 2012. Applicants cannot apply if their passport has been lost, stolen or if they are making changes to their name. This service will gradually become available to all passport customers.

To renew your passport online visit www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport.