How to Call HM Passport Office From Abroad
8/27/2026
Quick answer: For general passport enquiries, applications, and renewals, call +44 300 222 0000, open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5:30pm on weekends and UK bank holidays. But if your passport has actually been lost or stolen while you're abroad, this isn't the number to start with, that process runs through gov.uk online and your nearest British embassy or consulate instead.
Two very different situations
Most people land on this page in one of two situations, and they need different things. If you're renewing a passport, checking application status, or have a general question, HM Passport Office's phone line is the right call. If your passport has actually been lost or stolen while you're abroad, calling this UK-based line isn't the fastest path, the whole process for that has moved online.
The verified number
| Service | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General passport enquiries | +44 300 222 0000 | Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, weekends/bank holidays 9am-5:30pm |
Source: gov.uk's HM Passport Office page. It's a standard-rate 0300 number, not toll-free, so it works from abroad as-is: add +44, drop the leading 0.
If your passport is lost or stolen while you're abroad
Don't start with a phone call. The current process is:
- Report it to local police and get a copy of the written report.
- Report the loss or theft online at gov.uk's lost or stolen passport service.
- Apply for an Emergency Travel Document at gov.uk if you need to travel urgently, this is usually ready within two working days.
- Contact your nearest British embassy or consulate if you need help with the process while abroad, they handle emergency travel documents locally rather than HM Passport Office's UK call centre.
What to have ready before you call for a general enquiry
- Your passport application reference number, if you already applied
- Your date of birth and current address
- Details of the specific issue: processing time, a name change, or a renewal question
Best time to call
The line runs 8am to 8pm on weekdays and 9am to 5:30pm on weekends and bank holidays, UK time, wider hours than most UK government lines.
- Spain/Western Europe: 1 hour ahead of the UK.
- US East Coast: 5 hours behind the UK.
- UAE/Gulf: 3 to 4 hours ahead of the UK.
- Australia (Sydney): 9 to 11 hours ahead of the UK, depending on daylight saving.
The cheaper way to actually make the call
Passport queries often involve a wait, and roaming rates apply the whole time you're on hold. With DialVia, you call the real number over Wi-Fi from your browser instead:
- Open DialVia and sign up (about 30 seconds)
- Select United Kingdom as the destination
- Enter the number: 300 222 0000
- Hit call
Frequently asked questions
What's HM Passport Office's number for calling from abroad? +44 300 222 0000 for general enquiries, open 8am-8pm weekdays and 9am-5:30pm weekends and bank holidays.
Should I call this number if my passport was stolen abroad? No, start with reporting it online at gov.uk and applying for an Emergency Travel Document. Your nearest British embassy or consulate handles the emergency document process, not HM Passport Office's UK line.
Is the passport office number toll-free? No, it's a standard-rate 0300 number, which is why it works normally from abroad with the +44 prefix.
How long does an Emergency Travel Document take? Usually around two working days after you apply, though it can take longer in some cases.
Need another UK government office's number? See the full guide to calling UK government offices from abroad, covering HMRC and the DVLA too.
👉 Try DialVia to call from your browser in 30 seconds. Didn't connect? You don't pay. Or return to the DialVia homepage to learn more.