Dutch Passport Renewal in the UK 2026 (Netherlands Embassy / VFS Global)

Start at the official NetherlandsWorldwide page for applying or renewing a Dutch passport in the UK. The checklist is personalised to the applicant's nationality, residence, previous documents and circumstances. Print the completed checklist.

Complete the Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport/ID-card application form online using a computer or tablet. The official site states that the form does not work on a smartphone. Print and sign the completed form.

Bring every document shown on the personal checklist. The Dutch government states that even someone who has applied for a Dutch passport before must still bring the documents required by the current checklist because they are used to verify Dutch nationality and eligibility.

Foreign birth certificates, marriage certificates and other civil-status documents may need legalisation and translation. Do not assume UK-issued documents are automatically accepted in every circumstance; follow the individual checklist.

Use a colour Dutch-compliant passport photo measuring 35 x 45 mm. The photo must be no more than 6 months old, unaltered, sharp and suitable for biometric identification. Follow the Dutch photo matrix rather than generic UK passport-photo rules.

In the UK, applications can currently be submitted at the Dutch Embassy in London or through VFS Global in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Temporary Embassy visits are also announced periodically, including Norwich and Exeter in late 2026.

Book online with the selected Embassy or VFS centre. The NetherlandsWorldwide UK page warns that appointments can be limited and recommends checking again if no slot is immediately available because cancellations can create new availability.

Passport applications must be submitted in person. This applies to applicants under 18 as well. Bring the signed application, printed personal checklist, all originals and any parental-consent documentation required.

The application centre verifies identity and processes the passport application. The exact biometric steps and exemptions depend on the applicant's age and circumstances, so applicants should follow the live instructions of the Embassy or VFS centre.

Pay the applicable Dutch passport fee. VFS applicants also pay the VFS service fee and any optional services selected. Payment methods vary by location, so check the relevant VFS instructions before attending.

You can normally collect the new passport or request postal/courier delivery. At the London Embassy, passport delivery is by registered Royal Mail Special Delivery and postage is paid by the applicant. At VFS, passport courier delivery is available for an additional charge.

If collecting the new passport in person, you generally do not surrender the old passport at the application appointment; you hand it in when collecting the new document. If the new passport is to be sent by post, the old passport must be dealt with according to the Embassy/VFS instructions before the new passport is dispatched.

VFS applicants can use the VFS tracking system with their application reference. NetherlandsWorldwide does not promise a fixed processing period; applicants are asked to contact the authorities only if they have not received an email after 8 weeks.

You will receive an email when the new passport is ready. The document must be collected or sent within 3 months, otherwise it will be destroyed according to the official UK instructions.

Immediately check details such as your name and place of birth. If there is an error, contact the application location with photos/scans of the incorrect information and explain what the correct information should be.