If the Passport Office Asks Your Family for a DNA Test, Here Is What the Rules Say You Can Say No To

HM Passport Office cannot force you to take a DNA test to get a British passport. Its own caseworker guidance says staff “must not insist on DNA evidence from a customer”, and a customer who declines must not be refused for that reason alone. The guidance, updated on 2 October 2026, was back in the news after The Guardian reported a father being asked for a DNA test to get a passport for his daughter. If you are asked, you have more options than the request suggests.

Can the Passport Office make you take a DNA test?

No. The official guidance on GOV.UK states that HM Passport Office must not insist on DNA evidence and has no statutory power to demand it. Testing is offered as one way to support a claimed parental link when documents such as a birth certificate leave a question open. It never replaces those documents.

For applications made inside the UK there is no referral process, so if an examiner suggests a test, you would have to arrange it yourself. For applications from abroad, certain staff may suggest and arrange testing, but they still cannot insist.

What happens to your application if you say no

Your application is decided on the documents you have already sent, on the balance of probabilities. The guidance says it must not be automatically refused because you declined testing. That matters if you are on a deadline, because the alternative route is slow: for international applications the case is put on hold for 11 weeks from referral, and missing three booked appointments can lead to withdrawal.

If you choose to take a test, the lab must hold a suitable accreditation, usually ISO/IEC 17025, and the sample must follow the Home Office collection standard. A cheap home kit may not be accepted, so check before you pay anything.

Practical steps before you travel

Ask for the request in writing and ask which specific document is missing, because that is often the faster fix than a test. A fuller birth certificate, marriage record or other proof of the family link may resolve it. Passport delays also hit insurance and bookings, so do not book non-refundable travel until the passport is in hand.

Frequently asked questions

Does a test guarantee I get the passport?

No. The guidance says DNA evidence on its own does not provide enough grounds to issue a passport. It is weighed alongside your documents.

Can I get an emergency travel document to go and take the test?

No. Emergency travel documents are not issued for travel to take a DNA test.

What if the result is weak?

Results below the stated threshold are referred to an operational team leader rather than automatically rejected.

Planning a long trip once your passport arrives? See our 12-day Everest Base Camp trek and remember most countries want six months of validity left on a passport.

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