Despite the Brexit delay, British passports are now being issued without ‘European Union’ written on the cover.
While some people may receive the old one till stock runs out, the new passport was introduced from 30 March, the day after The United Kingdom was actually supposed to leave the EU.
One recipient, Sarah Hindle Barone said, “I am truly appalled at the change.
She posted the following on Twitter,
“TRULY APPALLED. Picked up my new passport today – my old one expires in the next couple of months. See below: Spot the difference!
pic.twitter.com/R7BW9lk6I5”
– Sarah Hindle Barone
(@SpinHBarone) April 5, 2019.
And from the end of the year, Dark blue would start to be issued. That would resemble the pre-EU British designs.
Sarah also added, “I was just surprised – we are still members of the EU. I was surprised they’ve made the change when we haven’t left, and it’s a tangible mark of something which I completely believe to be futile.
“What do we gain by leaving? There’s certainly a whole lot we lose.”
It’s with the expectation that the UK would be leaving the EU at the end of last month that triggered the UK’s decision of the ‘European Union’ to be removed.
“In order to use leftover stock and achieve the best value to the taxpayer, passports that include the words ‘European Union’ will continue to be issued only for a short period,” a Hone office spokeswoman said.
She also added that “There will be no difference for British citizens whether they are using a passport that includes the words ‘European Union, or a passport that does not. Both designs will be equally valid for travel.”