British adults applying for their first passport will soon have to attend face-to-face interviews in a bid to cut fraud.
The new ruling will be brought into force from April onwards and is expected to cover 610,000 people annually, around 10% of the total number of applicants each year.
It is hoped the moved will help weed out fraudulent applications, 74% of which originate in the first-time category while 90% of all applications, false or not, are made through the post.
An Identity and Passport Service spokesman said the interviews will be undertaken in 69 offices across the country while secure webcam links will be made available for those in the remotest areas.
He added a the move will bring the UK in-line with most other western countries, which already require an interview from first time applicants.
An ABTA spokesman said the association had been consulted in the run-up to the changes, adding: “ABTA members need to be aware of the changes and we will make sure they’re reminded of the change on a regular basis.”