Britain's traditional blue passports will make a return after the UK leaves the European Union, Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis will announce on Friday.

The travel document will no longer need to conform to EU standards after Britain leaves the trading bloc, so the standard EU burgundy colour is being dropped for a blue and gold design.

The passport will boast updated security features and technologies to protect against fraud and forgery, including a super-strength plastic polycarbonate material that will be used for the picture page making it difficult to alter.

"Leaving the EU gives us a unique opportunity to restore our national identity and forge a new path for ourselves in the world," Lewis will say.

"That is why I am delighted to announce that the British passport will be returning to the iconic blue and gold design after we have left the European Union in 2019.

"It will also be one of the most secure travel documents in the world, with a raft of new security measures to protect against fraud and forgery."

The new passports will be phased in from October 2019, and will be issued when citizens apply to renew their document.

A blue cover is a nod to the original appearance of the British passport, which was first used in 1921. it remained blue until the UK joined the EU.