The UK online passport application is treated as a puzzle game by HM Passport Office, requiring players to collect original documents as evidence under complex rules.
The gameplay mimics constructive logic, where applicants must commit to specific proof paths rather than using broad arguments like exclusive middle.
Requests include identity confirmation side quests, certified translations, family cooperation, and recursive ancestor document requests to prove nationality.
The author automated the rule evaluation using Haskell and the LogicT monad, modeling persons, proofs, and documents to enumerate possible citizenship proofs and required document sets.
Three alternative proofs of British citizenship emerge, with HMPO typically choosing the most complex path, often involving multi‐generational birth and marriage certificates.
Automation could simplify and clarify the process, but HMPO avoids full automation due to legal nuances and the risk of false positives or negatives.
The project highlights both the fun and frustration of bureaucratic logic, encouraging players to enjoy the puzzle while cautioning against overthinking the rules.
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