Applying for a passport from outside the UK Important information We want to help you get your application right first time and avoid your passport being delayed. These are the 3 most common mistakes, please read the guidance carefully before filling in your form. Supporting documents See pages 15-16 2 recent photos See pages 17-18 Correct fee See page 19 Write your reference number below. This can be found on the top of your application form under the barcode. 1 Visit www.gov.uk/overseas-passports Contents Important information before you start 1 Accepted occupations for countersignatories 14 How to fill in each section of the application form 2 Documents you need to send us 15 Section 1: Which type of passport do you need and Change of name table 16 sections to complete 2 Renewal 2 Photo guidance 17 First British passport 3 Getting your photos right 18 Replacement 3 Once you’ve filled in your application 19 Changes 3 Passport fee 19 Extension 4 Passport ownership 19 Section 2: Who is the passport for? 5 How much 19 Section 3: Details of previous and current How to pay 19 passports held 6 Where to send 19 Section 4: Parent’s details 7 Delivery information 19 Section 5: Certificate of registration or naturalisation 9 Contact us 20 Section 6: Children aged 12 to 15 9 Section 7: 10 Other information 20 Section 8: More information 10 Protecting your personal information 20 Section 9: Declaration 11 Service standards 20 Section 10: Countersignature 13 Complaints about passports 21 Identity interviews 22 To help you find information quicker A checklist before you send in your throughout this booklet we’ve given application Back cover each type of passport a logo. If you look through this booklet you’ll see the logo at sections that you need to be aware of. Pages 2-4 tell you which passport you need to apply for. Look out for these helpful boxes throughout this guidance booklet. TOP TIP AVOID DELAYS For additional help and advice, please visit our website at www.gov.uk Important information before you start IMPORTANT: Please don’t book travel until you’ve received your new passport, as we can’t accept responsibility for any travel that you book. To avoid delays, we’ll need a fully completed form, 2 suitable photos, the right documents and fee. This guidance is for British applicants from AVOID DELAYS certain countries applying for a passport from outside the UK, using the OS application form. Give us an email address and telephone Don’t book travel or visas until you have your number so we can contact you quickly if passport. needed. This will help us to continue with We cannot accept responsibility for travel your application. you book before it arrives. We do our best, To make sure our emails don’t get missed, but cannot guarantee to return your passport check your spam or junk folder regularly, or within a certain time. adjust your spam filter settings. Go to www.gov.uk/overseas-passports to We will contact you on your mobile phone find out how long it is likely to take for your number if we have any queries about passport to arrive. delivery. We do not send form or document acknowledgements. If you want to check progress with your application, please leave at least 4 weeks from when you submitted your application before contacting us. For some countries this may be longer, please check the guidance at www.gov. uk/overseas-passports If there isn’t enough space in the boxes provided please use section 8 of the application form to give us full details. IMPORTANT: Once we have considered your application, we may still need to ask you for more information. 1 Carrier_Layout 1 10/07/2012 16:54 Page 4 Carrier_Layout 1 10/07/2012 16:54 Page 5 Things you need to know How to fill in each section of your application form Section 1: What type of passport are you applying for? Do I need to send in photos? Get it right Yes, two photos. See page 16 for more advice. Renewal ̐Don’t book travel until you have your Can I send in a photocopy of a Get it right This applies if your existing undamaged British passport. birth certificate or other supporting ̐ If you have previously held a British passport, your name and British national status ̐We cannot accept responsibility for travel document? passport as an adult or child that was have not changed. If you are renewing a Child’s you book before it arrives. We do our best, No, you must send in the original. See page 12 issued for five or ten years, it isn’t passport, put a cross in the Child box if they but cannot guarantee to return your for the correct documents. damaged and you don’t need to change are under 16 or Adult box if they are 16 or over. passport within a certain time. any personal details, you need to apply (Please see ‘Changes’ below if your appearance ̐Go to www.direct.gov.uk/passports to find What is an ‘old blue’ passport? for a renewal. has changed.) out how long it is likely to take for your This is a passport with a blue cover that was passport to arrive. ̐ Put a cross in the Child box for under 16s. First British passport issued in the UK up until 1989. You can’t renew Put a cross in the Adult box if you are This applies if you have never had a British ̐We won’t send you an acknowledgement an expired ‘old blue’ style passport. You must going to turn 16 in the next few weeks. passport before or you were previously of your form. apply as a first-time applicant and send the blue included as a child on someone else’s passport. ̐If you want to check progress with your passport to us with your supporting documents. ̐ Put a cross in the Adult box or Child box application please leave three weeks before in the Extension option if you are This includes those who were not British at contacting us. I live abroad. Can I apply in the UK? applying for a full five- or 10-year birth but have gained naturalisation or passport to replace a passport that was ̐We deal as soon as we can with applications Visit www.fco.gov.uk and follow the link registration as a British national and are sent through Check & Send and post. for passports advice. If you do not have access issued for one year or less. applying for their first British passport. However, we don’t guarantee we will get the to the internet, contact your nearest embassy, ̐ Put a cross in the relevant ‘Changes Replacement passport back to you within a certain time. consulate or high commission. Do not use the to your existing passport’ box. We will This applies if you want to replace a British form that came with these guidance notes send you a new passport and you should passport that has been lost, stolen or damaged. unless you are visiting the UK and plan to replace pay the same as if you were renewing Can I download a new application form? your passport while you are here. your passport. No, but you can fill in an application form Extension online at www.direct.gov.uk/passports and I live abroad but I am visiting the UK, If your last passport was issued for one year we will print and post it to you to sign and add can I apply during my visit? Adult application or less, put a cross in the Extension box. your photographs and supporting documents. Yes but you need a UK address we can deliver An adult is 16 or over. If you are going to turn 16 Changes your new passport to. in the next few weeks, put a cross in the Adult box. Some of the boxes are small, can I This applies to a change in your name, photo How to fill in each section of the paper application form Adult passports are normally valid for 10 years. write outside them? Will I need an interview? (including where you cannot be recognised from your current passport photo) or British No. See the example below. Please see page 23 for more details. Child application Top tips before you fill in your form national status. AVOID DELAYS A child is under 16. Child passports are normally First and middle names WhenIf you makecan I a renew mistake, my cross passport? it out. Do not valid for five years. You can renew your passport whenever you What is a 48-page passport? J O H N B R O W N use correction fluid. If you make more than 3 want.mistakes You ondo anynot linehave or to do wait not forprovide it to arun clear out. A standard passport is 32 pages. If you are a Signature – (keep within the border) Wesignature will add in any sections period 6 orthat 9, youryou will passport need to has frequent traveller and need extra space for visas, leftfill to out run a (innew whole form. months up to nine months), select ‘48-page passport’ on the application toIf youryour newform passport. needs countersigning, your form. This is not available for children. countersignatory must also write in the Dowhite all boxesapplications and sign within need the signature I’ve Complete made a your mistake paper form on the in CAPITAL form, LETTERS abox countersignatory? at section 10.