Additional measures in place overseas to help British Nationals who need a new or replacement passport
19 Jun 2014 11:24 AM
Details of additional
passport measures.
Her Majesty’s Passport
Office (HMPO) is dealing with the highest demand for passports in 12 years and
has issued over three million passports so far in 2014. However, demand
continues to be high, and recognising people’s understandable concerns
about possible delays, the Home Secretary announced a series of additional
measures to ensure people and families are able to travel and live overseas.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has now confirmed details of how to access
the additional services they are now providing to British Nationals
overseas.
Passport
extensions
British nationals living
overseas whose passports have expired within the last six months, or are due to
expire in the next seven months, can now have their passport extended for 12
months with an official stamp in their existing passport. This requires a
minimum of three blank pages in the passport. Those who are eligible should
contact their nearest Embassy or
Consulate to make an appointment for this service. There will be no
charge for this service.
Customers will need to bring
their existing passport, and will need to complete an application form.
Appointments are essential. We will check eligibility and confirm that the
relevant country has agreed to accept passports extended in this way. Bookings
for appointments are being taken now, and appointments will be available from
23 June, or as soon as we have received confirmation from the host country that
they will accept the validity of passports extended in this
way.
More
information
Customers who have already made
an application to have their passport renewed cannot get an extension in their
current passport, even if they still have their passport with them. Customers
who need to travel urgently may be able to apply for an Emergency
Travel Document. Customers should contact their nearest Embassy or High
Commission to check if they are eligible.
Customers whose passports have
recently been lost or stolen can apply for an Emergency
Travel Document as usual.
Emergency travel documents for
children
Parents or guardians of children
living overseas who wish to travel may be able to apply for an emergency travel
document in place of both new (first time) passport and passport renewals for
their children.
Customers will need to provide
the same information as when applying for a passport for a child if the child has not held a
British passport before. In most cases, we will also ask customers to provide
evidence that all those who have parental
responsibility for the child agree to apply for an Emergency Travel
Document for the purpose of the proposed travel, or provide evidence that they
have sole responsibility for the child, e.g. a court order. Customers can then
follow instructions to apply for an Emergency
Travel Document.