UK Passport Renewal

[Houdi]

There has been some correspondence on renewing UK passports on the Forum. I just wanted to share my recent experience with anyone who has to renew their UK passport soon.

I started with the British Embassy website in Bangkok. This pointed me to the Honk Kong embassy site. It took a while to read everything and some of the information about what to send was a bit conflicting.

In the end, it was extremely easy.

You fill in an Online application form. Print it and sign it. You need 2 passport photos and one of these needs to be endorsed by someone who knows you. They also need to sign the appropriate section of the application form.

You do NOT need to send your current passport. But you do need to send a photocopy of the page with all your details on it.

You fill in a credit card authority form.

You then send all of this to the embassy address in Hong Kong. (I went to the Post office and sent it recorded delivery).

They only charge the fee to your credit card after they have checked that all the information supplied by you is correct. To my surprise, only 10 days after I sent my application, I checked my credit card on line and the appropriate fee had been charged by the embassy so everything is in order.

Within 3 to 4 weeks my new passport should arrive by courier from the UK. I will post again when I get it.

In summary, the process look bit tedious and there seems to be no way of checking with Hong Kong on progress (although I assume they contact you if anything is wrong with your application).

In spite of my concerns it worked !!

And by the way, it seems that within a couple or three years ALL UK passport renewals from overseas will be processed in the same way BUT will be handled directly through the UK (and not Hong Kong for us).

[sateeb]

I agree it's a pretty painless process, a side note though is that if it is a renewal and your physical appearance has not altered much you do not need the photos countersigned.

[aragon]

There has been some correspondence on renewing UK passports on the Forum. I just wanted to share my recent experience with anyone who has to renew their UK passport soon.

I started with the British Embassy website in Bangkok. This pointed me to the Honk Kong embassy site. It took a while to read everything and some of the information about what to send was a bit conflicting.

In the end, it was extremely easy.

You fill in an Online application form. Print it and sign it. You need 2 passport photos and one of these needs to be endorsed by someone who knows you. They also need to sign the appropriate section of the application form.

You do NOT need to send your current passport. But you do need to send a photocopy of the page with all your details on it.

You fill in a credit card authority form.

You then send all of this to the embassy address in Hong Kong. (I went to the Post office and sent it recorded delivery).

They only charge the fee to your credit card after they have checked that all the information supplied by you is correct. To my surprise, only 10 days after I sent my application, I checked my credit card on line and the appropriate fee had been charged by the embassy so everything is in order.

Within 3 to 4 weeks my new passport should arrive by courier from the UK. I will post again when I get it.

In summary, the process look bit tedious and there seems to be no way of checking with Hong Kong on progress (although I assume they contact you if anything is wrong with your application).

In spite of my concerns it worked !!

And by the way, it seems that within a couple or three years ALL UK passport renewals from overseas will be processed in the same way BUT will be handled directly through the UK (and not Hong Kong for us).

I'm sorry Houdi, but that's not what I call extremely easy . One of the guys who works for me is Japanese, he recently took hs application for a new passport into the Japanese embassy here in Doha on a Sunday morning and had his new passport on Tuesday morning. Now that's what I call extremely easy, not to mention the fact that it was also a hell of a lot cheaper than getting a new UK passport and that's without all the courier charges. Go figure that one

[Houdi]

I agree it's a pretty painless process, a side note though is that if it is a renewal and your physical appearance has not altered much you do not need the photos countersigned.

Agreed but although my appearance hadn't changed much, I didn't want to take the risk of someone in Hong Kong disagreeing with me !

As for the renewal of Japanese passports in Doha, I am delighted that it is so easy for them. My comment was that it is not as complicated as it looks to renew a UK passport from Thailand.

[Houdi]

As promised, an update on my UK passport renewal.

The new passport arrived by courier yesterday. So the process took approximately 4 weeks from start to finish.

The new passport is valid immediately and the expiry date is a full 10 years from the expiry date of the old passport. So this passport runs for 10 years and 8 months. I have to promise to cut the corner off the old passport !!

[richard]

Sounds good. Now what next regarding the transfer of Thai visa information? Can be done in Hua Hin or does it have to be in Bangkok?

[Houdi]

Richard, I will post again when I find out. I am assuming it is in Hua Hin.

My 90 days is up on 11 March and my new retirement visa on 23 March. So I will know in about one month's time.

[Nereus]

Sounds good. Now what next regarding the transfer of Thai visa information? Can be done in Hua Hin or does it have to be in Bangkok?

It can be done in Hua Hin, and they will rip you off 500 Baht. Go to the main office in Chaeng Wattana and it is free, but will take half the day, plus a trip to Bangkok.

[richard]

Thanks

I have a long way to go with my passport (expiry May 2014) but never like to leave things to the last minute. As a matter of interest, how far in advance will they renew?. Second thoughts, it should tell me on the embassy website.

[Nereus]

Thanks
I have a long way to go with my passport (expiry May 2014) but never like to leave things to the last minute. As a matter of interest, how far in advance will they renew?. Second thoughts, it should tell me on the embassy website.

Just be aware that if you have less than 12 months remaining on your passport when your next extension is due, Thai Immigration will only give you an extension up to the expiry date of your current passport.

[richard]

That's exactly what I was thinking Nereus.

The embassy website doesn't seem to have the info so back to you guys out there. How far in advance can you renew your passport please

[JimmyGreaves]

Application for renewal of childs passort - Same route I suppose?

Who needs to sign the new photos?

[Dannie Boy]

That's exactly what I was thinking Nereus.

The embassy website doesn't seem to have the info so back to you guys out there. How far in advance can you renew your passport please

Pretty sure it's up to one year i.e. <365 days

[Dannie Boy]

That's exactly what I was thinking Nereus.

The embassy website doesn't seem to have the info so back to you guys out there. How far in advance can you renew your passport please

Pretty sure it's up to one year i.e. <365 days

Just checked (like anybody could do!!) and you can renew your passport at any time but they will only add a maximum of 9 months to the new expiry date.

[buksida]

Application for renewal of childs passort - Same route I suppose?

Who need to sign the new photos?

Yep, exactly the same, counter-signing can be a UK citizen (preferably a professional of some sort) that has known you and the child for 2 years.