One of the most frightening things to happen when you are traveling or living in a foreign country is to lose your passport, forcing you to get a new one while abroad. Whether your passport is stolen, missing, damaged or in need of renewal, it is relieving to know what your embassy can do to help you. Britain has an embassy, consulate or high commission in almost every country, so you can get help when you need it.
UK nationals living, working or studying in foreign countries who either need to apply for their first British passport, renew their passport or replace a damaged or missing passport can apply at British embassies, consulates or high commissions.
British embassies, consulates and high commissions issue standard passports, frequent traveler's passports, child passports, emergency passports and temporary passports.
You can either print out the needed application form or pick it up from UK consulates, embassies or high commissions. Attach two identical passport photographs, supporting documents, your previous passport and paid application fee in local currency to your completed application, and mail the application package to the closest British embassy, consulate or high commission. If you are a first-time passport applicant, you might be invited for an interview as part of the passport application process.
Passports are either processed in the closest British embassy, consulate or high commission or in a country-specific location. In the United States and Canada, standard passport applications are only processed at the UK Passport Service for the Americas and Caribbean, British Embassy in Washington D.C. Other passports are processed in almost all the other locations. Contact the closest British embassy to find out where to mail your application package.
How long it takes to process your application depends on the location of your processing center. If your processing location is experiencing greater than normal volume of applications, no prioritizing is done based on need. All applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The cost of your passport depends on the type of passport you need and varies between $117 and $255. A postage and insurance fee is added to your passport fee. Credit cards, money orders and cashier and certified bankers' checks are the only accepted forms of payment.
