Immigration Corner | Applying for a UK passport urgently

Dear Mr Bassie,

I am a British citizen and I need to get a British passport urgently. Please tell me how I could go about obtaining it.

LA

Dear LA,

Persons can pay to get a passport urgently if they think the standard service will take too long. They can use this online service to apply, pay and book an appointment at a passport office. They can book an appointment up to three weeks in advance, and passport office appointments may last up to 10 minutes.

Persons who may need to travel urgently for medical treatment, on government business, or because a friend or family member is seriously ill or has died, should call the Passport Adviceline instead.

WAYS TO APPLY

There are two ways to apply for an urgent passport. And these are as follows:

One-day premium

The earliest a person can get an appointment is two days after applying. Those persons will be able to get a new passport at their appointment. Please note that this service is to renew an adult passport and it costs £207.50 (or £219.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport).

One-week fast track

The earliest persons can get an appointment is the next day after applying. Please be aware that the new passport will be delivered to the applicant by courier one week after the appointment.

Persons can use this service to:

• Renew a passport;

• Change personal details on their passport (for example, their name, place of birth or gender);

• Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport;

• Get a child passport.

It costs:

• £166.50 for an adult passport (or £178.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport); and

• £135.50 for a child passport (or £147.50 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport).

Apply online

If applying online, persons will be asked some questions to work out the services for which they are eligible. They can then book an appointment, apply and pay.

The applicant will need their old passport (if they have one); a digital photo of themselves; and a credit or debit card.

WHEN SERVICE CANNOT BE USED

Persons cannot use this service if they are applying for a first adult passport, and so should use the standard service instead.

Persons cannot use this service if they are outside the United Kingdom. Those persons should apply for an emergency travel document instead.

Those persons who have already applied for a passport and have not received it as yet should not pay for an urgent passport. They will not get their passport sooner, and they will be charged a £30 administration fee for each additional application.

CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR APPOINTMENT

Persons who would like to change their appointment should follow the guidance in their confirmation email. Please note that it is free if the appointment is more than 48 hours away. If the appointment is less than 48 hours away, they will need to cancel it instead and book again.

To cancel the appointment and get a refund, persons should call the Passport Adviceline. They will be charged a £30 admin fee if the appointment is less than 48 hours away. Please note that if an appointment is missed, there will not be a refund. Thise persons will have to book and pay again.

SEND SOMEONE IN PLACE OF APPLICANT

Persons can ask someone else to go to their appointment for them. They will need to bring the application reference number, which starts with ‘PEX.’ This can be found on the confirmation email and in any text messages they get concerning the appointment.

Persons who applied using the one-day premium service will also need to bring: The applicant’s old passport, along with a signed and dated letter from the applicant naming them and giving them permission to collect the new passport; their ID, for example, a passport or driving license.

Persons who use the one-week fast-track service will also need to bring the applicant’s old passport (if they have one); and any documents they were told to bring in the service.

All the best.

John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com