Immigration Corner | How to obtain a passport urgently

Dear Mr Bassie,

Please advise me on the steps that need to be taken to obtain a United Kingdom passport urgently.

BD

Dear BD,

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

Those persons who need to travel urgently for medical treatment, government business, or because a friend or family member is seriously ill or has died, are advised to call the Passport Adviceline instead.

WAYS TO APPLY

There are two ways to apply for an urgent passport.

One day premium

The earliest that an applicant can get an appointment is two days after applying. The applicant will need to hand in their old passport at the appointment and the new passport will be ready to collect from the passport office four hours after the appointment. Please note that persons can only use this service to renew an adult passport. It costs £222 (or £235 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport).

One-week fast track

With this particular track, the earliest that an applicant can get an appointment is the next day after applying. If successful, the new passport will be delivered by courier one week after the appointment.

Persons can use this service to:

• Renew a passport

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

• Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport

• Get a child passport

It costs:

• £178 for an adult passport (or £191 for a 54-page frequent traveller passport)

• £145 for a child passport (or £158 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.

They will need:

• Their old passport (if they have one)

• A digital photo of themselves

• A credit or debit card

WHEN PERSONS CANNOT APPLY

Persons cannot use this service if:

• They are applying for a first adult passport. Use the standard service instead

• They are outside the United Kingdom (UK). Apply for an emergency travel document instead.

Please note that if persons have already applied for a passport and have not received it yet, they should not pay for an urgent passport. Persons should be aware that they will not get their passport sooner and they will be charged a £32 admin fee for each additional application.

CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR APPOINTMENT

Those persons who may want to change their appointment should follow the guidance in the 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. Please note that persons will be charged a £32 admin fee if the appointment is less than 48 hours away. Also, if the appointment is missed, a refund will not be given and persons will have to book and pay again.

SEND SOMEONE IN APPLICANT’S PLACE

Applicants can ask someone else to go to the appointment for them. They will need to take the application reference number, which starts with ‘PEX’. This can be found on the confirmation email and in any text messages that is received concerning the appointment.

If the one-day premium service was used, they will also need to bring:

• The old passport

• 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 licence

If the one-week fast track service was used, they will also need to bring:

• The old passport (if they have one)

• Any documents they were told to bring in the service

I hope this helps.

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