Bucks_Family

Just a quick post to share a positive experience we've just had renewing our son's UK passport from here in Alberta. It might be useful for others needing to renew a passport.

I filled the renewal form in online (same form for new applications too), and paid the fee (£72). I could then print out the forms, I had a friend here certify one of my son's passport photos ($13 from London Drugs, no problems there, they have a system for sizing the photos correctly for UK passport requirements) and fill in half a page of the form with their contact information.
I only needed to send one page of the application form, two of his photos (including the certified one, of course) and his old UK passport to the Durham passport office. I did this by DHL, it cost $63, which was the cheapest out of them, UPS, Fedex, Purolater and CanadaPost (hah, as if!?).

I dropped it in the DHL office at Calgary airport on Thursday afternoon, 3rd November. It was in Newcastle by Friday evening and delivered to the passport office in Durham on Monday morning, noted as accepted by the passport office on Tuesday, printed on Wednesday and marked as dispatched on Thursday. DHL texted me on Thursday morning (Calgary time) to say they had it at Heathrow.
It crossed the Atlantic overnight Thursday/Friday, went from Cincinnati to Calgary on Friday morning, and was delivered to my house in Airdire at noon on Friday, 11th November.

Just a few hours under 8 days from dropping it at DHL to having his new passport back in my hands, including a weekend where nothing happened. Not bad. See, the world hasn't actually fallen apart since Trump won...

schengen area

In Ontario....mine took a day less of that time and the experience was the same. However, I used canada post and the fee was $43 registered

BristolUK

Not sure for mine last year but under two weeks. $43?

About $11 for mine. Canada Post of course.

TrishP

Good to know, I need to renew mine

Snowy560

Just wondering how you arrange the return courier? Is that all within the forms?

And do they send your (child's) old PP back? (Just about to apply for my daughters).

Thanks!

BristolUK

Return via courier is included in the fee.

I got my old passport back and the next day the knew one.

The courier man knew it was a passport on delivery - but that was the old one.

When he came back the next day with the real one I said - ah, this will be my spare passport.

Snowy560

Thank you.

I'm slightly confused about the counter signatory.

One daughter is 15 and the other 19 (it's easier to get mum to do it and pay). Decided not to wait till 15 year old is 16 for adult PP.

Reading the guidance notes, I don't think a counter signature applies to either them if they can be recognized from their previous passport photos ... But might be safer to get one (sigh).

It's too early for this. Been up since 5 with sick cat so probably not thinking straight.

S

Snowy560

Hi just checking this thread as about to mail off application from BC for two children but one is an adult (but not adult enough to pay the fee!!).

- So I should send it registered Canada post? Is that the best (only) way to get it signed for?

- we got the photos done in London Drugs who are great and can cope with the spec etc.

- now for Canadian PR etc, you write the name, d o b on the back of one and the London Drugs stamp provides the space for this. Did you put that info on? I couldn't see an instruction to do this.

- Ended up paying twice for the adult passport. Payment got stuck on verified by visa page so thought it had not gone through then paid on my debit card. Now it seems it has gone through maybe. So has anyone had the experience of paying twice and been able to get a refund?

I am sure we will manage even if no one replies but any responses appreciated!

S

BristolUK

It's what I did.
Shoppers for me. We don't have London Drugs. Probably the same idea though - they do it again at no charge if the pics are rejected.

I can't find it in the guidance but I vaguely remember something about it only needing the date the pics were done but not to write on them.

I expected it to be one of those where the date was already printed on the photo paper but the person who does it at Shoppers had a little stamp and I was a bit worried that would count as writing but it wasn't a problem. I suppose it's about anything pressing through to the image.

Snowy560

Thank you!

I got so stressed out doing the apps with daughters that I probably didn't read the detail as carefully as I should have. 15 year old decided to sign in a completely different way to how her signature looks on Canadian passport which is less than a year old [sigh]. 19 year old was cooperative but I was paying.

S

Gozit

Just as an aside, don't forget to update their UK passport details in GOES for their NEXUS cards once the new passports come.

Snowy560

It is only one daughter: older one does her own thing and chose not to apply for Nexus. And Yes, dad was told that at the interview in relation to daughter (I was busy applying for my ESTA remember so did not hear this!).

Thanks!

S

not2old

On the OP, if I may ask such a simple question for clarity on renewing British passports from Canada

Are all passport renewals now done in the UK, cos last ones we did were done at the British passport office in Washington DC for those of us on the eastern part of Canada?

Kindly fill in the small bits for me please, as I read it from this thread....

- fill in form

- have photos done, endorsed etc

- Form, photo's & payment in an envolope send them to some place in the UK

Is that it?

Is there a link somewhere for renewing British passports from Canada?

Snowy560

If you start here, it should be fairly easy to start the ball rolling.

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports

Essentially:

- you answer a few Qs
- you get provided with a link to do the application
- you pay and then print out the declaration/document checklist
- you sign, gather documents
- you consult fellow BE people if you have questions!
- you mail off.

I suggest you download and study the guidance notes (link is provided at the end of the questionnaire).

S

PS: I just did it for my two daughters: one 15 and one 19. We managed the whole thing in a day including getting photos and a few arguments. No need for countersignature in either case as they don't look that different and don't meet any of the other criteria where one is needed. If you have a Canadian or other valid (non UK) passport, you need to enclose a full colour copy of those. And the uncancelled UK original pp. Don't forget to take your landing document out of it if it is stapled inside.

Bucks_Family

^^^ what Snowy says.
The most difficult part for us was finding the right person to write the "I certify that this is a true likeness of Mr XXXX XXXX, <signed> YYYYYY YYYYY, 1st Nov 2016".

The guidelines state that the countersignatory "must hold a UK, Irish or other EU, US or Commonwealth passport (in that order of preference) which has not run out. We will be able to process applications more quickly where the countersignature has a UK or Irish passport.", and who is a "professional person", and who has known us for two years. I can see that being kind of awkward if you've only been here a couple of years.

Fortunately we have Dual UK/Canadian passport-holding friends here, one of whom works for the Province, and she certified one of the photos.
Note, nothing was stamped on any photo at London Drugs, and shouldn't be for a UK passport application.