Thanks - too much wine and a rush to get things done...

Turns out my countersignatory doesn't have a valid passport because he uses a national ID card over in Europe and isn't bothered about travelling anywhere further. Kind of strange that they can use it to travel everywhere, including the UK, yet I can't use it as their countersignatory ID...

Sigh, I'm being dumb. Finally getting round to renewing three passports. Two normal (lol) adults and one First time adult. I'm doing them all together so I'm only paying once but got half way through the daughter's and wondered if her form would be slightly different as they don't actually ask on the Adult form if you previously had a Child one. Her previous one was a five year Child one which expired in 2010. However the info page (screenshot below) makes no mention of having an expired burgundy Child passport. Am I right in continuing with an Adult with Changes application and just needing the counter signatory?

Hi Just after some quick advice.

We've been in Australia for a while now and both hubby and daughter's UK passports expired a few years ago. They both now have dual citizenship so have been using their Australian passports to travel. Would it be best (given the Brexit uncertainty etc) to keep our UK passports current and if so would it be a problem renewing ones that expired a few years ago?
Thank you.

If they expired a while ago, renewal is more difficult. I let my daughters' British passports expire and had major problems renewing them

I would renew them. If they expired 10 years ago or more it becomes more involved to renew them. If you're inside that window do them before that date. I'm not concerned about Brexit, if I need to get a visa to travel somewhere (like before joining the EU) it's not hard. I just felt I didn't want to make renewing difficult.

Thank you both for your quick responses. It's definitely less than 10 years so I'll apply for renewal shortly xx

Just a short question to make sure I won't run into any trouble: my countersignatory didn't tick any of the usual Mr/Ms/Mrs boxes but instead wrote "PhD" in the "or title" area.

Will this be ok?

They are a UK citizen so I won't be sending in a colour copy of their passport ID page.

No problem at all.

I've cocked up. Completely forgot to copy our Aus Passports and sent the declaration etc off yesterday. Does anyone know if they'll automatically refuse the application or if they'll ask for them? Is it worth calling them and giving the reference numbers and ask that they hang fire until they receive the copies? I can get them copied and sent off tomorrow, possibly later this afternoon. Do I have an expensive problem?

Did you write on the form that you held Australian passports?

Yes. Can't believe I forgot to do them, I got them out ready to copy when I was going through the checklist but had a brain fart obviously!

TBH I suspect you'll get your passports issued regardless.

That would be awesome. Do I panic anyway and get the copies sent off or do I hope if they need them they'll contact me rather than pocketing $300+ and telling me to do it all again?

It won't be a refusal matter. Worst case scenario is that they'll ask you for them.

Excellent. Merci buckets Brit.