DaniL

My passport expires at the end of February. I just looked at the British embassy in Italy website and it seems really hard to get it renewed here. Not to mention expensive! 148 euro not including postage! The form is 4 pages long and seems to need a countersignature, I thought that was only for your 1st passport?
Has anyone else done this recently and am I reading all the info right? My husband renewed his from Japan a few months ago and had to fill in one page and pay about half as much. How does that work?
Would it be easier, and cheaper, if I went home to do the renewing? Haven't seen my Mum for 3 years so should visit soon anyway!

Margaret M

If you have the time to do it it probably is the easiest way. I believe all Passport Renewal Applications from the EU now have to go to Paris.

LivingHere

I renewed my children's passports when we were in the UK last summer. It was a lot cheaper and took about ten days. You still need the counter signatory though.

jdr

Madrid from here and twice the bloody price.

DaniL

the counter signatory is going to be a massive problem. I haven't lived in the Uk for the past 4 years. A friend is a teacher but lives up in Penrith and my family are on the south coast. Hmmmm.

Lionda

We did ours from Spain a couple of years ago....sent the form to our daughter in England who sent it off, got the new passports and posted them on to us. Didn't need a countersignatory as we still looked the same on our new photos. Check the form I'm sure it says something on there about not needing a countersignatory if your photo hasn't changed much.

jdr

You are a naughty girl, if you apply in the UK then you have to be there, you are not supposed to send them through a third party.
I think now you have to apply in person either at a post office or the embassy to get them as well as a signature on the paperwork.
You are no longer allowed a white background on the photos either, has to be grey or cream, this gave the Spanish photographer a good laugh.

sonofjoe

I read this on the Identity and Passport Services web site https://passports.ips.gov.uk/epa1r1a/Rich/Formpage.aspx looking to see if you could apply on line!

"This service is only available to British nationals currently in the UK, for the return of a passport to an address in the UK. If you are not currently in the UK, please contact your nearest British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission who should be able to issue you with a British passport.

Hope this helps

Lionda

Then I am a naughty girl But then I was and still am a British citizen and will not pay through the nose for something I know I can get cheaper. The charges through the British Consulate are rip off

JAJ

And I would point out that there does not appear to have been any criminal offence committed.

When British Embassies offer third class service for double the cost, it's hardly surprising people try to find an alternative.

jdr

It says you have to be in the UK to apply there, if you are not isn`t that obtaining a passport by fraud.
Also the PP`s applied for from Madrid have a different stamp in them, so maybe that is done for a purpose ?

JAJ

Who is being defrauded?

It's because the Foreign Office deal with issuing passports overseas (and they appear to have forgotten they're not dealing with foreigners ... )

jdr

The UK passport office, because they are not in the UK when applying and signing a form to say they are in the UK.

JAJ

And what difference does that make? They are paying the fee and are a British citizen, so once again, how is someone defrauded of anything?

jdr

Surely by falsifying the application form is an intentional deception for personal gain, which I thought fraud was.
Apparently you see it different so we have to agree on not agreeing. ;-)