Renewing UK passport
 

Do you still have to post your old passport back to blighty, or is it all online now? Been a while since last renewed it...

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

If you apply on line, then, no, you do not send your old passport to UK.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

Has it changed? I renewed mine online a year ago, they wanted me to return it. I received it back at the same time as my new one.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

Yes you do - and they send it back to you with the corner cut off.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

I am resident in Spain and applied to renew my UK passport one week ago. I was most definitely required to return the old one to HM Passport Office in the UK. Just a few minutes ago I received an email from them to say my application had been approved and the new passport was being printed, I received an earlier message last Thursday evening confirming that they had received my old passport. The process is now so much easier and more efficient than it used to be, a really good service.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

Whoops sorry; it's the US passport where, if renewed on line, one does not have to send in the old passport

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

I have to do this now. How did you send the old passport to the UK? Is it OK to use mail with tracking that they'll sign for?

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

I haven't renewed it yet

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

From Japan I used EMS, the most expensive option but it was tracked and notified when signed for. Sometimes the extra cost can be justified.
The passport office returned mine using DHL.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

Granted it was back in 2020 when I last renewed it, but I sent it via Canada Post registered mail, with tracking.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

Go to the gov.uk site to renew passport (don’t go through a third party site as it’s more expensive) and follow their instructions. You may be able to submit your own photograph- follow their general rules and try to submit - it’ll tell you if it doesn’t meet specification.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

It is also worth noting that for those who want to renew their UK passport when visiting the UK, if you have a passport from a second nationality, you cannot use the same day service but you can use the 1 week service so allow enough time.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

This new immigration rule the government is pushing for Feb25 is very annoying

Canadians can visit on a ETA but we cannot !! How stupid is this, you can fly France and get a dingy to uk I bet

so now there be a mad rush for UK passports I bet. We visit maybe once every 2-3 years and have been happy to travel as Canadians

its BS and just another reason Labour are wrong for England when we cannot just visit

I’m fuming !!! We have a wedding to attend next Feb in my home country and I need a document to go back now it’s madness !!

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

I am having a meltdown as I have a booking to the UK in March and have just recently learned of the new rules for dual citizens. I am living in Canada and my uk passport expired in 1991. I am now a Canadian citizen and I just renewed my passport and paid for an eTA which was approved. I applied last night for a British passport as I do not want to pay the outrageous sum for the certificate. I am not sure I will get my passport in time for my travel. I am just annoyed with this situation.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

Join the club and I bet those who return as dual citizens on their UK passport will not be covered by the NHS as you are not a resident in the UK. At least you won’t need a UK driving licence but you won’t be eligible to get insurance put onto a relatives policy. So do you have a credit card that will cover the damage, collision aspects if renting a vehicle.

Sadly other countries are doing the same and if you were a dual citizen who has been living in the UK for many years you need a Canadian passport if flying back to Canada.

At least if you got into trouble you should be able to contact the Canadian Embassy/Consulate for assistance.

I wonder how a criminal case would be dealt with and not fully conversant with the current UK law if arrested then the Police have to ask if you wish to contact in this case Canadian officials.

Another downside might be not eligible for Legal Aid in the UK or entering competitions to win money as not a resident of the UK and other such things.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

The whole situation is sickening when we watch daily as immigration is side tracked for refugees seeking welfare yet actual citizens are discriminated against.

what was wrong with the ETA route, which at the time was pissed about !! But at least it wasn’t to difficult or expensive to apply

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

My daughter is in a similar situation but I looked at the UK Passport website and there was a section about emergency travel to UK with a valid UK passport. Don't know if a trip in March is considered emergency or if processing time is quick. Hope you figure it out.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

From Canada I sent my old UK Passport back using regular Canada Post, not tracked, not signed for but OH not happy I cheaped out! Got there easy enough and processed pretty quickly.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

I'm very annoyed about this too. I want to know just how strict they are about kids who are dual-citizen by descent born in Canada. It's a lot of money to maintain a whole extra set of passports. I guess we'll see over the coming year how this policy actually plays out in the real world.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

Labour have backtracked on many things, I would not be suprised if 100s don’t know about the changes and all get left behind at the airports !!

could one not travel on an old passport, using a new Canada passport, if it’s all about proving citizenship why not ?

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

If you have been out of the UK for 3 months or more, you are considered a non resident and not covered by the NHS anyway so you need to take out travel insurance when visiting the UK.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

No. If one is a UK citizen, one needs to travel in/out of the UK on a UK passport. No different from the rules for the USA, Australia and Canada.

Re: Renewing UK passport
 

Yes I am quite aware of this fact however there are exempted services that you would not have to pay for and there are other things you cannot do if not a resident of the UK.

Try opening a main street bank account without proof of residence I.e UK address

Try getting named on a vehicle insurance policy of a relative if your credit card does not cover the collision damage waiver.

If you got arrested would the Police automatically offer you the phone call to the Canadian Embassy/Consulate or you would need to request it as they would not know you are a visitor as opposed to living in the UK.

Would you be eligible for Legal Aid?

Yes other countries also have adopted this policy if you have dual citizenship but live outside the country you were born in and even that can be circumvented. For Canadian citizens outside of Canada simply fly into the USA and then drive across the Canadian border and having proof of Canadian citizenship in another form i.e birth certificate, expired passport, certificate of naturalization.

As it is now easier to get passports then if wanting to return then I would apply for one but for larger families this could add 500 quid for just a visit.