Changes to British passport applications for British residents

[Janet]

There has been a change in the procedure for new British passport applications for those resident in Spain. Currently, the applications are processed via Madrid, but from next Monday, 13 May, they will have to be sent to the Identity & Passport Service (IPS) in Belfast. There is a new downloadable form for applications HERE on the gov.uk website. The timescale for processing new passports will, apparently, be unchanged, i.e. 4 weeks for renewals, and 6 weeks for new applications or replacements. The helpline charges are also changing, for the better, with charges being reduced: previously, calls were charged at premium rates, but now they will cost only normal international call rates. The number is 0044 300 222 0000. JA

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

I note that they offer free passports for those born before 2 September 1929.  They may just as well, as once you turn 85 you will find it difficult if not impossible to get travel insurance. 

[Nova]

Has anyone done this yet?  I've just realised my passport expires in June next year.  I need it for Christmas so I'm thinking of applying for the renewal straight after that.  Looking at the government website, it seems that an alternative to the post ordering system would be to make an appointment at a regional passport office whilst in the UK and use the Premium Service to renew your passport there and then, saving the cost of the courier as well as any postage or delay risks.  However, it's probably less of a headache to just send it off and wait 4 weeks.  Can anyone confirm whether this 4 week guide is actually being met?  Of course, applying straight after Christmas with a June expiry should give me plenty of time, but I don't want to be stuck for any travel needs that arise in-between.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

No idea as we did ours when they were still being done in Madrid. 

At that time, they would add up to 9 months to your new passport and it may be worth checking that they still will.  Ours were to expire in May 2012, so I sent them in in August 2011, and received new ones good for 10 years plus 9 months. 

So if they will still add the 9 months, you could send yours in right about now Nova and it would be back in plenty of time.

[Nova]

Thanks Myrtle.  Yes, it says they still add up to 9 months remaining onto the next passport.  If I apply before Christmas, I wouldn't be able to send it until the end of September, which would only give them a little over 2 months for them to get it back to me in time for Christmas, which makes me nervous.  Sending it after Christmas would give me a much bigger margin as I don't expect to need it until about April/May.

Also, after I send off my passport I will have no legal form of ID, which could cause problems here.  I would like to at least have my Spanish driving licence before I surrender my passport.  And no, Trafico still haven't called me since my first appointment at the beginning of May 

[Janet]

You have a very simple solution to ID while your passport is away ... get a notarized copy. This becomes the original.

[Nova]

Aha, good thinking! 

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Nova, I'd call Tráfico.  Some thing's gone amiss. 

FYI I had some documents copied and certified by a notary last week and the cost was 3€ per page.

[Nova]

I am super-impressed with the turnaround on my new passport!  I did the online renewal application and paid online, then sent off my form and expired passport on 30th June as per my rant post HERE.  Then today, just less than two weeks later, I received a phonecall from somebody purporting to be the courier, standing outside the front gate to my complex in Palm Mar with my new passport in his hand!!!  Of course, I wasn't there, I was at work, so the chap said he'd bring it to the bank for me tomorrow!!  How excellent is that????   

[Janet]

excellent indeed! So did the courier actually phone you?