renewing passport

[nermal]

Confused . When sending photos with declaration form do they still need to be signed on the back .Also is it necessary to provide documentation to show I am allowed to live here eg. an ID card ?

[meldy]

I sent mine off last week and did not have photos signed - I think it is only new passports rather than renewals that need the signatures. I did not send anything stating I have permission to live here, but my residency permit is in my old passport that I did send.

[Keithcaley]

nermal, I believe it says somewhere in the instructions, that provided you can still be recognised from your old passport photo, the new ones don't need a signature. I can't remember if that was actually in the paperwork, or in the advice section on the website, but it's there somewhere.

So, if you haven't grown an extra head or anything, it should be OK

[carrierbag]

I hope your photos complied with the instructions. I had mine done in Girne and thought they complied. I renewed when I was back in UK and they would not accept the photos....had to have them done again. Very frustrating.

[boxerblue]

just sent mine last week and had email asking for proof of residency or document showing address here, so just emailed copy of residency ( told them original was in the old passport ), copy of Turkish driving licence and bank statement with address on it, so see what happens, photos were taken in Girne and they seem to have accepted them up to now but you never no

[Shell232]

As long as you can be recognised still from your old passport photos then they do not need to be countersigned.

The problem people are having with passport photos taken here mainly seems to be the size, the passport office in the UK are very strict on the size so ensure yours comply before you send them.

[boxerblue]

just logged on to check my passport application, everything accepted and been dispatched, not as had as I thought it would be

[Panchocat]

Carrierbag is there a minimum stay time in the UK to be able to renew your passport when there?
Someone mentioned to me that they thought you had to be there for three weeks.

[kaiserphil]

Carrierbag is there a minimum stay time in the UK to be able to renew your passport when there?
Someone mentioned to me that they thought you had to be there for three weeks.

Not at all, unless things have changed recently.

I was in UK for a week just over a year ago, and was able to renew mine with no trouble.

Nobody asked how long I was staying.

Of course, I had to pay extra for 24 hour service, and had to make an appointment before I arrived in UK.

[Shell232]

I think possibly why you have 3 weeks in mind is that is the average turn around time for a passport ordered by post. As previous post if you opt to go to London for the 1 day service they do not ask how long you are in the UK for.

[lilnrob]

Can we use our address here or do we have to have a UK address please?

Lil

[Panchocat]

Thank you Kaiserphil and Shell 232.
Useful info and refutes what I had been told recently so to me that will be the easiest way to renew.
Can you use any of the passport offices as long as you make an appointment?

[lilnrob]

when we phoned this morning they wanted to know your post code so I am assuming you are directed to the one nearest your post code.

[kaiserphil]

Thank you Kaiserphil and Shell 232.
Useful info and refutes what I had been told recently so to me that will be the easiest way to renew.
Can you use any of the passport offices as long as you make an appointment?

I believe so. I happened to be staying in Peterborough, so I went to that one.

But I phoned a number on their website to book an appointment, recommended if you are doing the one-day business, so they will tell you if you are restricted in your choice of office.

But I just told them I wanted to visit the Peterborough office and they didn't quibble.

Have to say that I found the staff at that office brilliant.

[Dalartokat]

Use this site

https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports

and scroll down to "Find a Passport Customer Service Centre" and then put in your Postcode ...lots of other information too.

[meldy]

The passport office have really got their act together now. I sent my old passport etc. off on 12th January, DHL from Cafe Boss and have picked up my new passport today, 29th Jan. When I got the call to say there was a package for me I thought my things were being returned because there was something wrong with the photos or declaration form! 17 days - wow. I did not need to have my photo signed, it was accepted ok. Well done passport office.

[the butlers wife]

Can someone please tell me where to get the correct passport photographs taken. We have used the camera shop opposite the large car park in town before for our driving licenses, but these are the wrong size and background colour.





The butlers wife

[the butlers wife]

Got it sorted! YUCEL FOTOGRAFIK nr HSBC bank do the right size etc

[Keithcaley]

Got it sorted! YUCEL FOTOGRAFIK nr HSBC bank do the right size etc

That's where I had mine done - no problem at all.

They also gave me a free Portrait photo - very heavily re-touched to make me look halfway Human

See what I mean? ---->

I didn't risk smiling, 'cos I thought that he was still doing the passport one I think he was just practicing on me - probably took it as a challenge!

[carrierbag]

Sorry Panochat only just saw your question to me. I rang the number on the government website to renew a passport when visiting UK. You can make an appointment at the passport office nearest to you but I think they will only give you an appointment 2/3 weeks in advance of the date you want ie. if you want 21 March you will not get an appointment on that if you ring before 1 March. I took all the paperwork with me, had to re-do the photos of course, and then went away for 4 hours...came back and new passport was ready. I think it was £128 if memory serves me. Easy as anything.

[wedinnorthcyprus]

This might be a stupid question but did you put cyprus or Turkey as country of residence. Just going to start the process and dont want to make a mistake before i start.

[Dalartokat]

If you live permanently in Northern Cyprus then you live in The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

You don't live in Turkey and you don't live in Cyprus.

[wedinnorthcyprus]

It does not give you the option of Turkish Republic of Cyprus, i am filling in my details online and it gives me Cyprus or Turkey

[Dalartokat]

Then you would have to put Cyprus.