Passport renewal

[EternalOptimist]

Anyone else considering getting their passport renewed before the biometric version becomes compulsory ?

I am applying this weekend

[Kyajae]

Anyone else considering getting their passport renewed before the biometric version becomes compulsory ?

I am applying this weekend

When do the 'old' ones end?

[Captain Dispensable]

Had to get mine renewed recently, ready for my holiday in a few weeks

Painless to do it online. Fill in the online form, they send you the docs pre-printed with your details/answers, you sign it, return the docs with your old passport and cheque (by special delivery to be sure it gets there), then a few weeks later they return your old passport with the cover defaced so it's supposedly useless, then your brand spank new one arrives ready for the jollies.

Thing is the new 10 year passports have a chip in them that's not guaranteed to last 10 years, especially if placed in situations like the ex-ray scanners at airports. You've got to love the government, they can screw us every which way and we just bend over and take it.

[EternalOptimist]

When do the 'old' ones end?

From 2010 an ID card will be issued with all new or renewed passport. If you want to put off getting an ID card, renew yer passport now

[Euro-commuter]

Painless to do it online. Fill in the online form, they send you the docs pre-printed with your details/answers, you sign it, return the docs with your old passport and cheque (by special delivery to be sure it gets there), then a few weeks later they return your old passport with the cover defaced so it's supposedly useless, then your brand spank new one arrives ready for the jollies.

A few weeks later?? And what do you do to travel in the meantime?

[Captain Dispensable]

Swim the channel?

You're supposed to plan ahead and not expect a government service to be efficient whatsoever. I thought 2-3 weeks wait was quite good all things considered.

If you're in a rush you can camp out at one of the passport offices. Don't know what type of entertainment they put on overnight though.

[Euro-commuter]

Swim the channel?

You're supposed to plan ahead and not expect a government service to be efficient whatsoever. I thought 2-3 weeks wait was quite good all things considered.

If you're in a rush you can camp out at one of the passport offices. Don't know what type of entertainment they put on overnight though.

I travel abroad every week. I do plan ahead but the plan always involves travelling.

[Captain Dispensable]

Better break out the sleeping bag then, unless you get lucky and the queue is only half a mile long.

That's assuming you need a new passport anytime soon. If it's a few years off till renewal they'll have brought out the forehead barcode system by then so you'll just need to find a local tattooist.

[Sockpuppet]

I travel abroad every week. I do plan ahead but the plan always involves travelling.

Say you lost it. The same as renewing it just you get to keep the original one.

[threaded]

Say you lost it. The same as renewing it just you get to keep the original one.

Then when the new one turns up you can get a good few coin for the old one!