Passport Renewal

jicms

My UK passport runs out in March 2021 so feel I should renew it now seeing as some countries require 6 months remaining and I want to be able to travel if and when quarantines are lifted.  The process seems straightforward online but could someone clarify - 

• When and how do I return the current passport?  Do I have to take it to a post office and send special delivery (extra cost).  I can't see details on this, presumably they inform me at the end of the application.
• Do I have to send supporting documents in the post or can these be uploaded electronically?
• The photo can be verified online by a friend.  Do they have to be from the previously used professional list?

Flugelhorn

I did mine online - didn't need any documents and I hadn't changed enough to need any photo verification  (still look so youthful you know  ) - the process produce a specific address and reference to put on the envelope and then I took it to the PO to send tracked and signed for. Whole process was updated online with various messages letting me know what stage it was at 

MalMonroe

If it's a renewal you should be able to do it as Flugelhorn says, online and then post. You usually have to send your current passport with the application but you can have it returned, if you want.

https://www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport/renew

jicms

Thanks.  The pic only has to be verified if you've changed significantly from 10 years ago? 
So you have to add a not insignificant sum to the passport cost to post it special delivery and for it's return as most people will have good reason to keep it, unless that's covered in the £75.50.
I am doing it online via this link but they don't seem to have covered my queries.

Flugelhorn

they post  the old one  back without charge, the passport has been cancelled and had the corner cut off so not much use to anyone. The new one arrived by courier (I think) . The track and signed for was about £3.50? £2 if just signed for 

jicms

Thanks for your help. We've needed old passports for travel records, visas etc. so definitely need to keep them all.  That's cheaper than I thought. They seem keen to direct people to the PO checking service.  Always feel very insecure being without a passport, would be good if the old one could be returned at the same time as receiving the new one!

Sandtree

You may need to check if visas in an expired and damaged (intentionally) passport can be used - the passport office deliberately cut the corner off the passport as a belts and braces that the document is cancelled. Different countries views on these things vary significantly.

Given the increasingly few countries that stamp passports I am not sure how useful it is as a travel record either but they can be a nice memento to have even if of little practical value.

They send the new and old one separately, obviously the cost of reuniting the two outweighs the cost of an extra postage. 

smudge56

jicms said:

My UK passport runs out in March 2021 so feel I should renew it now seeing as some countries require 6 months remaining and I want to be able to travel if and when quarantines are lifted.  The process seems straightforward online but could someone clarify - 

• When and how do I return the current passport?  Do I have to take it to a post office and send special delivery (extra cost).  I can't see details on this, presumably they inform me at the end of the application.
• Do I have to send supporting documents in the post or can these be uploaded electronically?
• The photo can be verified online by a friend.  Do they have to be from the previously used professional list?
• 
  

Do it online. It’s cheaper.  Put your passport in a strong jiffy envelope and send it to the passport office indicated on your application. Make sure you write your PEX number on the front of the envelope. If it’s a straightforward renewal it will go through the digital system and be back within a week. You don’t need your photo verified unless you look totally different. Facial matching will verify that your photo matches your old passport.
your new passport is printed at a central location and you old cancelled passport will be returned by the office you sent it to.