Road rules1 min ago
Renew Passport - First Uk Passport
19 Answers
I went online to renew my passport .My old one was issued in 1991 -after completing few more details i got this message below.Oddly , none of this information is on their website and i have their booklet in front of me - and again nothing about a passport being too old for renewal
"Apply for a first UK passport
Based on your answers, you have an old passport that was issued in 1991.
As your passport was issued a long time ago, you must apply for a first UK passport and you may need to have a passport interview.
It should take around 6 weeks to get a new passport."
"Apply for a first UK passport
Based on your answers, you have an old passport that was issued in 1991.
As your passport was issued a long time ago, you must apply for a first UK passport and you may need to have a passport interview.
It should take around 6 weeks to get a new passport."
Answers
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Yes, I got the same message when I started mine online, so I rang the Passport helpline (0300 222 0000). The advisor told me how to get past the message - by clicking on something else - can't remember exactly what it was now, you then get a different form which will let you do it online, providing you have an old burgundy passport. It worked for me, I got my passport...
21:18 Wed 30th Jan 2019
Yes i am using official site , not one of those paying scam ones.After some digging with keywords i found.Mmmm
"Renewal
If you have previously held a British passport as an adult or child that was issued for 5 or 10 years, it isn’t damaged and you don’t need to change any personal details you need to apply for a renewal.
You can't renew an expired 'old blue' style passport. This is a passport with a dark blue cover that was issued up until the early 1990s. You must apply as a first time applicant by selecting the 'First passport' option and send the blue passport to us with your supporting documents.
First passport
Select this option if you have never had a British passport before, or you were previously included as a child on someone else's passport, or are renewing an 'old blue' style passport. This includes those who were not British at birth but have gained naturalisation or registration as a British national and are applying for a first British passport. "
"Renewal
If you have previously held a British passport as an adult or child that was issued for 5 or 10 years, it isn’t damaged and you don’t need to change any personal details you need to apply for a renewal.
You can't renew an expired 'old blue' style passport. This is a passport with a dark blue cover that was issued up until the early 1990s. You must apply as a first time applicant by selecting the 'First passport' option and send the blue passport to us with your supporting documents.
First passport
Select this option if you have never had a British passport before, or you were previously included as a child on someone else's passport, or are renewing an 'old blue' style passport. This includes those who were not British at birth but have gained naturalisation or registration as a British national and are applying for a first British passport. "
I just tried a dummy renewal app on the Gov.UK site and within a minute I got the message:
"Apply for a first UK passport
Based on your answers, you have an old passport that was issued in 1991.
As your passport was issued a long time ago, you must apply for a first UK passport and you may need to have a passport interview.
It should take around 6 weeks to get a new passport."
You are right- it doesn't seem to mention it earlier but at least you find out pretty quickly before you have to enter lots of name and address info
"Apply for a first UK passport
Based on your answers, you have an old passport that was issued in 1991.
As your passport was issued a long time ago, you must apply for a first UK passport and you may need to have a passport interview.
It should take around 6 weeks to get a new passport."
You are right- it doesn't seem to mention it earlier but at least you find out pretty quickly before you have to enter lots of name and address info
Yes, I got the same message when I started mine online, so I rang the Passport helpline (0300 222 0000).
The advisor told me how to get past the message - by clicking on something else - can't remember exactly what it was now, you then get a different form which will let you do it online, providing you have an old burgundy passport.
It worked for me, I got my passport back in a week!
The advisor told me how to get past the message - by clicking on something else - can't remember exactly what it was now, you then get a different form which will let you do it online, providing you have an old burgundy passport.
It worked for me, I got my passport back in a week!
Interesting, but hardly surprising: The system currently likely altogether lacks any connection with your old passport and any/all details that were the basis for it being issued in the first place. You therefore basically have to start afresh as if you were effectively a non-existent individual needing to prove what/who he/she is. Based on other recently highlighted examples, it is not impossible that you will be unable to convince the UK system that you exist, never mind who you really are and least of all that you "belong". It can be entirely irrelevant that you have attended education establishments in the UK, paid tax in the UK, etc., etc., including having held a UK passport. This is what makes the UK different (superior ?) from other European (and beyond that) countries - the system is incompetent.
I had reason to ring the helpline a few times (was renewing husband's passport too) and I got different answers from different advisors.
First one told me I would have to send a current bill showing my married name, along with my original marriage certificate (old passport was in my maiden name).
I later spoke to a different advisor and was told that a bill wasn't necessary, unless my name had been changed by deed poll.
Another advisor told me I'd need to submit a photograph which had been taken in the last 4 weeks (I think it says this in the info booklet). I sent a photo I'd had taken about a year ago and it was accepted. Advisor told me they would know when the photograph was taken and they would reject it if it was more than 4 weeks old. I think he was fibbing about that because it was accepted and processed super-quick, no paying extra for fast tracking or check and send. I was very pleased.
First one told me I would have to send a current bill showing my married name, along with my original marriage certificate (old passport was in my maiden name).
I later spoke to a different advisor and was told that a bill wasn't necessary, unless my name had been changed by deed poll.
Another advisor told me I'd need to submit a photograph which had been taken in the last 4 weeks (I think it says this in the info booklet). I sent a photo I'd had taken about a year ago and it was accepted. Advisor told me they would know when the photograph was taken and they would reject it if it was more than 4 weeks old. I think he was fibbing about that because it was accepted and processed super-quick, no paying extra for fast tracking or check and send. I was very pleased.
My old passport expired in 1994 (it was blue). I renewed it in 2010, in those intervening years I was divorced and remarried. Admittedly I didn't renew online, but all I had to do was provide a new photo (unsigned) and my marriage certificate. I sent these with my old passport using the Post Office check and send thingy, and had a new passport about a month later.
I've just sent selfies, which they say not to do, and even photoshopped them to remove a lock of hair over my eyes, which they also say not to do, and nobody noticed anything. (Easy enough to alter the date on them too if you're using an old one.) I'd make such a good terrorist...
The blue passports is that they weren't biometric, but an old red one may not be either.
The blue passports is that they weren't biometric, but an old red one may not be either.
They kept rejecting my husband's uploaded photos, saying there was a shadow in the photograph. We don't think it was a shadow - think it was his grey hair.
Was advised to take the photo with a cream or light grey background, which we did, but it still kept getting rejected. In the end he went to the photo booth and sent the photo in the post. That one was accepted without any problem.
Was advised to take the photo with a cream or light grey background, which we did, but it still kept getting rejected. In the end he went to the photo booth and sent the photo in the post. That one was accepted without any problem.
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