Can I Renew a British Passport in the USA

10-Year British passports are no longer issued by the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. or any of the eight British consulates located throughout the United States.  Long-time British expats living in the United States will likely remember the “old method” of filling out the handwritten form, finding a photographer that can make British passport photos, and then mailing off your application materials to the embassy. 

The process changed in 2015 and now citizens of the United Kingdom living in the United States should apply for their passport online through the U.K. government website found here: Apply online for a UK passport - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  

You will complete the passport application online by following the prompts and moving from screen to screen, providing your biographical information and answering questions about your current passport (so please have your current passport in hand as you fill out the application online).   

You will pay the government fee of £105.86 (for an Adult standard 32-page passport) or £115.86 (for the Adult jumbo 48-page passport) using your credit card.  Do not worry if you only have a U.S. credit card—your bank will convert the fee to dollars, which at current exchange rates is about $150 or $165 depending on which passport you select.  You will also need to have digital photos taken using your iPhone or other smartphone device because traditional paper photos are no longer accepted.  The following video created by the government explains how to take a digital photo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&time_continue=1&v=JWbfnOYmx6I&feature=emb_logo

Once you complete the application online and make payment to the U.K. government, you will send the necessary supporting documents to Her Majesty’s Passport Office in the United Kingdom; the checklist provided at the end of the application process will give detailed instructions about what documents are needed and where to send them.  We recommend using a courier service like FedEx rather than the post office because they provide the most reliable service for shipping personal documents internationally, and they have a better system for tracking your shipment (just remember to take note of your tracking number before shipping your package and ask for a receipt).    

Once your new passport has been issued by Her Majesty’s Passport Office, they will ship your new passport (and old passport) back to you by DHL.  The government fee you pay for the passport book also includes the cost of return shipping to the United States by DHL.  Processing time normally takes about 3 weeks but is now taking longer due to the virus situation (please see COVID-19 section below).

Emergency Assistance for British Citizens in the United States

If you are a U.K. citizen with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consulate by calling them directly.  Although the British consulates in the United States do not issue 10-year passports, they can provide a limited validity emergency passport if you are stuck abroad and need to return quickly to the United Kingdom.  Here is the link that provides the contact information for the different consulate locations: UK help and services in USA - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

In most instances, the process of renewing a British passport from the United States is easy, but it can be more challenging if your passport is very old or if you are applying for a first-time passport.  Others may have difficulty navigating the government website and uploading a photo that meets the proper specifications.  There are also those that just want to make sure they receive their passport as quickly as possible and would rather hire a professional service like British Passport Pro to take care of the process from beginning to end.        

Whatever your reasons, feel free to give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in the United States providing British passport services to U.K citizens living in North America.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a passport are submitted accurately to Her Majesty’s Passport Office in the United Kingdom.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans.  

We provide the following British passport services for our customers:

  • Adult Renewal Red UK Passport (age 16 and over)
  • Adult Name Change in an Existing Red UK Passport (age 16 and over)
  • Adult Damaged UK Passport Replacement (age 16 and over)
  • Adult Replacing a Lost or Stolen UK Passport (age 16 and over)
  • Adult First UK Passport or Renewing an Old Black/Blue Passport (age 16 and over)
  • Adult Secondary UK Passport (age 16 and over)
  • Child Damaged UK Passport (under the age of 16)
  • Child Replacing a Lost or Stolen UK Passport (under the age of 16)
  • Child Renewal UK Passport (under the age of 16)
  • Child First UK Passport (under the age of 16)
  • UK Emergency Travel Document (Emergency Passport)

 

COVID-19 Update

The current processing time for British passports is four to six weeks.  If you live in the United States and cannot wait four to six weeks for a new passport because you have an emergency, your only option is to schedule an appointment at the British consulate and appear in person at their office to apply for an emergency travel document (emergency passport).  Please be aware that appointments are limited and restrictions apply.  You can review the U.K. government’s website for more details: Get an emergency travel document - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)