How to Renew a British Passport in Colorado

Updated February 19, 2021 -- Please see COVID-19 section on the bottom of the page for the latest information regarding British passport renewals in Colorado.

Colorado is one of America’s most beautiful states and is located in the mountain time zone of the western United States.  Despite its position as one of America’s top 10 fastest-growing states, Colorado still has about 61 million fewer people than the United Kingdom even though its total land area is 10% larger.  Colorado is probably best known for its breathtaking scenery and towering mountains that drew inspiration for its official state song—Rocky Mountain High by John Denver.  Colorado also some of the best small mountain towns and most livable cities in the country.  Denver is Colorado’s most populous city followed by Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Pueblo, Boulder, and Greeley.

Colorado has gained popularity in recent years as more and more white-collar professionals seek out a balanced lifestyle of work and play.  The state also attracts retirees and international expats, including roughly 15,000 from the United Kingdom that call Colorado home.  Colorado checks many of the boxes these groups are looking for such as outdoor activities, low property taxes, an invigorating climate that includes four distinct seasons, beautiful small towns, and creative cities that have some of the best job markets in the United States.  Colorado boasts many of the country’s best ski towns like Aspen, Breckenridge, Vail, Telluride, and Steamboat Springs.  Colorado also contains four national parks and eleven national forests.  

Renewing a British Passport in Colorado

The British consulate dedicated to assisting U.K. citizens in Colorado is located in Houston, however, the eight British consulates in the United States (and embassy in Washington, D.C.) no longer issue 10-year British passports.  British passports are issued by Her Majesty’s Passport Office in the United Kingdom and British living in Colorado must renew their passport online through the U.K. government website and then ship all the necessary documents to Durham, England.    

The online application is easy to complete.  The government provides a checklist of the documents required to renew your passport once you have completed their application.  They will also provide you with their shipping address in the United Kingdom.  Please note that a digital photo is now required for your British passport and 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

Emergency Assistance for British Citizens in Colorado

If you are a U.K. citizen with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consulate by calling +1 713-210-4000.  Although the British consulate in Houston does 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 their physical address:

British Consulate General Houston
1301 Fannin Street
Suite 2400
Houston TX 77002
USA

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you have difficulty applying online for a British passport and require assistance with this process, please 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 state of Colorado 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 in Chicago 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)