Florida

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

Florida is one of America’s fastest growing states and has a population approaching 22 million residents, making the “Sunshine State” the third most-populous state in the nation.  Florida has four cities that rank in the top 40 most-populous metropolitan areas in the country: Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville.  The state has been growing in recent years due to its business-friendly government and zero state income tax, creating the foundation for a robust economy that has attracted people from all over the world seeking a better life.  Florida’s economy is now over $1 trillion, making it about the size of Indonesia’s economy and bigger than the combined economies of Saudi Arabia and New Zealand (if Florida was its own country).

The British have a long history in Florida and have made many contributions to this part of the country over the years.  It is estimated that nearly 400,000 British reside in Florida and over 1.2 million tourists from the United Kingdom visit the state each year—many enjoying the 1,350 miles of coastline and 3,200 average hours of sunshine per year.  Miami International Airport (MIA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Tampa International Airport (TPA) all have nonstop flights to various cities throughout the United Kingdom.  The United Kingdom is the biggest foreign investor in Florida and British companies employ nearly 45,000 people across the state. 

Renewing a British Passport in Florida

The state of Florida does have a British consulate located in Miami, 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 Florida 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 Florida

If you are a U.K. citizen with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consulate by calling +1 305-400-6400.  Although the British consulate in Miami 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 Miami
1001 Brickell Bay Drive
Miami FL 33131
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 Florida 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 Miami 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)