On 16th June 2011, new
arrangements were underway in a phased roll out programme which
will see the responsibility of printing passports be transferred to
the Identity Passport Service (IPS) in the UK. This will
include applications from British Military personnel serving
overseas.
How will these changes affect the customer?
British nationals living overseas should still send their
passport application to the relevant Regional Passport Processing
Centre (RPPC), who in turn, will forward it to the UK to be
printed. The key difference is that the supporting documents
which were sent with the application will be returned separate to
the new passport. This new arrangement mirrors the process in
place for passport application in the UK.
Why are these changes going to be better for British
citizens overseas?
Changes had to be made in order to continue to provide a
passport service to British nationals living overseas whilst
keeping the cost of the passport as low as possible.
The new passport has a more sophisticated security feature which
meets international quality and security standards. It is
designed to reduce the likelihood of identity theft and passport
fraud as well as protecting British Nationals.
What will this cost?
There will be no change to the Passport fee, however, customers
will be charged a courier fee (which must be included along with
the passport application fee) for the return of the supporting
documents from the RPPC and the return of the passport from the
UK.
Personnel should be aware that submitting an incomplete
passport application or sending incorrect fees will only add to a
delay in the passport. Fees are set in Sterling but are paid
in currencies accepted at different locations and are subject to
currency fluctuations. Therefore, personnel are strongly
advised to check the website (see link below) for changes to fees
before submitting a passport application.
More information on Courier fee and delivery time can be found
at:
http://ukingermany.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/how-to-apply/germany#much
When should I renew my passport?
Passports can be renewed up to nine months before they
expire. Any remaining time within this period will be added
to the new passport validity.
Dusseldorf RPPC is experiencing a significant increase in demand
for passports which may affect processing time for applicants by up
to 8 weeks. Additional staff and resources have been
implemented to reduce the process time as quickly as possible.
What happens if I need to travel urgently?
Diplomatic missions overseas will still be able to assist in
emergencies by issuing an Emergency Travel document. Details can be
found at:
http://ukingermany.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/short-notice
