Losing your passport abroad (1 Viewer)

[Don Madge]

While doing research for a future trip I cams across some disturbing news.

In the past if you lost your passport while away you went to the local embassy/high commission/consulate and obtained a new one.

It appears that the government has set up British Passport Processing Centres abroad they mainly deal with issuing British passports for expats and such like but if you lose your passport you might have to apply to one for a replacement passport.

Most embassies can still issue emergency travel documents if you need to get home quickly.

The ones that affect most of us are in
Paris http://ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/

Madrid http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/

Dusseldorf Link Removed

This link will help you find the country you want and then check on lost passports and that will give details of the processing centre you need.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-an-embassy/

I'm off to OZ after Christmas and if I need a replacement passport I will have to apply to Auckland in NZ.

I scrambled my brain trying to give as much info as possible but if I've missed something or got something wrong please don't all shout at once.

Safe travelling.

Don.

 

[Sundowners]

We always take copies of all documents, just in case the worst happens, hoping this will save a lot of time and aggravation.

Nigel and Pamala

 

[400ixl]

We always take copies of all documents, just in case the worst happens, hoping this will save a lot of time and aggravation.

Nigel and Pamala

We are the same, Taking 2-3 copies for various reasons. The real ones then stay locked in the safe until needed to get through passport control.

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[Richard W]

Copy of the Picture Page

Faced with the (remote) possibility of my passport going down with the ship, I made a copy and laminated the photo and visa pages of the passport.

This made a durable ID document I could carry all the time, afloat or ashore. Another advantage is that although it provides a useful ID, it has no value to a thief if it is stolen.

Happy Travels,
Richard W.

 

[Landy lover]

We do exactly the same - all possible documents we may need on a trip are photocopied and the originals put safely away - we wil always present copies to interested parties except passports at borders- no one has ever queried or copies - as a fail safe we always have Pdf copies on a memory stick which takes up no room at all yet can carry 100's of documents.

 

[400ixl]

Good point on the PDF copies. We do the same there too. A copy on the memory card in the phones and a copy online to be retrieved if required.

This is the case for all of the documents we should require for the whole trip.

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[Don Madge]

This is the reply from the British Embassy in Damascus with ref to the limitations of an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) issued outside the EU.

What is an Emergency Travel Document?
Unlike your normal passport, which is valid for 10 years, an
Emergency Travel Document is valid for a specific journey within
a specified time. It can be issued quickly, to enable you to travel
at short notice.

How can I obtain an Emergency Travel Document?
By September 2010, all but a handful of British Embassies/High
Commissions and Consulates (and in some countries Honorary
Consuls) will be able to issue Emergency Travel Documents.
Where this service is not available, you will still be offered consular
assistance or advised to travel to the nearest UK Emergency Travel
Document issuing Post.

Am I eligible for an Emergency Travel
Document?
Any British national who needs to travel urgently and does not
have access to their full passport can apply for an Emergency Travel
Document.

Where can I travel to on an Emergency Travel
Document?
When you apply for an Emergency Travel Document you will be
asked to provide an itinerary for your journey. Your Emergency
Travel Document will show the countries that you intend to travel
to, or through.
If you are resident in the country in which you are applying for an
Emergency Travel Document, and need to return, the Emergency
Travel Document can be issued for a return journey.

How long is the Emergency Travel Document
valid for?
Your Emergency Travel Document will be issued for a specific
journey, within a specified time, after which it will become invalid.
Some countries require a traveller to have 6 or 9 months validity on
their passport in order to enter the country. This will be recorded
in your Emergency Travel Document. This does not mean that the
document can be used again. It can only be used for the journey
shown on the observation page.

How many countries can I travel to on an
Emergency Travel Document? Are there any
countries that will not accept them?
You can travel via 5 countries on an Emergency Travel Document.
The Emergency Travel Document meets international standards
for emergency travel documents and should be acceptable
worldwide. We have had extensive consultations with other
countries to ensure that the Emergency Travel Document meets
their entry requirements. In some countries (including the USA),
you may still need to apply for a visa.

Can I travel to a country not named on the
Emergency Travel Document?
No.

What do I do if my plans change after I have
purchased an Emergency Travel Document?
The travel itinerary contained on your Emergency Travel Document
cannot be changed. If your plans change after the document has
been issued, you will need to apply, and pay, for a new Emergency
Travel Document.

Can I make a return journey on the Emergency
Travel Document?
Yes, but only if you are resident in the country you are travelling
from. A return Emergency Travel Document cannot be used
by tourists wishing to return overseas to complete a holiday as
their re-entry into the country is not guaranteed. You need to
provide an exact travel itinerary to the Consular Officer issuing the
Emergency Travel Document so that your return journey can be
included on the observation page.

Once I have finished my journey what should I
do with my Emergency Travel Document?
If you are making a single trip back to the UK, UK Immigration
Staff will retain your Emergency Travel Document on arrival as
it is no longer valid. This may also happen in a number of other
countries although practice may vary. If you have an Emergency
Travel Document valid for a return journey, you will need to keep
it until your journey is complete. If Immigration officials do not
retain your Emergency Travel Document, you must return it to your
nearest British Diplomatic Mission for destruction. Remember your
Emergency Travel Document is only valid for the specified journey.
It cannot be used again.

The cost of the ETD various from country to country, I think something like a £100 minimum per person. This is just a very rough estimate.


I've been very happy with the service I've had from the British Embassy in Damascus, they have been very helpful.

Safe travelling.

Don