Passports
You have to hold a valid passport to enter or leave the UK. You may also need a visa to travel to other countries.
If you are travelling to another country from the UK, your passport may need to be valid for your whole trip. You should renew your passport before you travel if it is due to expire while you are away.
You may also have to attend an interview as part of the process of applying for a passport.
All new, full UK passports use facial biometrics. Your passport photographs will have to meet a required standard set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
'How to apply for a UK passport' sets out the passport application process and what you need to do. 'Applying for a UK passport' explains specifically what you must do to apply for a UK passport in the country you are in. You need to read both pages to have all the information that you need to apply for your passport.
NEW PASSPORT ARRANGEMENTS FOR BRITISH NATIONALS IN MEXICO
From 9th November 2009 full passports will no longer be issued at this Embassy.
All full passport applications will need to be sent to the UK Passport Service for the Americas & Caribbean in Washington.
We will continue to issue Emergency Passports for people who need to travel quickly.
Customers are advised to keep their passports in a safe place at all times and to check the validity. Passports can be renewed up to 9 months in advance; the additional time will be added to the period of validity of their new passport.
Passport fees
In order to avoid any problems, customers paying by credit card may wish to alert their card company that they will charge in dollars for this service.
You need to pay the correct fee in US Dollars when applying for your passport.
Methods of payment
Payments can be made by:
- Credit card (MasterCard/Visa) by completing the authorisation form.
- Money order, cashier or certified bankers cheque made payable to:
British Embassy Government Account
Personal cheques or certified personal cheques are not accepted
Please note: If your credit card payment is declined or money order is incorrect we will try to contact you (one time only), in order to obtain an alternative method of payment. If we are unable to obtain a response the application will be rejected and returned to you via USPS.
Why change the Passport Operation
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Passport Network Rationalisation Project was set up in May 2008 to deliver a more streamlined and efficient passport operation for British Nationals abroad, to achieve immediate financial benefits to the FCO and establish a sustainable operating platform for the future.
The UK is alone among major partners in retaining a large overseas passport network. In order to keep costs covered, the UK Government is committed to looking for opportunities to reduce administration, centralise excellence and deliver beneficial economies of scale. These are the parameters we have set ourselves as we introduce more sophisticated measures to protect personal identity, reduce passport fraud and prevent illegal entry into the UK.
Passport fraud and identity theft are on the increase. The way we issue passports and the document itself must change to safeguard personal identity and to ensure UK passports continue to meet international quality and security standards.
Where the FCO have introduced changes already, it is working well e.g. in Europe and North America. Improved efficiency means the FCO should be able to maintain current service delivery times and in some cases improve levels of customer service and experience.
Consistency, as a result of improved governance, training and communication across the network, means fairer decision making, better service delivery and reduced fraud.
In their 2006 report on consular services, the National Audit Office recommended limiting passport production to fewer locations to increase security and reduce expenditure on new passport issuing systems and processes. The total repatriation of book production to the UK was encouraged – this will happen in 2010.
The FCO is committed to supporting the UK National Identity Scheme which aims to:
- Secure our borders and tackle illegal immigration;
- Prevent identity fraud;
- Become a key defence in the fight against crime and terrorism;
- Enhance checks as part of safeguarding the vulnerable;
- Improve customer services.
Why is the passport operation being relocated?
Please see our
FAQs for more details.
If you requiere any further information please contact:
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Careline Services (+44 208 082 4721) calls cost £0.69 sterling per minute plus tax (customers will need a credit card to call this number).
Frequently Asked Questions
