PASSPORT APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY TAKING 10 WORKING DAYS TO PROCESS.

You will need to read this page along with the How to apply for a UK passport page in order to have all the information you need to apply for your passport.

Where to apply

If you live in the United States or one of the countries on this list, you may apply for a British passport from the UK Passport Service for the Americas and Caribbean, Washington. This is the only office in the that can issue full passports.  Our other offices may be able to issue an emergency travel document, for the USA and Canada you will find more information here.  For any other office you will find contact information here

All passport enquiries are handled by our Passport Information Helpline.

Completed applications should be sent to:
The UK Passport Service for the Americas and Caribbean
British Embassy
19 Observatory Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20008

(Please ensure you add your e-mail address when completing section 1a of the passport application form)

Postage and Insurance
We recommend that you send the application by registered courier service such as United Parcel Service (UPS), DHL, or Fedex.  Priority mail items sent by standard United States Postal Service (USPS) can take several days to reach Washington.

The UPS postage fee includes insurance of up to $100.  If you wish to insure the package to cover the cost of replacing the passport/supporting documentation you may choose to do so for an additional fee of $1.80 for up to $300 and $0.60 per $100 after that.

In the event that your passport application is rejected all documentation will be returned to you via UPS to ensure safe and timely return.

Opening hours

The passport office is open to the public from 08:00 to 11:30 a.m. Monday to Friday.

Please note that, for security reasons, no parking facilities are currently available at the passport office.

What do I need to submit?

To apply for a UK passport you must submit:

• your * completed application form - (Important - please ensure you add your e-mail address when completing section 1a of the application form)
  
• your supporting documentation (not required for renewal of valid or recently expired passports.  The exception is where you have naturalised or registered as a British Citizen; in this case we require a copy of your certificate of naturalisation or registration)
  
• the correct fee
  
• your previous passport - (if your passport has been lost or stolen please see our lost and stolen page).  Please note: if you are renewing an old blue passport or a red passport, which has expired more than ten years,  then your application will be treated like a first-time application
  
• 2 photographs which meet the standards, one countersigned. Please note that when you are making an application for a British passport overseas, the background of the passport photograph required can be white. The photographs also do not have to be printed on plain white photographic paper.  This differs from IPS requirements, but otherwise the information in the link is correct.

Warning:  If you are sending a photocopy of your passport, unless requested in your application your current passport will automatically be cancelled on the issuing of your new passport.  You should therefore not undertake any cross border journey until you have received your new passport.  To travel before this could leave your stranded in another country.

Processing your passport application:

Passport applications are currently taking 10 working days to process

All passport enquiries are handled by our Passport Information Helpline.

Please Note:  First time applications for children can sometimes be complex and therefore take longer to process.  Parents are encouraged to obtain passports for new born babies as soon as possible after the birth.We will not be able to process your application or there may be a delay in issuing your passport If:

• You have used the wrong form or completed it incorrectly
• You do not provide the correct fee
• you do not include the correct postal or courier charge
• your photographs do not meet the standards
  

If your previous passport has been lost or stolen, it may take longer to process.   All applications are dealt with in the order that they are received.  We are unable to prioritise applications.

You may apply for a renewal up to 9 months in advance of your passport expiring without losing any validity (ie a passport can be issued for 10 years and 9 months).  You can apply earlier than 9 months in advance of the expiry of your passport, but we will not be able to add further validity to your passport.

Interviews
As of 1 August 2007 interviews were introduced as part of the application process for certain categories of application.  Here you will find full information.

We strongly advise against making any firm travel arrangements until you receive your passport.

Fees
All fees must be paid in US Dollars.  Personal cheques or certified cheques are not accepted.  Payments can be made by credit card (Mastercard/Visa) by completing the authorisation or by submitting a money order, cashier or bankers draft (all in US$ and made payable to:  British Embassy Government Account.  Here you will find the correct fee and information on postage and insurance.

What to submit

Unless requested please do not submit your current non British passport with your application: a clear copy of the photo/detail page with a good picture will suffice.  If you are applying for a British Passport for the first time you will find a list of the documents you need to submit here.

Downloading of application forms

We have recently been made aware of web sites that charge a fee for the download of British Passport application forms and information leaflets. Please be aware that application forms and information can be downloaded from our web site and printed free of charge.

*(A complete application is defined as one that includes a correctly completed application form, all the required supporting documents and the correct fee. If customers do not complete the application form correctly, or fail to provide all the required documents, or if a customer's credit card is rejected, the 10 day processing time will not start until the form is complete, the documents are received and/or a credit card payment has been accepted. These processing times do not include the time it takes to post/courier the passport to and from the UK Passport Service for the Americas and Caribbean).