What has changed?

Moving to a single production centre will help us to keep down the cost of a British passport for expatriates.  Our aim is to make this transition as smooth as possible for you.  You should follow the guidance notes on this website and then submit your application by mail to the new production centre at the address above.

Are the fees the same?

Passport fees are set in UK sterling.  They are the same the world over.  

You will be charged in US dollars.  In order to offset the cost of any foreign currency transaction fee that you may be charged by your bank or credit card company, we have reduced the postage fee for customers paying by credit card in Canada by more than 20%.  You will pay a return postage fee of US$11 for the secure courier delivery of your new passport.

We will keep the price of courier services under review.

We recommend that you pay by credit card using our credit authorisation form.  But you may pay with a bank money order if you prefer. The reduced postage rate is only available for those paying by credit card.

Where can I get forms and guidance notes?

We are developing a single website for customers in Canada and the US.  In the meantime, you should follow the guidance on www.ukincanada.fco.gov.uk.

Please follow this guidance carefully.  If your application is incomplete it will be returned to you without processing.  In addition to the application and return postage fee we therefore strongly recommend that you pay by credit card and that you pre-authorise the credit card payment slip for an additional US$11 in case the Passport Production Centre needs to send back an incomplete application to you via UPS courier services.  We will only take the additional US$11 if we need to return your application without processing.

If you do not pre-authorise an additional US$11 the Passport Production Centre will return your application by regular surface mail, which may delay delivery.

What if I need to speak to someone?

All of the information that you need to make your application is available on www.ukincanada.fco.gov.uk.  If you need to speak to an operator to clarify any of the information that you find on the website, we continue to offer a user-pays telephone assistance line, operated by Abtran.

1 900 528 7277 - (Premium rate $2.90 Cdn/minute)
1 800 809 3777 - (Credit card rate $2.60 US/minute)
Calling from the UK? - Please call 0906 664 1717 - (£1.50/minute)

The Abtran service is available from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM EST Monday to Friday

Is it safe to send my documents across the border?

This system of direct applications works well for Canadian citizens in the USA who apply direct to Passport Canada.  We recommend that you use a trusted mail carrier for delivery to the Passport Production Centre.  Your completed application will be returned to you by secure UPS courier services.

The postage fee includes insurance cover up to US$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 US$1.80 for up to US$300 and US$0.60 per US$100 after that.  The Passport Production Centre is not liable for loss or damage once a package containing passports and/or documents has been despatched to you.

In addition to the application and return postage fee we also strongly recommend that you pay by credit card and that you pre-authorise the credit card payment slip for an additional US$11 in case the Passport Production Centre needs to send back an incomplete application to you via UPS courier services.  We will only take the additional US$11 if we need to return your application without processing.

If you do not pre-authorise an additional US$11 the Passport Production Centre will return your application by regular surface mail, which may delay delivery.

Do I need to send original documents?

Comprehensive information about what documents and forms you will need to submit, along with information about payment methods and photo standards is published on http://ukincanada.fco.gov.uk.

All birth certificates or other documentation to show your entitlement to British nationality must be originals.  We will only accept certified copies if they are officially issued by the original issuing authority.  We can not accept photocopies of these documents, even if they have been certified or notarised by a lawyer.

However, you may submit photocopies of any secondary pieces of identification that are required (for example, your Canadian passport or drivers licence).  These should be clear, high quality copies.  If the quality of the copy is poor we may ask to see the original.  

You may want to consider sending certified or notarised copies of your identification.  This service can be provided by any Notary Public in Canada or the UK.  Please note that the British High Commission, its Consulates or Honorary Consuls can not/not notarise or certify documents for you.  

How long will the application take?

The Passport Office's target is to process at least 90% of straightforward applications within 10 days.  

I already applied to Ottawa - what happens to my application?

The passport section in Ottawa will process all applications that were received with the correct form, fee and supporting documents on or before 7 November 2008.  If your application was received before that date, but is not straightforward, we may transfer the on-going management of your file to the Passport Production Centre.  We will write to you to inform you if we have to do this.

Will my passport say that it was issued in Washington?

No.  All British passports issued overseas have the issuing authority listed simply as FCO, which stands for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.