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9 February 2014
| Last updated on 1 July 2015
The British Embassy
Passports 2015
Better in a safe than sorry
With the holiday season approaching we, the British Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, are urging the approximately 120,000 British nationals resident in the UAE to keep their passports safe and check their validity before organising travel.
British nationals should regularly check the validity of and how many spare pages are left in their passport. Remember some destinations require at least six months validity in the passport (check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) . If you should need an Emergency Travel Document it may take several days to obtain the necessary documentation we require (e.g. a police report). It also costs £95, is only valid for a trip back to the UK and it is not accepted for re-entry into the UAE. Your residence visa may also have to be cancelled.
Apply for your replacement passport in good time. It will take at least six weeks from the time the passport office receives your documents to it being delivered back to you. Remember to check children’s passports too: they are only issued for five years.
We recommend that you keep your passports in a safe place. If possible carry alternative ID on your person, and keep a clear paper copy of your passport with you or a photograph on your mobile phone.
If you are expecting a new baby make sure you leave plenty of time to apply for a passport. It takes at least 8 weeks to obtain the First Time Applicant (FTA) full validity passport. Make sure you have all the correct documents to submit well in advance.
Applying for a new passport is simple: apply, pay and track the application’s progress online. Supporting documentation will still need to be sent to the passport office in Liverpool for applications from the UAE. To apply online go to https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports. For further enquiries contact Passport Advice Line on +44 300 222 0000 or email: [email protected].
June 16th 2014: British Passport Renewal Update
If you’re renewing an existing British passport you can apply for it to be extended for 12 months. You won’t be charged any extra fees.
To apply, phone your local British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission and select the ‘Consular Services’ option. Appointments can be made from Monday 16 June 2014
Telephone +971 4 309 4444
June 16th 2014 Emergency Travel Document For Children
If you’re the parent or guardian of a child living overseas that needs to travel urgently, you can apply for an emergency travel document for your child instead of a new or renewed passport.
Emergency travel documents are available from the week beginning 16 June in most countries, after checks to confirm nationality and identity. To apply, phone your local British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission.
Telephone +971 4 309 4444
Travelling With Children in South Africa
New rules apply from 26 May 2014. Parents travelling with children into or out of South Africa may be asked to show the child’s unabridged (full) birth certificate, and where only one parent is accompanying, parental or legal consent for the child to travel (eg an affidavit from the other parent, a court order or – if applicable – a death certificate). You should travel with these documents in case you’re asked to provide them. There are other requirements for children travelling unaccompanied or with adults who are not their parents. For more information, contact the South African High Commission or the South African Department of Home Affairs.
Changes to Birth and Death Registrations in the UAE from 9th JUNE.
From the 9th June the registration of Birth and Death Registrations in the UAE will be transferred from The British Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the UK.
There are no changes to the entitlement to register a birth or death in the UAE. The processing time will remain the same. However, you will now need to allow extra time for the documents to be sent to and from the UK.
Customers will find information here on how to apply for a consular birth or death registration
April 2nd 2014 Reduction in passport fees for UK citizens overseas
From 7th April 2014 the passport fee for customers applying for a UK passport overseas will be reduced by £45 for adults and £28.50 for children.
The new fees are as follows: Adult 32 page passport £83.00 Child 32 page passport £53.00 Jumbo 48 page passport £91.00 (Child and Adult)
This reduction comes as a result of efficiency savings made over the last 3 years by bringing back the processing and issuing of overseas passports to the UK, whilst maintaining the highest levels of security and customer service.
This reduction follows the 2012 decrease in fee by £5 for all UK citizens applying within the UK.
March 25th 2014: Visa Application Centre Relocating
From 1 April 2014 the visa application centre in Dubai will be relocating to the 3rd Floor of Wafi Mall.
The new address will be:
VFS UK Visa Application Centre, Wafi Mall, 3rd Floor, Falcon, Phase 2 Umm Hurair, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
This will continue to be run by VFS Global. Please note that from 1 April 2014 applicants in the United Arab Emirates must hold an appointment before they attend a visa application centre to submit their application. Our commercial partner VFS Global will continue to provide appointments until 31 March 2014 but those seeking to attend a visa application centre after this date will be required to book an appointment using our online system Visa4UK during the application process.
January 29th 2014: British Passports In The UAE
We often get queries about British Passports and the procedure to get a new, replacement or renewed one. The procedure has changed recently and can no longer be done in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and are no longer to be sent to Dusseldorf but rather to the UK- here we take a look at the guidelines and procedures from the British Embassy to help guide you through the process...
British National Passport Information
The British Embassy no longer issues standard 5 and 10 year British passports at the British Embassies in the UAE.
Here's how to apply from the United Arab Emirates>>
Consular: Deposit of Marriage Certificates
From 1 January 2014, British nationals overseas will no longer be able to deposit foreign marriage or civil partnership documents with the General Register Office (GRO)
From 1 January 2014 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will discontinue its service of depositing foreign marriage and civil partnership certificates with the General Register Offices in the UK. British nationals overseas will need to make their own arrangements for the safekeeping of these certificates, as they do for other important documents
More information on why the marriage certificate registry service is being discontinued is available on Gov.uk.
Website: Living In the UAE and Other Guides
We have updated our guide to living in the UAE. To find this and other guides or for more information on all our services, visit Help for British Nationals - Abu Dhabi or Help for British Nationals - Dubai & Northern Emirates.
25th November 2013
Important changes to the way we deliver Notarial and Documentary Services at the British Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
From the 1st December, the British Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai will stop providing some notarial and documentary services to British nationals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is introducing changes to the way the British Embassies in the UAE provides services to British nationals overseas. The reason for this change is that the FCO has introduced a new Consular Strategy. This strategy is part of a worldwide plan to reduce the notarial and documentary services we provide where another alternative can be found. We will no longer witness signatures on documents, certify copies of passports and administer oaths and declarations for use in the UK, Europe and any country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention. These services can be provided by local lawyers and solicitors and a list of these alternative providers is available on our website. This change will allow staff to concentrate on helping the more vulnerable and distressed British nationals, such as mental health patients with no family in the UAE and victims of serious assault.
The British Embassies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will only provide the following services:
- Posting a notice of marriage for marriages performed in third countries;
- Issuing affidavits for marriages performed in commonwealth countries, other Embassies, UAE Churches, Abu Dhabi and Dubai Courts;
- Issuing a letter in Standard English for no objection to adopt;
- Administering an oath or attesting a British national's signature on a declaration or affirmation where evidence has been produced that the requesting authority will not accept any alternatives; and
- Certifying copies of British passports where evidence has been produced that the requesting authority will not accept any alternatives.
Our office is now contacting every British national within our reach to explain the services that we will no longer provide and who the alternative provider will be. We will advertise this on our Website, Facebook and Twitter. We will also send this information to British nationals in the UAE through our warden's network, consular newsletter and other open forums. If you have any questions please email us direct at [email protected].
These changes will commence on 1 December 2013 and affect both the Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. For information and to learn more about the services we provide visit our website: https://www.gov.uk/notarial-and-documentary-services-guide-for-the-united-arab-emirates.
Please do not hesitate to contact us direct if you require any further information.
Consultations to amend part of the British Nationality Act
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is carrying out a 12-week consultation to amend part of the British Nationality Act (BNA) 1981 to allow the FCO to centralise its consular birth and death registration service from April 2014. We intend that the proposed changes to legislation are made by a Legislative Reform Order (LRO) made under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006.
The public is invited to comment through a public consultation published on the FCO pages of the Gov.UK website. The purpose of the consultation is to set out the full proposals and seek views on amendments to the BNA. The outcome of the consultation will assist the FCO in formulating the final proposal that will be put before Parliament. The consultation document can be found through the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legislative-reform-order
Changes to Notarial Services
The British Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are making important changes to their notarial and documentary services. From 1 May 2013, customers wanting to come to either Embassy for a notarial service will need to make an online appointment first. Customers will also be able to apply for some services such as a Consular Birth Registration by post. These changes will commence on 1 May 2013 and affect both the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. For information on how to book an appointment and to learn more about the services we provide, visit our website: https://www.gov.uk/notarial-and-documentary-services-guide-for-the-united-arab-emirates.
Following customer feedback and the launch of the new Consular Strategy, we are introducing important changes to how we deliver notarial and documentary services. These changes will result in a more efficient, customer friendly service and staff will be able to spend more time helping the most vulnerable people and the most serious cases.
Using an online system called ClickBook, customers will need to say which Embassy you would like to go to (Abu Dhabi or Dubai), register your details, choose the service you require and the book the time you want to come. You will then receive an email from us notifying you of the documents you need to bring. If you are happy, you can then confirm the appointment.
This will mean less time queuing and a quicker, faster service at the counter. For customers who are not able to book online, or if you have any concerns or questions, you can contact us on +971 43094444 or email us at [email protected]
Birth Registrations By Post
From 1 May 2013, customer will be able to apply for Birth Registrations and the legalisation of documents from Overseas British Dependant Territories and non represented Commonwealth countries by post.
Customers across the UAE can send their documents to the British Embassy in Dubai by recorded delivery or courier and have them returned in the same way.
Email [email protected] for more information.
Fees charged are based on the current costs of providing the service.
February 11th 2013: British Passports In The UAE-
We often get queries about British Passports and the procedure to get a new, replacement or renewed one. The procedure has changed recently and can no longer be done in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and are no longer to be sent to Dusseldorf but rather to the UK- here we take a look at the guidelines and procedures from the British Embassy to help guide you through the process...
British National Passport Information
The British Embassy no longer issues standard 5 and 10 year British passports at the British Embassies in the UAE.
Here's how to apply from the United Arab Emirates...
Renewing a red UK Passport- adult
How long it takes...
Your application will take at least 4 weeks from when it’s received by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) in the UK.
Applications may take longer if:
* the IPS needs to ask you for more information or documents
the photographs you send are rejected.
Don’t book travel until you have a valid passport. If you need to travel more urgently, apply for an Emergency Travel Document.
Cost
You’ll have to pay a fee for your passport and a courier fee of £19.86. The courier fee pays for your passport and supporting documents to be sent back to you securely.
Passport type Passport fee Total to pay (including courier fee)
Adult standard 32-page passport £128.00 £147.86
Adult jumbo 48-page passport £154.50 £174.36
Fill in a ‘Paying by credit card or debit card’ form for each passport you’re applying for and submit it with your application. Your credit or debit card will be charged in sterling.
You can use most major credit or debit cards - but not American Express.
How to apply
Use the ‘Applying for a passport if you’re outside the UK’ guidance notes to help you fill in the application form.
Include 2 identical new photos of you (or your child, if it’s a child passport application). Follow the rules about passport photos or your application may be delayed.
Check the guidance notes to find out which supporting documents you must send with your application. You must get documents that aren’t in English - including documents showing an address - fully translated by a professional translator.
Send your application
The IPS recommends you send your application using a secure delivery service or courier.
Identity and Passport Service
OVS-L
101 Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9BP
United Kingdom
Getting your passport
Your passport and supporting documents will be delivered separately by courier.
You can download all documents required here>>
Renewing A Child Passport- red
How long it takes...
Your application will take at least 4 weeks from when it’s received by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) in the UK.
Applications may take longer if:
the IPS needs to ask you for more information or documents
the photographs you send are rejected.
Don’t book travel until you have a valid passport. If you need to travel more urgently, apply for an Emergency Travel Document.
Cost
You’ll have to pay a fee for your passport and a courier fee of £19.86. The courier fee pays for your passport and supporting documents to be sent back to you securely.
Passport type Passport fee Total to pay (including courier fee)
Child passport £81.50 £101.36
Fill in a ‘Paying by credit card or debit card’ form for each passport you’re applying for and submit it with your application. Your credit or debit card will be charged in sterling.
You can use most major credit or debit cards - but not American Express.
How to apply
Download the application form.
Use the ‘Applying for a passport if you’re outside the UK’ guidance notes to help you fill in the application form.
Include 2 identical new photos of you (or your child, if it’s a child passport application). Follow the rules about passport photos or your application may be delayed.
Check the guidance notes to find out which supporting documents you must send with your application. You must get documents that aren’t in English - including documents showing an address - fully translated by a professional translator.
Send your application
The IPS recommends you send your application using a secure delivery service or courier.
Identity and Passport Service
OVS-L
101 Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9BP
United Kingdom
Getting your passport
Your passport and supporting documents will be delivered separately by courier.
For More Information Visit The Website www.gov.uk/overseas-passports
