U.K. Passport Renewal Experience - VFS HMPO Chiang Mai

[skorts]

Recently collected my new British passport (renewal) from the VFS HMPO office in Chiang Mai. The overall service was excellent. 

 

It took 2 weeks and 2 days from my first appointment until my new passport arrived at their office. 

 

I received an email advising my passport had arrived followed by a phone call a few minutes later. 

 

One thing to note is despite still stating on their web site passport application appointments are on Tuesday and Thursday / 08:30 - 14:00, after my initial email requesting my appointment, I was told they only offer appointments between 13:00 and 14:30 hours. I don’t know if it is still Tuesday and Thursday only as they didn’t say. Not a problem but something to be aware of. Perhaps they change the days and times based on the volume of applications they receive. 

 

The following link takes you through the process of overseas British passport applications and contains a link to the application form, other documents you need to complete and prices etc:

 

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports

 

The email address to book an appointment is:

 

[email protected]

 

Provide them with your full name, Date of Birth, contact phone number and your preferred date and time for your appointment. They responded promptly by email with the appointment date and time and what I needed to complete/bring and information about the appointment. 

 

At the appointment I had to provide:

 

1. A completed application form

2. A completed payment form

3. 2 new and identical colour photos*

 

* there are detailed notes on what is required in the “HMPO Overseas Guidance Booklet Applying Outside the U.K.” This includes size of the photos etc. and the size (a range) from the top of your head to your chin. The person sat next to me had their photos rejected as they did not meet these requirements. The staff sent them off to Maya to get their photos re-done.

 

4. Proof of address - I used my Thai Driving Licence (the address on the back is in both Thai and English). You have to provide a colour photocopy of all documents provided. 

 

5. Current British passport and a full photocopy of the entire passport (including blank pages). I included both front and back covers too*

 

* after applying for your new passport you will not be able to travel on it but you are able to keep it for identity purposes. 

 

The office is located opposite Maya at:

 

No.191 Siripanich Building

6B Floor

Huay Kaew Road

Suthep

Chiang Mai 50200

 

On both occasions I took a Grab car and on all 4 rides the GPS navigated them 30 metres down the road past the actual office. No idea why. 

 

On entering the building go through the doors on the left and take the lift to floor 6. 

 

I arrived 10 mins before my appointment and understandably the office was closed for lunch. The office opened promptly at 13:00 hours and I went to the first of two passport application desks. 

 

25 mins later the appointment was completed. 

 

To pick up your passport you need to go between 14:00 and 16:00 hours Monday to Friday. Just need to take your current passport and the receipt they issued at your first appointment. They cut off the corner of your old passport and hand over your new passport. It took no more than 5 minutes. 

 

All in all a first class service!

[scooterboy]

Thanks for the info - very useful.

 

Re 5. Are these pp photocopies colour or just black & white? 🤔

 

 

[roo860]

Can you pay in Thai baht?

[delboy]

Payment is in Pounds Sterling, and is deducted in the UK, so make sure the credit/debit card you use is authorised for foreign use.

[skorts]

On 9/18/2024 at 6:18 AM, scooterboy said:

Thanks for the info - very useful.

 

Re 5. Are these pp photocopies colour or just black & white? 🤔

 

 

[skorts]

On 9/18/2024 at 6:18 AM, scooterboy said:

Thanks for the info - very useful.

 

Re 5. Are these pp photocopies colour or just black & white? 🤔

 

 

The letter they email confirming your appointment states “a full colour photocopy of the entire passport (including blank pages)”. I also did my Thai Driving Licence photocopy in colour too.

[KannikaP]

On 9/16/2024 at 9:28 PM, skorts said:

5. Current British passport and a full photocopy of the entire passport (including blank pages). I included both front and back covers too*

 

* after applying for your new passport you will not be able to travel on it but you are able to keep it for identity purposes. 

5. How 4..king stupid...blank pages. I guess just to show them that they have not been used.

 

* How would they know that you applied for a new passport yesterday for example? 

 

[Thailand]

Good report.

 

Yes, the service is awesome, did ours 3 years ago also took around 3 weeks.

[scooterboy]

17 hours ago, skorts said:

The letter they email confirming your appointment states “a full colour photocopy of the entire passport (including blank pages)”. I also did my Thai Driving Licence photocopy in colour too.

 

 

Thanks - I rather suspected as much, but nice to be certain.

 

Cheers

[teacherofwoe]

On 9/19/2024 at 12:39 PM, delboy said:

Payment is in Pounds Sterling, and is deducted in the UK, so make sure the credit/debit card you use is authorised for foreign use.

So if you've lived in Thailand for 23 years and no longer have a UK debit/credit card you can't get a passport? 

[Upnotover]

11 hours ago, teacherofwoe said:

So if you've lived in Thailand for 23 years and no longer have a UK debit/credit card you can't get a passport? 

Of course you can.  Thai cards do work outside Thailand.

[teacherofwoe]

On 9/24/2024 at 7:29 AM, Upnotover said:

Of course you can.  Thai cards do work outside Thailand.

I don't have a Thai card either. My banking app works just fine.

 

[Upnotover]

47 minutes ago, teacherofwoe said:

I don't have a Thai card either. My banking app works just fine.

 

Then hopefully you've got a friend or family member with a card, it doesn't have to be your own.

[brianthainess]

So if applying in Bangkok do you have to go in person ? The Oz PP was like that but now it's all done by post.

[Foxx]

On 9/22/2024 at 6:08 PM, Thailand said:

Yes, the service is awesome

 

No, the service is abysmal.  In other countries such as Malaysia one can apply for a new passport online without the need to make two (or even any) trips to VFS.

[Thailand]

17 minutes ago, Foxx said:

 

No, the service is abysmal.  In other countries such as Malaysia one can apply for a new passport online without the need to make two (or even any) trips to VFS.

There is no obligation to use them.

Myself and many others are more than satisfied with the service and we live in Thailand not Malaysia or elsewhere.

[teacherofwoe]

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

Then hopefully you've got a friend or family member with a card, it doesn't have to be your own.

Well that sucks

[Crossy]

The agents often offer the option to use their cards to pay (you pay them first of course).

 

They will also handle all the usual messing about to get your new PP sorted.

 

[Foxx]

1 hour ago, Thailand said:

There is no obligation to use them.

Myself and many others are more than satisfied with the service and we live in Thailand

 

Perhaps you could explain how one can renew a passport in Thailand without using VFS?  (In Thailand meaning without making a return trip to the UK.)

[hotandsticky]

4 minutes ago, Foxx said:

 

Perhaps you could explain how one can renew a passport in Thailand without using VFS?  (In Thailand meaning without making a return trip to the UK.)

 

 

He can't. There is no legitimate way other than processing through VfS.