why can't one send a UK passport back to relatives in the UK...

[angsta]

for renewal and have them send it back to Thailand. I guess it could be classed as illegal however is it possible? Has anyone done it recently? I have issues renewing my passport based on the new proof of address criteria and the fact that I need to do it in April when I am both changing jobs and moving apartments.

Many thanks in advance.

angsta::

[ubonjoe]

There is probably nothing illegal about it, But the problem arises of not having a passport while still here. That is why the UK allows you to keep your old passport.

If you are working I assume you have a work permit that shows your address on it. You could have it translated to English and send that.

Or another suggestion is to get a certificate of residence from immigration and have it translated.

If you have a Thai drivers license their is a report that they accepted that.

[angsta]

The issue is that the address in Thailand that I want the passport to be sent isn't the address on my work permit/contract.

[ubonjoe]

You could still get a certificate of residence from immigration with the correct address on it. Just show some proof of your current address to immigration.

[Mobi]

You can also take the original of any document to the British Embassy (Driving licence, passport, birth certificate, work permit etc) and ask them to make a copy and certify the copy it as genuine copy of the original. I had to do this some years back when I needed to send a certified copy of my birth certificate to the UK when my state pension commenced.

[angsta]

To be honest I have no issues being without my passport for a few weeks I just want to be sure that it's relatively legal and they will process my new passport for me.

[ubonjoe]

Since it takes 3 weeks to get a new passport in the UK you would be without your passport for about 5 weeks. A lot could happen in those five weeks that could require you to have your passport. Are you prepared for that.

[thepool]

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Since it takes 3 weeks to get a new passport in the UK you would be without your passport for about 5 weeks. A lot could happen in those five weeks that could require you to have your passport. Are you prepared for that.

Especially as it is a requirement of Thai law that foreigners have possession of their passport at all times !

[angsta]

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Since it takes 3 weeks to get a new passport in the UK you would be without your passport for about 5 weeks. A lot could happen in those five weeks that could require you to have your passport. Are you prepared for that.

Especially as it is a requirement of Thai law that foreigners have possession of their passport at all times !

For about 4 weeks. My family live in Peterborough so it is much easier as they can drop it off at the passport office and DHL it back and I live in central Bangkok.

And everyone ALWAYS carries their passport all the time

[thepool]

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Since it takes 3 weeks to get a new passport in the UK you would be without your passport for about 5 weeks. A lot could happen in those five weeks that could require you to have your passport. Are you prepared for that.

Especially as it is a requirement of Thai law that foreigners have possession of their passport at all times !

For about 4 weeks. My family live in Peterborough so it is much easier as they can drop it off at the passport office and DHL it back and I live in central Bangkok.

And everyone ALWAYS carries their passport all the time

I never carry my passport "all the time" but it is easily obtainable if required.

By sending the passport to England will result in the Passport Office noticing an entry stamp to Thailand but no exit stamp !

WOW

Then the questions and delays begin !

[angsta]

I have been visiting Thailand since 98 and living in Asia since 2006 and have never been asked for my passport apart from at immigration.

[wolf5370]

Bloody web site ate my post again!

I have just done this for my kids' UK passports, but they also have Thai passports/IDs and are not here on Visas.

There is a very slim chance that someone official will ask you for your passport in the meantime, but very slim in day to day life.

Btw I always carry mine - have a special flat pocket for it on my money belt. Useful when visiting the bank etc for ID.

[ubonjoe]

At the moment I would not want to be in Bangkok without my passport handy. And that includes for the next month or two.

I certainly would not be without my passport because of problems getting proof of address to apply by the normal route. I think I could find a way to do it.

[angsta]

I guess it's legal. My concern is that they notice I am still in Thailand via the stamps and that's assuming they care. Why would they?

To be honest not having a passport for a month doesn't concern me. I always have a copy of my ID page and I have a WP.

[angsta]

At the moment I would not want to be in Bangkok without my passport handy. And that includes for the next month or two.

Why?

[thepool]

Political unrest and a big awareness of of the importance of passports following the disappearance of a Malaysian plane might be good reasons !

[angsta]

Political unrest and a big awareness of of the importance of passports following the disappearance of a Malaysian plane might be good reasons !

They are a topical issue this week for sure. Will that change anything? I doubt it. The only people that will have my passport are DHL, my mother and the Peterborough passport office.

Political unrest. That is over. Thailand is a big place. Worst comes to the worst I will find a beach to sit on. I won't have to though.

So is it legal?

[thepool]

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Political unrest and a big awareness of of the importance of passports following the disappearance of a Malaysian plane might be good reasons !

They are a topical issue this week for sure. Will that change anything? I doubt it. The only people that will have my passport are DHL, my mother and the Peterborough passport office.

Political unrest. That is over. Thailand is a big place. Worst comes to the worst I will find a beach to sit on. I won't have to though.

So is it legal?

You must do whatever you believe to be "right".

The advice you have received here is solid and honest you are free to accept or reject that advice.

[angsta]

Of course. My fear is it gets to Peterborough and they won't process it as I am outside of the country. Everything else I can handle. (touch wood)

[thepool]

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Of course. My fear is it gets to Peterborough and they won't process it as I am outside of the country. Everything else I can handle. (touch wood)

I doubt anyone here can reduce your fear !

Best just do what you think is right.

[ubonjoe]

I did find this little note on the page for getting a passport urgently. https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently

Another person can go to your appointment and collect your passport if you’re unable to (as long as you’re in the UK at the time). They must bring:

Also there is lot of mention on other pages about getting your passport while abroad and doing it according to procedure.

You can be sure if they did look at the stamps in your passport and discovered you were still here it could be a serious problem.

[angsta]

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Of course. My fear is it gets to Peterborough and they won't process it as I am outside of the country. Everything else I can handle. (touch wood)

I doubt anyone here can reduce your fear !

Best just do what you think is right.

I guess I want to hear if anyone else has done it and how did it pan out.

I also saw that Ubonjoe hence my concern.

[angsta]

I certainly would not be without my passport because of problems getting proof of address to apply by the normal route. I think I could find a way to do it.

I could get a letter from the head of department at my school and my contract has my address on it however when I apply in April my school will be closed and the head of the department isn't great at English so if she was phoned by a random scouser then...

[thepool]

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Of course. My fear is it gets to Peterborough and they won't process it as I am outside of the country. Everything else I can handle. (touch wood)

I doubt anyone here can reduce your fear !

Best just do what you think is right.

I guess I want to hear if anyone else has done it and how did it pan out.

I also saw that Ubonjoe hence my concern.

I am only aware of one such case.

The guy sent his passport from Thailand to the UK.

The passport office refused to process the application and required the person to obtain an emergency passport , which allowed return to the UK to facilitate " further inquiry "

[TerryLH]

"Especially as it is a requirement of Thai law that foreigners have possession of their passport at all times !"

I've never actually seen that law. I always assumed it was 'bar stool lawyer talk'.

I think there's been some talk about this subject in the news from Phuket recently.

Can you tell me where it's at so I can look at it?

Thanks

Terry

[thepool]

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"Especially as it is a requirement of Thai law that foreigners have possession of their passport at all times !"

I've never actually seen that law. I always assumed it was 'bar stool lawyer talk'.

I think there's been some talk about this subject in the news from Phuket recently.

Can you tell me where it's at so I can look at it?

Thanks

Terry

Clearly the British Embassy has been feasting on "bar stool lawyer talk"

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/local-laws-and-customs

Best you read this and then tell them they are mistaken !

[sustento]

Presumably the OP needs to get his passport renewed in April because it's nearly run out. As something to be born in mind in future it's possible to renew a UK passport up to 9 months in advance with those extra months being added onto the validity of the new passport e.g if you renewed passport 6 months in advance your new one would be valid for 10 years and 6 months. You can renew them even earlier but you'll only get 9 months extra.

[thepool]

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Presumably the OP needs to get his passport renewed in April because it's nearly run out. As something to be born in mind in future it's possible to renew a UK passport up to 9 months in advance with those extra months being added onto the validity of the new passport e.g if you renewed passport 6 months in advance your new one would be valid for 10 years and 6 months. You can renew them even earlier but you'll only get 9 months extra.

Ah ------------but this introduces the evil concept of personal responsibility.

You are , of course, correct.

[EASYDOGG]

Send it to Hong Kong. Job done.

[thepool]

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Send it to Hong Kong. Job done.

Please , at least try to keep up to date.

UK passport renewals are no longer processed via HK !