New British passport in a neighbouring country

[Tao Diver]

HI. Where would be the quickest / easiest place to get a new British passport. The guy is in Thailand now with a full passport and if he applies for it here will be into overstay. He just needs to bail out of Thailand and return with his new passport to arrange for the paperwork for his work permit. Any ideas ? He was told Cambodia is a cheap option to wait around in and the passport application is easy ? Cheers any way for any tips

[digitalchromakey]

Current predicted application delay in Thailand or Cambodia is 11 weeks.

Under the current system you must prove your permanent residence address in the country where you are applying (staying at hotel, etc won't cut it), if you don't have a permanent address, then it's an ETD back to the UK.

For more details check the thread 'Changes to British Passport Services' on this forum.

ETD would get your friend into a neighboring country, then there is the need to establish bills, etc. to prove residence before a new passport application can be filed.

Edited July 24, 2014 by digitalchromakey

[NanLaew]

The truly quickest/easiest way to get one right now is fly back to the UK and do a walk-in and wait 7-10 days. Even faster (same day) if an online appointment is made but that needs 3-4 weeks notice. That's not what the OP's friend wants.

I heard that the quickest in the region will be any country that does not outsource their renewal service, ie. where you file online and submit the application directly to the UK via mail/courier and wait for the new passport to come back. Still maybe over 8 weeks? Cambodia is cheaper than Kuala Lumpur is cheaper than Hong Kong, etc..

[edit:] I see dck has posted more precise info as he has been tracking this one very well. Good point on proving where you actually live (have recognised legal residence) for an overseas renewal. The emergency travel doc is good but only for return to the UK and the OP would be admitted there even with a full or expired UK passport if that was the case.

Edited July 24, 2014 by NanLaew

[digitalchromakey]

The truly quickest/easiest way to get one right now is fly back to the UK and do a walk-in. That's not what te OP's friend wants.

I heard that the quickest in the region will be any country that does not outsource their renewal service, ie. where you file online and submit the application directly to the UK via mail/courier and wait for the new passport to come back. Still maybe 4-6 weeks? Cambodia is cheaper than Kuala Lumpur is cheaper than Hong Kong, etc..

VFS Trendy maybe only add 7 days to the application process compared to on-line and courier back to recipient's address.

4-6 weeks for an overseas application anywhere is, I think, hopelessly optimistic given the current HMPO back log of 500,000 plus as yet unissued passports.