To renew or not to renew - that is the question

[capt635]

Here are the details:

· My British Passport has expired and has no re-entry visas because I have not travelled outside of Thailand for the past ten years

· I have renewed my Passport twice previously over the years at the British Embassy in Bangkok

· I have Permanent Resident (PR) status in Thailand and have been living here continuously for the past 24 years

·

My question is: should I bother to renew it for another 10 years and pay Baht 8000 when the only travelling I will be likely to undertake is to the ‘charcoal furnace’ sic!

What do you think?

[Lite Beer]

I think I will move this to the Visa Forum.

[ubonjoe]

There is no requirement for you to have a valid passport since you have PR. It is your choice whether to renew your passport or not.

[KhunBENQ]

I would feel better to have a valid passport, just in case you have to travel (voluntary or not).

Edited August 23, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[oxo1947]

My question is: should I bother to renew it for another 10 years and pay Baht 8000-----op

800 baht a year---- @ to-days rate-- £14. 28p a year....£1.19 a month ....or 27.P a week.

To own a passport which will allow you to travel to any country in the world if needs arise.

I really don't know capt635..........like you I would be torn between the option to pay the 27 Pence a week or buy a bottle of Lao Khao

it's shitty that life gives us so many hard decisions. .......................

[malt25]

I understand your plight.... but think I'd feel a lot more secure having a passport..... just in case.

[futurespeter]

@capt635

Respect, I take my hat. Because of your age (shown in your profile, 84) and the long time you are living in Thailand I think you don't need to renew. Wish you all the best.

Edited August 23, 2015 by futurespeter

[Too]

Hello,

You could renew your passport just in case if you didn't mind

paying 8,000B for it, I'd say.

[paz]

I read the following on https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees

Passport type Normal service (online or by post) Post Office Passport Check and Send

...

Passport for people born on or before 2 September 1929 Free Free

That is, folks 80 or older by 2/9/14 should get a free passport. Isn't that the case for the UK consulate in Thailand ?

Edited August 23, 2015 by paz

[Old Croc]

I read the following on https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees

Passport type Normal service (online or by post) Post Office Passport Check and Send

...

Passport for people born on or before 2 September 1929 Free Free

That is, folks 85 or older by 2/9/14 should get a free passport. Isn't that the case for the UK consulate in Thailand ?

Relevance?

[paz]

Relevance?

Relevance is that according to official United Kingdom Gov,t website, UK citizens 80 or older are entitled to a free passport:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091009065536/direct.gov.uk/en/pensionsandretirementplanning/travelandleisure/travellingathomeandabroad/dg_10026847

If you are over 80 and a British national, you could be eligible for a free passport. You will need a full ten-year passport if you want to travel abroad, even if it is for a day. Find out how to apply.

Please note the the birthday date given "2/2/1929" is a typical oversimplification only applicable to the date the regulation was originally published, hence it moves forward as time goes by.

Consequently, our fellow OP is eligible for a free UK passport since 4 years or so.

If you have any problem with that complain to your gov.t (if the UK), not to me.

Edited August 23, 2015 by paz

[ubonjoe]

This page for passport fees states the same thiing. https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees

But the overseas passport page does not mention it. https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

I think having the knowledge that it should be free would make it such that you would not pay the fee if you showed them the rules. But you would still have to pay the courier fees.

[johna]

I just renewed my passport at Trendy, they require a colour copy of every page of your passport, something they forgot to mention in the application form, but fortunately they provide a copy service in their office for the very reasonably price of 25 Baht per copy, and a colour copy of my drivers licence which I used as proof of address, total cost 650 Baht

[bigt3116]

I just renewed my passport at Trendy, they require a colour copy of every page of your passport, something they forgot to mention in the application form, but fortunately they provide a copy service in their office for the very reasonably price of 25 Baht per copy, and a colour copy of my drivers licence which I used as proof of address, total cost 650 Baht

"Supporting documents you must send with your application"

- https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/342795/Supportingdocs2AUG2014.PDF

Clearly says "A full colour copy of any other uncancelled passports relating to you".

[Suradit69]

I would think there must be occasions when having a valid passport for identification purposes might prove useful.

[capt635]

Thanks for all your comments - diverse responses - which makes it interesting as usual. Well I think I will go for it as some of you say - useful or not

Thanks again

[ubonjoe]

I would think there must be occasions when having a valid passport for identification purposes might prove useful.

The residence book does that. Or a ID card for a permanent resident would do it also.

[asdecas]

My advice is always to maintain a valid passport; PR of Thailand or no; life has a habit of throwing up surprises, and mobility is one of the most valuable assets an individual can have.

As I understand the British government's advice on free passports for the aged however, you do not qualify in that area, since you were not born on or before 2nd Sept 1929.

See https://www.gov.uk/free-passport

Nevertheless, I would urge you to outlay the relatively modest expense of a new, ten-year passport, against unforeseen events.

[peterjackson]

The UK Free Passport Eligibility is not written into Law as age specific. It is Date Of Birth specific and doesn't change with time. The only way it would change, is if the Law was subsequently amended, which it has not been.

You can get a Free Passport if you qualify, but you have to attend the British Embassy in Bangkok in person.

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/qualifying-for-a-free-passport

[nithisa78]

Yes, but not much information.

[ozyjon]

Enjoy your golden years, stuff the rest.

[paz]

As I understand the British government's advice on free passports for the aged however, you do not qualify in that area, since you were not born on or before 2nd Sept 1929.

As explained above, the benefits is given to citizens 80 years old at the date of application. The date given is just as exemplification applicable to the date at which the regulation was enacted. So, the OP does qualify.

[paz]

The UK Free Passport Eligibility is not written into Law as age specific. It is Date Of Birth specific and doesn't change with time. The only way it would change, is if the Law was subsequently amended, which it has not been.

What is the article of Law you are mentioning? What is the Act, and under which authority wat is issued?

You really think that an UK Law can be enacted to give a privilege only on a fixed birthday, a resisting challenge in a court of Justice ?

[nowretired]

The UK Free Passport Eligibility is not written into Law as age specific. It is Date Of Birth specific and doesn't change with time. The only way it would change, is if the Law was subsequently amended, which it has not been.

What is the article of Law you are mentioning? What is the Act, and under which authority wat is issued?

You really think that an UK Law can be enacted to give a privilege only on a fixed birthday, a resisting challenge in a court of Justice ?

https://www.gov.uk/free-passport

Explain please why the UK Government offer a free DOB dependent passport?

Perhaps you can also detail the number of challenges against this offer that have been made in a "court of Justice"

Edited August 24, 2015 by nowretired

[peterjackson]

The UK Free Passport Eligibility is not written into Law as age specific. It is Date Of Birth specific and doesn't change with time. The only way it would change, is if the Law was subsequently amended, which it has not been.

What is the article of Law you are mentioning? What is the Act, and under which authority wat is issued?

You really think that an UK Law can be enacted to give a privilege only on a fixed birthday, a resisting challenge in a court of Justice ?

https://www.gov.uk/free-passport

Explain please why the UK Government offer a free DOB dependent passport?

Perhaps you can also detail the number of challenges against this offer that have been made in a "court of Justice"

Excerpt from HM Passport Office - Passport Policy :

On 13th October 2004, the Home Secretary announced that the scheme

would be implemented from Monday 18th October 2004 and from that date all

British Nationals who were born on or before 2nd September 1929 are eligible

for ten year passports free of charge.