Is it possible to have 2 british passports

I do wonder whether the UK passport office might ask you to renew your UK passport first, then submit the new one to the Russian officials. Your letter might therefore have more weight if you write something like you need your passport for day-to-day running of your business if you have foreign trips occasionally and are not in a position to be without your passport for long.

I have printed off the application form that you suggested — although I note nowhere does it allow me to ask the HMPO not to cancel the current passport. Just waiting now for their response. Do you need to be in the uk to apply for a secondary British passport? What if you need one and your already outside. And getting issues because of various stamps. I was just wondering. Do you think it is necessary to provide flight reservations or booking proof?

My employer is more than happy to sign and seal all of the necessary documents, but getting booking confirmations at this point would be tricky! While I did not provide the flight reservations as evidence, it can only help to strengthen your application. You could book a couple of fully flexible tickets if cashflow permits, and then cancel them after receiving your passport. I tried getting one for personal reasons. And what if you work for a relative and or family business?

No, the business can be based or incorporated anywhere in the world. Very helpful advice. I live in South Africa but came back to the UK to apply for my visa. I can say that it also depends on the person booking the appointment and dealing with your application. I first had to renew my current passport. I called the passport office and they told me it would take one week because I was changing my name. I also enquires about a second passport and they said once I get my new one then I can apply and it will take 7 days.

I made the appointment anyway and went to Peterborough. When I got there I asked if I could get same day and they said yes. I got my new passport with name change in 4 hours. I booked another appointment for two days later for a second passport. This time the guy was really helpful and gave very good advice on what to include in the letter — it supported your post, but he also recommended including all countries you will travel to including those in the EU and highlighting those that need visas.

My letter showed the countries and the month of expected travel. I also referred to my SA visa application where they hold the passport for 30 days! He also told me that I could get same day service for the second passport! I also received conflicting information about the countersignatory. When I collected my new passport I asked if the photos for the second passport needed to be countersigned and they said no if you apply within a month, the guy on the phone said yes.

So I did it anyway. I completed all parts of the form as if for a new passport. When I arrived for the appointment they told me that I should declare I have another passport but cross out the passport number otherwise they might cancel it. The good thing about applying in person at the office is that they give you your passport back immediately — this also avoids them cancelling it.

I showed my current passport and they handed it back to me immediately, and submitted the form with my photos and the letter only. No need for birth certificate or nothing however the guy in the phone did recommend that you take everything with including first marriage and divorce, birth certificate etc just encase.

I got my second passport in 4 hours! One thing to point out, when I applied for my name change I followed the guidance notes which say I must sign a statement to say I use my other name for all purposes. I argued with him in the nicest politest way to say but your guidance notes say signed statement not affidavit, and he accepted it after much deliberation and clicking on his computer.

Whilst this is not relevant to getting a second passport it is again another example of how it depends on who you get on the day etc. Otherwise very good advice which helped my application so thank you very much! I have only one question …. Can I carry both passports at the same time? Obviously I will need to carry them both to return to SA permanently but I saw that it is not allowed ….

I have to get them there somehow. Does anyone really know? Thanks for your posting your experience Sally! I have never had trouble carrying two passports at the same time, but then again no-one ever asked!

In fact I had no idea that there would be any issues with it. Do you have the link to wherever you saw it is not allowed? Hi Tim, I found one of the links again … Right down at the bottom they mention not travelling with two passports. Unless a government page says it then go ahead and carry two passports. There are so many legitimate reasons to get have one, and if you live in SA then like you say you need to get it home somehow!

Hi Tim, Just wanted to say thank you for your excellent and informative advise. Just picked up my second passport from Durham office today and it was much easier and quicker than I anticipated.

Made my premium service appointment on-line; showed up at the Durham passport office with my application form, 2 photos and a letter from my company. The lady at the counter had to get her manager to authorise my company letter took 30 seconds , she took a photocopy of my existing passport and gave it straight back to me, and then handed me my collection slip.

Complete with yellow peel off tab on the back page. Apparently for RFID tracking during the manufacturing process in-house, and the new style E-Passport chip embedded in the front cover. I am about to book my premium service appointment with a view to obtaining a second passport.

I was wondering if you could confirm the options that you selected and the application form that you completed? When booking the appointment online, the options are to renew, replace, change details, or apply for 1st child passport. Which type of appointment did you book online and which type of application did you ultimately make?

Many thanks in advance for your help, and thanks to all contributors to the site! Best Regards George. Say comment as last one — It appears now that you cannot apply for a 1st passport via the 1 day or 1 week service. There is a new link if you want a second passport for business reasons. I needed a second UK passport for the purpose of professional travel. Where Passport Office staff did seem to agree was in that in order to obtain a second passport one needs: 1 to fill in an application form as if one were applying for a first passport this will need to be countersigned ; 2 two photos one endorsed and countersigned on the back ; 3 i.

This latter is crucial. Opting for the belt and braces approach, I asked my employer to address it to HMPO and for it to be signed by the top brass. My employer simply stated that I need a second passport in order to leave one with embassies to obtain visas while I continue to travel on the other one.

The letter did not list any countries that I will be visiting, nor dates of travel. My letter was accepted by the member of staff at the counter when I submitted my application in person. I booked an appointment at the Liverpool passport office, saw a member of staff at 4 p. Perhaps I just got lucky, but the entire process was pain-free apart from the financial pain….

Good luck to anybody else who needs to apply for a 2nd UK passport; it should be a straightforward business. I also followed advice on this blog and used the space for extra comments on the application form to request that my current passport not be cancelled.

This is such a useful page. Thank you. Hi, I am about to book my premium service appointment with a view to obtaining a second passport.

When booking the appointment online, the options are to renew, replace, change details. Hi, Your application form should be geared towards a first UK passport, but in the extra comments you request not to cancel your existing passport.

I also wrote about my experience here. Hi, I booked the appointment telephonically. It was all rather simpler than I thought, to be honest. It also stated that I would need a passport to travel with, whilst my other passport was with embassies for visa stamping.

I thought I would get an old friend who was a postmaster now retired — But this is not suitable. I therefore got a friend that was a teacher to sign — But finding someone in a recognised profession and that is not retired or has now moved on to another job can be tricky.

HMPO did not call my boss or my countersignature, so it all seems like a somewhat pointless exercise. They text you when they get the form, so all very handy to keep tabs on. Just bring anything else you can to prove your British nationality. The more you have of the documents mentioned in the post above the better. Did you have your photos endorsed? Did you need to have a birth certificate or certificate of naturalisation or was just a photocopy of the first passport okay?

Is not possible to get a second UK passport when the visits are for non-business purposes? Cheers Mo. I live in London but work three days a week at a university in France so need my passport constantly. I also need a J-1 visa for the US in the Spring so, on advice from the Passport Office helpline, applied for a second passport by filling in the paper form as if for a first application and booking a one day premium service by phone, explaining that the appointment was for a second passport.

All went well until I was called to the desk which deals with second passport applications. There I was told that, because the letter from the head of my French university did not specify that I would continue to need a second passport for the full ten years of its validity, I was not eligible.

I tried to explain that I might well have a future need but that it was impossible to know and therefore to expect the letterwriter to predict the future but absolutely nothing would make the agent — or her manager — budge. As for my situation, unless anyone has any suggestions, I will have to wait until the very last minute when I have a week off in January to get the US visa which is not a comfortable situation.

Oh dear, sorry to hear of your situation. Asking specifically for full 10 years is a new one to me, and rather ludicrous and bureaucratic at that. Unless they have changed their internal policies I would think you were rather unlucky. I did not know they had a 2nd passport desk, as they did not have one when I did this a couple of years ago. So, can anyone give recent examples of the contents of the letter from the employer detailing where they think you will be going?

Just write a letter with a plan of where you will visit with planned dates and make sure they are close together in countries you need a visa for and they will accept it. Nobody checks that you actually stick to the travel plan …. Worked for me. I got my first concurrent passport. Will collect later today. I have an appointment at the London passport office on Monday to get a 2nd passport. I am going to Lebanon in a couple of weeks for business. I have the letter from my employer.

I would like to get this passport in my maiden name. I am divorced but my current passport is in my married name. Is it possible to have the 2nd passport with a different surname? Many thanks. Have you tried looking at the guidance notes on names in passports in the case of marriage and divorce?

I doubt it. Just like a normal passport, the validity of a second passport is ten years from the date of issue. The passport can be renewed if the passport gets completely loaded with visa stamps.

Technically all UK citizens can apply for a second UK passport. However, in order to get the passport issued, the applicant should convince the authorities that he or she is a frequent International traveller, especially to countries that are hostile to each other. Special note : Travelers should understand that second UK passports will be not be issued to accommodate tourism-related travel needs. UK citizens who continuously visit other countries for business-related activities can apply for a second passport.

No, you will not get the refund. Authorities are charging this fee as the passport processing charge, and as a result, you will not get the money back, no matter your application gets accepted or rejected. Visa Genie is an entrusted agency that offers impeccable passport and visa services. Our dedicated team, with their fast track service and expertise will pre-check your passport application, and will make sure that you have filled everything needed to obtain a second UK passport.

Our team will be there with you on every step of the process. Once you fill the application form, and send it to us, we will submit it on your behalf. Altogether, you can sit back and relax after handing over the documents to us.

How can we help? Quick Links Page Contents. Who needs a Second UK Passport? If you are not a very frequent traveller, then a single passport will suffice but if you are a very frequent traveller, then it is advisable to carry a second passport as the pages of your first passport will fill up rather quickly and you will have to re-apply for passports all the time.

In such cases it is better to keep 2 passports to avoid yourself from the stress of passport application all the time If you do business and your work requires back to back travel to different countries, there might be a chance that if you apply for visa to one country, it may take weeks for the passport to come back to you and if during that period you have to travel some other place then having a single passport will impede your travel.

To avoid such situations, applying for a second passport is advisable. Second passport is also necessary for those who frequently travel to incompatible countries or those countries which are in conflict with each other.

Same way, if your passport has an Israeli stamp on it, your visa will be rejected for Iran and Lebanon. Extensive Travel A solution for those whose passport pages get filled too quickly. How to Apply with Us in 4 Simple Steps 1. Second Passport Packages Basic. Benefits of applying with us You don't have to go anywhere.

Your UK passport application form is processed immediately. Your documents are checked before sending. We provide professional customer service. Our agents are on-hand via email and phone to assist with any type of query you might have. Some of our Clients. Are you Based Abroad We can advise on how you can apply for a passport if you are not based in the UK, and instruct on the most common issues those based abroad face.

Current Passport or Photocopy Overview If you are applying for a Second UK Passport, the passport office will seek to review the pages inside your existing passport whilst evaluating your application. In order to support this, the passport office will require: your current British Passport, or A photocopy of the picture page along with a photocopy of every other page inside it.

Where to obtain it The second passport application form can be obtained from: Rapid British Passports UK: We can send the British passport application form to our clients by post. Please click here to request the passport application form. Two Passport Photos Overview Two passport photographs need to be handed in alongside the application form for your passport. How and where to get your passport photos taken Although you can use a professional photographer to have your passport photographs taken, if you are in the United Kingdom another option is a Photo-Me booth which are often found in supermarkets and sometimes in post offices.

For our customers who do not live in the UK, a professional photograph is necessary as we cannot guarantee that photographs taken in a photo booth abroad meet the same standards as those in the UK.

Employer Support Letter Overview Her Majesty's Passport Office requires a letter from your employer to support your application for a Second Passport stating the reasons for it. An Employer Support Letter must be provided for the following passport applications: a first time Second British passport a renewal of a Second British passport.

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