The British Passport Processing Centre in Northern Europe

Providing a reliable passport service for customers living in Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovak Republic and Slovenia  

Passport Move - Frequently Asked Questions

CHANGES TO THE PASSPORT SERVICE FOR BRITISH NATIONALS IN Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovak Republic and Slovenia. With effect from 16 February 2009: the British Passport Production Centre in Düsseldorf, Germany will process all British passport applications.

Will I have to travel to Düsseldorf to get my passport?

No. The entire process can be done by post. You will send your application directly to British Passport Processing Centre in Düsseldorf (part of the British Consulate General) and they will return your new passport and other papers by courier.

How long will it take to receive my passport?

The British Passport Production Centre in Düsseldorf will aim to process passports within 10 working days upon receipt of the correctly completed application form, payment, photos and any supporting documents. This does not include transit time in each direction.

What if I need a passport urgently?

The front page of the passport application form invites you to enter your date of travel. Please do this if you are travelling urgently and we will aim to meet your deadline. In an emergency the office in Düsseldorf will have the discretion to issue passports more quickly than usual. Alternatively, the British Embassy in Pristina will still be able to issue an emergency travel document for a single journey to the UK. On arrival in the UK you would need to apply for a full passport before travelling abroad again.  

Where exactly in Kosovo can I obtain an emergency travel document?

Please contact the British Embassy in Pristina to discuss your case and emergency travel document requirements. Depending on the urgency of the case, you will need to visit the Embassy to process your application.  Our contact details are:

British Embassy
Ismail Qemali 6, Arberi
Pristina
Kosovo
Tel: +381 (0)38 254 700
Email: britishembassy.pristina@fco.gov.uk

How can I be sure that my passport and personal documents are safe while in transit?

We would recommend that you send your application and accompanying documents by registered mail or courier. Completed passports and other documents will be returned by secure courier service, for signature on delivery. In no circumstances will we use unregistered mail.

Is it illegal to send a passport across borders?

Not at all. Sending passports across borders is standard practice elsewhere - a large number of our passport issuing posts process applications from neighbouring countries. This practice is also common in other countries: Australia, Canada, the USA and most of our EU partners process passports across country borders. For example, all US passport applications overseas are sent back to the USA. The latest passport application form no longer sates that "you must be in the country where this application is being made".

How will I manage while my passport is in Düsseldorf for renewal?

You should carry your Residence Permit and/or other photo ID with you (e.g. driving liscence), along with a photocopy of your old passport and evidence that you've requested a renewal (copy of your application form, proof of postage etc). 

I am a frequent traveller and use my passport constantly. Is there any way to minimise the time I am without my passport?

You can minimise transit times by sending your application to Düsseldorf by courier, or by calling into the office in Düsseldorf in person. Our system also allows you to apply up to nine months before your current passport expires without losing any validity (we can add the unused validity of your old passport onto the validity of your new passport e.g. add nine months plus 10 years). This gives you the flexibility to apply at a time when you are not travelling for a while. Alternatively, you can apply to hold two passports at one time, on presentation of a letter from your employer setting out the professional reasons for requiring a second passport. Or you could consider applying for your passport in the UK using the premium or fast-track services available there. For details see the pages on urgent applications of the Identity and Passport Service

How do I pay for my passport application?

Payment for this service is by credit card. Your passport application will be processed by Düsseldorf. This is the quickest and easiest payment option. You should print a Card Payment Authorisation Form (pdf format), filling in your card details as instructed on the form, and enclosing this with your application by post. DO NOT send your actual credit card. A separate credit card authorisation slip should accompany each application. If the cardholder name is different to the applicant’s name, please attach a photocopy of the cardholder’s passport or other photo ID with signature. The cards we accept are Visa and Mastercard credit cards. We are unable to process Maestro cards, American Express, Diners Club or any Bankomatkarten.

Will the cost to me of obtaining a passport change?

The cost of a passport issued overseas is set by Parliament in sterling and is the same everywhere.

How will my new passport be sent to me?

Return shipment is handled by DHL Worldwide.  DHL guarantee a secure delivery time within 24/48 hours, and will need to obtain your signature on delivery. This service represents the most secure means of ensuring that your passport reaches you. You should be aware that there are other cheaper DHL courier services available, but these do not meet our standards for security and speed of despatch.

Can my new passport be sent to a PO Box?

No, you must provide an home or office address, where you can sign for the package containing your new passport

Why is it more expensive to apply for a passport abroad than it is in the UK?

The issuing of British passports is divided between the Identity and Passport Service (IPS), which works in the UK, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which works overseas. The IPS issues approximately six million passports every year from seven locations. The FCO issues fewer than 500,000 passports a year from over 100 locations. The full costs of issuing must be met through the passport fee.
Although we run an efficient operation, we cannot match the economies of scale that the IPS benefits from. Passport fees have been frozen in 2008/2009. Centralising passport production in fewer locations is one way for the FCO to cover costs without any reduction in service to the customer.

I’ve heard that older people are entitled to free passports. Will that still be the case under this new system?

Yes, anyone born before 2 September 1929 is eligible for a free passport.

Are these changes to the passport application process happening elsewhere in the world?

Yes. We have already rationalised production in large countries such as the US, Canada and Australia, affecting over 120,000 customers a year. Since October 2007 all passport applications from Portugal have gone to Madrid, and Paris already handles applications from Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Passport services for Canada and the US have recently been centralised in Washington.  All the moves so far have worked well, and have not affected our commitment to process 90% of passports within ten working days.

Can I apply directly to the IPS (UK based passport office) instead of Düsseldorf?

Yes, but only if you are going to be in the UK at the time you make the application. To do so, you need to make an appointment at a UK passport office, and you must provide an address in the UK to which the passport can be posted. Full details are available on the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) website. The Passport Adviceline on 0870-521-0410 also operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week.