Replacement of Lost, Damaged and Stolen Passport
We English love to travel, and this passion is well depicted by an article in The Telegraph, which stated that in 2015, Britons made more than 65 million trips to foreign countries, the highest in the past 20 years. The article also stated that France and Spain remained the popular destination choice amongst British.
On the other hand thousands of British holidaymakers spend millions of pounds each year on Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) for the last-minute replacement of lost, stolen and damaged passports! An article from the British Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand, which is known to have issued the highest number of ETDs in South East Asia, published by the UK government in 2016, revealed that the British seem to have been quite careless when it comes to handling their passports. They use their passport as a notebook, beer mat and more. In fact, they even accidentally put the passport in the laundry, resulting in water damage to this crucial document.
Government reports also state that with a 22% increase since 2013-14, 20,663 British passports were reported lost or stolen worldwide in 2014/15 and British travellers received 37,890 ETDs. Also known as “emergency passports,” British nationals can continue their travel abroad with such emergency travel documents if their passport has been lost, stolen or damaged, or has recently expired.
Lost, Stolen or Damaged Passport Replacement
Known as the fourth most powerful passport in the world, the loss of a UK passport is not only inconvenient and costly, but this valuable document can be used to commit criminal activity, including identity fraud related to finances.
If you too have lost your UK passport recently, questions like how do I replace my damaged passport and how much will it cost, might give you sleepless nights. Here’s a brief guide on what you can do to replace the stolen passport.
When you lose your passport, the first thing you should do is to report the loss, theft or damage with an LS01 form at Her Majesty’s Passport Office. The office authorities will log the details provided by you and cancel the missing or damaged passport.
Replace the passport by applying for a new one as soon as possible, to avoid falling prey to any criminal activity. Damaged passport replacement is also possible at the earliest so that you can continue with your travel.
When is a Passport Considered Damaged?
Accidentally dropped cough syrup on your passport? This doesn’t necessarily mean your passport is damaged. A damaged passport is one in which a page is ripped, there are stains on the pages that mention your personal details, there are stains on any visa, the lamination (plastic coating) has come off or your photograph has been damaged.
It’s advisable to play it safe. If your passport shows signs of any damage beyond regular wear and tear, it’s a good idea to apply for a replacement. Even your cough syrup spill to be interpreted as “fraudulent tampering.” So, don’t take a chance.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Damaged Passport?
For the issue of a new passport, the applicant has to follow the standard length of the application process, which is 3 weeks at Her Majesty’s Passport Office, assuming that your application is submitted correctly the first time. This way your application is processed without delay.
However, Rapid Passports gives you the option to replace a damaged passport in just one week, without any hassle. You will need to pay £180 for the service, which takes only 6 business days to deliver your passport, from the time of the submission of your documents to the British passport office.
