Passport Confusion

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Spent the past hour looking through websites and documents and this isn't becoming much clearer, so i was hoping some of you fine people would be able to help ;)

Here's the situation - i want a new passport. I have a passport that is 1) out of date, 2) a bit damaged, but still readable and 3) was valid before i was 16. Am i renewing or replacing? Do you get a new passport when you renew? Will i have to go through the whole deal with countersignatories and the like again?

Many thanks :)
 
I'm pretty sure you need to apply for a full adult passport if your last one was a child passport (which I assume it is if it was valid when you were < 16).

To be honest, I would just call them, probably the best way to get the right answer. The last thing you want to do is get into a mess applying for a passport, too much hassle involved.
 
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Well i was worried about that, but then there's this...

https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport
Rw3iE3Z.png
 
Depends on how damaged "a bit damaged" is. If it's pages missing or torn, bio-data page or chip damaged, then you'd probably have to apply for a replacement.

Cost is the same anyway isn't it?

As said, call them and ask. They're surprisingly helpful. My nephews first passport application was rejected on the grounds that his head was slightly tilted to the left. A quick call to query and to re-iterate that he is only 5 months old and they re-opened and accepted the application and processed it the same day.
 
As far as I can make out you need to apply for a full (new) Adult passport.

Give them a ring to see what you need to do about the counter signing - or better still, just ask in a post office that can check/handle passport applications.
 
I had this issue recently. Ive had a previous adult one. I agree it's not clear, but I went with renew and now have a new passport.

I had to get it countersigned to confirm it was me but didn't need to provide any thing else that was hard to get.

kd
 
Surely

'replace' is replacing a current valid passport as in you have a passport with say 6 years left on it. You've lost it or damaged it so need a replacement.

'Renew' is you get a new passport with a full 10 years on it from the date of the application.

If all you have is an out of date child passport you will need to renew and get it your application and photos countersigned
 
arknor said:
You will likely have to attend an interview because it's your first adult passport
Click to expand...

I never had too for mine, I was in the exact same position the renew link is the one I done and had sent to me, I provided a new passport picture and got a countersignature and everything was done in 2 weeks.
 
Gog said:
As said, call them and ask. They're surprisingly helpful. My nephews first passport application was rejected on the grounds that his head was slightly tilted to the left. A quick call to query and to re-iterate that he is only 5 months old and they re-opened and accepted the application and processed it the same day.
Click to expand...
Reminds me of when my photo got rejected... They said I blend into the white background, i.e. I'm too pale?!?! :o I can't remember if I wrote back or called them, but I said to them that my photo was taken from a proper passport photo booth and so they accepted it and continued to process my application..
 
I had to go for an interview but I never had a passport as a child, so you will be fine.

All you need to do is renew your passport. A countersigned photo is needed as your looks would have changed.
 
My OH has just had hers renewed, hers expired when she was 11, she's 21 now, however she had lost hers but was still a renewal, still had to have countersignatories and had to fill out lost passport form, but already has passport back.
 
I renewed my British passport which was about 5 years expired. I just did the renew thing got a picture signed and received my passport within a week. If I can do that with a 5 year old expired passport then I reckon you'll be okay. :)

Fortunately I have another passport so could still travel.
 
Well partly because it was nearly midnight when I was looking into this, and partly because I hate talking to people on the phone full stop. Anyway, thanks for all the help, seems to be more or less luck of the draw. I'll go along to the post office in a bit and ask :)
 
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