Can I travel on my old passport while waiting for a new one from the British Embassy in Bangkok?

Mar 4, 2018
7 years ago
Greg *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
When you apply for a new passport at your embassy in Bangkok ( the British Embassy) give you back you current passport without corner cut , for ID purposes only , but you can not travel - Can you really not travel ??, or do they just say this ??.. I might need to pop to Singapore while new passport processed .. I can get an emergency travel document .. but its £100 and a 2 trips to Bangkok
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When applying for a new passport at the British Embassy in Bangkok, users can retain their old passport; however, it is generally stated by the embassy that the old passport cannot be used for international travel. Some users have shared personal experiences suggesting that they were able to travel with a corner-cut old passport, but caution is advised, especially regarding strict immigration controls in places like Singapore. Emergency travel documents are an option but can be costly and involve additional trips to the embassy.
Tod *********
@Greg ****
I read the post and I posted the screen grab OFF the link to the VFS global and UK gov't website that says once you apply for a new passport you CANNOT use your old one for international travel.

It doesn't take 4 weeks to get your passport from VFS Global that's just the longest it can take. Most people get theirs back in 10 days or so.

Here I'll post the screen grab once more just for clarity. ;)
Tod *********
@Greg ****
they do charge you crazy for that ETD :/ Sorry
Greg *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you
@Tod ********
- for your time and efforts helping me with this question - my passport will take an estimated 6 weeks (I'm not most people !!)... but its ok- I can apply for emergency travel documents for any trips I need to do out of Thailand .. its all quite legal ... its just £100 a time and has to be done in Bangkok... I was only trying to cheat the system to save a little time and dosh
James ******
I recently got a new passport in Bangkok. When I left Thailand going to Malaysia I gave Immigration my old passport with the corner cut off, they stamped it, didn't ask anything, didn't refuse it, didn't ask for my new passport. So it can be used for travel and international travel. Not sure I would rely on this one incident as proof its possible though! :)
Ron *******
Of course it did. Cut barcodes on used passports always pass through the reader.
James ******
@Ron ******
Well thats what happened dude, and if it makes me look clever great. As you look like a cunt.
Ron *******
Impossible to do. It would never pass through the scanner. Stop telling lies attempting to be clever.
James ******
Mine took 14 days before I got the email to tell me it was ready to collect
Greg *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Read the post - I may need to pop to Singapore while my new passport application is being processed in the UK - I am advised it can be back in Bangkok - Trendy Towers or where-ever in 4 weeks - I may need to go to Singapore during those 4 weeks
James ******
@Tod ********
For a laugh mostly
Tod *********
and the purpose of traveling with a passport that's not valid was what exactly?
Rob ******
Emergency travel documents are usually only valid for returning to your country of origin and any transits required to do this. The ones that I have seen have explicitly stated this.
David ************
Alway someone trying to outsmart the system
Steven ***********
I'm having a guess that the British Embassy wouldnt lie to you about something like that.....
Tod *********
You keep your UK passport while you wait for the new one to come in, BUT you cannot travel internationally on it.

It says so right on the website. :/
Greg *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes - I am aware it says that on the website .. but do they actually do something - or just say that
Jeremy ********
Once you get a new passport the old one is X’d out of the Interpol system within 24 hours of you receiving the new one...plus the immigration officer will see that the passport is tampered with and won’t let you pass....last note Singapore is the most anal retentive country in the world when it comes to rules, so that is another can of worms you will be opening...best advice wait for the new passport before you travel, if not deal with the consequences of your actions...
Jeremy ********
@Greg ****
then it’s still valid I suppose...
Greg *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
I didn't say after I have received new passport , I mean before you get your new passport - while you are waiting for new - when you still have the old one that is about to be replaced and they haven't yet cut the corner off
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