What should I do if I've lost my UK passport before renewing my retirement extension in Thailand?

Aug 3, 2023
a year ago
Sharon *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Help! Just lost Uk passport & my retirement extension is due for renewal mid September.

I know I can apply for a new passort with VFS but their website quotes 13weeks so too late for my renewal.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

I've made a police report but any idea what happens if the passport doesn't arrive in time?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice after losing their UK passport with a renewal deadline for their retirement extension in mid-September. Comments suggest urgent actions including applying for a new passport via VFS, reliance on police reports, and potential options for emergency or express services. Experiences shared indicate mixed timelines for passport processing, with some users receiving their new passports sooner than the quoted 13 weeks. Recommendations also include considering travel back to the UK for faster service at the passport office.
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Michael *********
@Brett *********
yeah 🆗
Habz ******
Hi Sharon, if you can afford to go to the UK then first check with UK passport office whether they can issue passport immediately as an express service then you will get 10 yrs on your passport, or new 10yrs passport, no need it give to VFS. The rest up to you .
Sharon *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Habz *****
Yep that's plan B.

They do a 7 day service if your in the UK
Jonathan **************************
Mine took 3 weeks.

As long as you get your police report in & your application filed *now*, hopefully you'll be ok.
Sharon *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Jonathan **************************
@Sharon ******
Yep - picked it up on Tuesday after getting the email Monday night.

Making it exactly 3 weeks to the day.
Richard **********
Although VFS states it takes that long in actuality unless there's some issues people are getting it much sooner. Mine took 4 weeks.
Sharon *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Richard *********
was your application recent? Trying to decide between booking a flight or going to VFS & hoping they're speedy
Richard **********
@Sharon ******
I got mine back last week.
Sharon *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Richard *********
fingers crossed then
Chris ********
As an Aussie this is what I had to do

Apply for emergency passport and replacement passport.

Apply for extension under emergency passport.

When receive proper passport transfer to new passport.

Note you will only get an extension for the validity of the emergency passport.
Sharon *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris *******
that's what Immigration suggested but UK embassy don't do them. We can only get emergency travel document😖 Your info might help someone else though so thanks
Mike ******
I just renew my uk passport.from phuket..8 weeks
Mike ******
The letter should give you access to fly to bkk..
Mike ******
Go to local police station..get a letter..go to bkk.british embassy..get 1 year passport
Michael *********
Call me unsympathetic but how on earth can you loose your passport?
Brett **********
Mike ********
@Michael ********
Easily done, I went to Mae sot to do border bounce in car, went to no 2 bridge (wrong bridge) as it turns out, no1 is bounce crossing,. Anyway in the confusion at no2 bridge I showed my passport to security and put it back in my right trouser pocket, drove onto the border site parked car and got out to see where to go to get stamp, it’s a massive place with hundreds of trucks vans etc, eventually finds an immigration officer who informs us to go to no1 bridge, I go to show passport and it’s not in my pocket ! I can’t tell you how I felt,…retrace my steps, not easy when you’ve been wandering around a strange place, goes back to car opens door “to the last chance saloon”and passports on floor of car down the side of the seat !,.! pheewooo! Loosing passports,it’s a horrible feeling when it happens, it must have happened to thousands of people to,.
Tony *******
Crazy never ends
Will ************
Start here
*****************************************************
follow the instructions to the letter. Should take less than 3 weeks for a new one
Ron *******
If your new passport doesn't arrive in time, you'll be on overstay.

It may sound hard but that's it.

I would suggest applying for an ETD and going back to the UK and get a new passport
Paul *******
@Ron ******
Do you comprehend English? Passports go missing all the time and there is an established procedure for this. I'm sure the Brits have one too.
Ron *******
@Paul ******
I was simply going to ignore you but........your full of shite and misinformation like 95% of them on here.
Paul *******
@Ron ******
Every country issues emergency passports. When you lose a passport, you immediately need to get a report from the police, use that to get a new passport as soon as possible and inform immigration.
Ron *******
@Paul ******
oh dear! And what does any of that shite have to do with 'You being fine'.?

And guess what? The UK doesn't issue emergency passports.
Paul *******
@Ron ******
That's what police reports emergency passports and meetings with immigration are for. You do all three in that order and you'll be fine.
Ron *******
@Paul ******
there is no such thing as an emergency passport for UK citizens.

Meetings with immigration or police reports has no bearing on you not being on overstay.
London *****
sorry - was meant for
@Sharon ******
. apologies
London *****
@Ron ******
Its called an Emergency Travel Document. Its good for travel for upto 5 countries but you need to give dates and show tickets. When you arrive in the UK they take it from you and you have to apply for a new passport.
Ron *******
@London ****
yes I'm fully aware of that.
Peter *********
Hi how you manage to lose passport ???
Sharon *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter ********
not relevant but it was lost where you transfer car ownership
Peter *********
@Sharon ******
hopefully someone will find it 🙏
Andrea ********
Book an appointment for VFS immediately.
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