PASSPORTS: HOW AND WHERE TO
GET ONE
So are you ready for Ibiza, Buenos Aires and Tokyo? If you don't
already have a passport your first step is to get one! Here's how to
do it:
THE UNITED STATES A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that
verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S.
passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only
the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue or
verify United States passports.
New Application for a U.S. Passport
To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one
of over 9,000 passport
acceptance facilities located throughout the United States with
two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid
form of photo identification such as a driver’s license.
Acceptance facilities include many Federal, state and probate courts,
post offices, some public libraries and a number of county and
municipal offices. There are also 13
regional passport agencies, and 1 Gateway City Agency, which
serve customers who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), or who
need foreign visas for travel. Appointments are required in such
cases.
You’ll need to apply in person if you are applying for a U.S.
passport for the first time: if your expired U.S. passport is
not in your possession; if your previous U.S. passport has
expired and was issued more than 15 years ago; if your previous U.S.
passport was issued when you were under age 16; or if your
currently valid U.S. passport has been lost or stolen.
For more information on getting a new passport, please visit How
to get a passport.
- travel.state.gov
THE UNITED KINGDOM
 Anyone who is a British citizen is entitled to apply for a
British passport.
On January 1 1983, anyone who was a citizen of the United Kingdom
and Colonies on December 31 1982, and had the right of abode* in the
UK, became a British citizen.
* NB There may be individuals who have the right to live in the
UK but will not have the right of abode in the UK as defined by the
Immigration Act 1971, and will not therefore become British citizens
– see below
That includes people who
- were born in the United Kingdom;
- were born in a British colony and had the right of abode in the
UK (Those born in a British colony and did not have the right of
abode in the UK will not become British citizens)
- have been naturalised in the United Kingdom;
- had registered as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies;
or
- could prove legitimate descent from a father* who one of the
above conditions applied to. Before the introduction of the
British Nationality Act 1981, a person could not claim nationality
from his or her mother.
British dependent territories citizens (BDTCs)
British dependent territories citizens are eligible for
either a British citizen passport or a British overseas territories
passport.
BDTCs are people who obtained their citizenship from a connection
with a territory that remains a British dependency, for example
Gibraltar or Bermuda.
As of May 21 2002, most people holding a BDTC passport
automatically became British citizens. This is when the British
Citizenship provision of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002
came into force. The exceptions to this were those whose BDTC status
derives solely from their connection with the sovereign base areas of
Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus.
At the same time, British dependent territories citizenship was
renamed as British overseas territories citizenship.
The Act gives British citizenship in addition to, not in
replacement of, British overseas territories citizenship.
If you were a British dependent territories citizen (BDTC), and
became a British overseas territories citizen (BOTC) in May 2002, you
have the option of renewing your BDTC passport as a BOTC passport or
applying for a British citizen passport.
When your BDTC passport expires you can apply to renew
it as a BOTC passport in the usual way. You don’t have to have the
form countersigned.
However, if you wish to apply for a British citizen passport, this
has to be treated as a first
time application, and you will be required to provide a
countersigned form and original supporting documents.
You cannot apply to amend current passports to show British citizen
status. This is because British citizenship is an additional status
for those concerned; we will need to confirm entitlement and issue a
new 10-year passport.
Applications in the overseas territories themselves will be treated
in the same way. Your existing passport will be returned to you
uncancelled. - ips.gov.uk/passport/
U.S. web site: travel.state.gov/passport
U.K. web site: www.ips.gov.uk/passport/
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