Immigration Corner | Conditions needed to apply for a UK emergency travel document

Dear Mr Bassie,

I am a British national who is abroad without a UK passport, and I need to travel urgently. Can you please advise me as to what options are available to me?

I look forward to your response.

RI

Dear RI,

It is possible for persons to travel urgently from abroad without a United Kingdom (UK) passport. Those persons can apply for an emergency travel document.

An emergency travel document allows persons to travel from abroad if they need to travel urgently and cannot use their UK passport. It is usually only valid for one single or return journey.

Please note that persons can travel through a maximum of five countries. Persons can apply for an emergency travel document if all the following apply:

• They are a British national.

• They are outside of the UK.

• They need to travel within six weeks.

• The person’s UK passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, is full, has recently expired, or is with HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy.

• They cannot renew or replace their UK passport from abroad before they travel.

• They have had a valid UK passport that was issued on or after January 1, 2006.

PERSONS WHO HAVE NOT HAD A PASSPORT ISSUED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2006

Those persons who have not had a UK passport that was issued on or after January 1, 2006, will usually need to apply for a UK passport instead of an emergency travel document.

Persons might be able to get an emergency travel document if all the following apply:

• They have, or are eligible for, British nationality.

• They are outside of the UK.

• They need to travel within six weeks.

• They have an urgent and unplanned reason to travel due to exceptional circumstances

Exceptional circumstances may include if

• Their child was born unexpectedly.

• They need urgent medical treatment that they cannot access without travel to another country.

• They wish to attend the funeral of a close relative.

Just for completeness, those persons who have not had a UK passport that was issued on or after January 1, 2006, cannot get emergency travel documents for activities such as holidays, weddings, family events, and job interviews.

Please be aware that applicants will have to explain and provide evidence to show why their journey is urgent and essential and applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Good luck!

John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-at-law who practices law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com