Passports & Travel Documents

We are specialist immigration solicitors within Croydon and Central London and have a strong reputation in assisting clients obtain passports and travel documents. We offer competitive pricing and offer a bespoke immigration service to all our clients.

We can help those in need of passport services for British or other nationalities. Where you cannot obtain a passport from your country, we can assist with obtaining travel documents to travel outside the UK.

We can provide legal help and assistance with preparation and submission of the following applications:

British Passport

You must have British citizenship to apply for a British passport.

Having British citizenship does not guarantee you a passport. Your eligibility and entitlement will be considered at the time of application. Your passport application may be refused or your existing passport may be taken from you if:

• you’re suspected of a serious crime and an arrest warrant has been issued
• a court order stops you having a UK passport or restricts your travel
• you’re on bail and bail conditions mean you cannot leave the UK
• you’ve been brought back to the UK before at the government’s expense and have not repaid what you owe
• you’ve received a European Union or United Nations order which restricts your travel

A passport can also be cancelled or not renewed if it’s for a child and there’s a court order in place stopping the child from leaving the UK.

If you are applying for your first adult British passport you may have to attend an interview.

British citizens living abroad who wish to apply for a passport should contact their nearest embassy or consulate.

Applicants who have naturalised as British must attend their citizenship ceremony and receive their certificate before applying for a British passport.

Refugee Travel Document

If you are a refugee in the UK, you can apply to the Home Office for refugee travel document (also called a 1951 Convention travel document or Geneva passport)

Applicants must have permission to stay in the UK for at least 6 months at the date of application as many countries will not accept travel documents with less than 6 months until expiry. If your Refugee Status is due to expire in less than 6 months you should make a settlement or extension application before applying for your travel document. 

Except in exceptional circumstances, you cannot use a Refugee travel document to travel to your country of origin, or the country from which you sought asylum.

A refugee travel document issued to an adult will usually be valid for 10 years if you have permission to stay in the United Kingdom permanently (holders of indefinite leave to remain). If you have temporary permission to stay in the United Kingdom (limited leave to remain), your travel document will usually be valid for the same period as your permission to stay in the UK, up to a maximum of 5 years.

Refugee Travel Documents issued to children will usually be valid for 5 years or valid for the same period as their permission to stay, up to a maximum of 5 years.

It is important to note that once you have been issued with your Refugee Travel Document, you will need to obtain a visa before you enter some countries. Before making any travel arrangements, you should make enquiries at the embassy of the country you wish to travel to.

Certificate of Travel

If you are in the UK lawfully without a valid passport issued by the authorities of your country, you may be able to apply for a certificate of travel, which will give you permission to travel abroad and return to the UK. You must first prove that you have been unreasonably refused a passport by the authorities of the country of which you are a national.

Some countries do not accept certificates of travel as valid travel documents, so you should check with the authorities of the country you wish to visit before you apply.

Applicants must have permission to stay in the UK for at least 6 months at the date of application as many countries will not accept travel documents with less than 6 months until expiry. If your status is due to expire in less than 6 months you should make a settlement or extension application before applying for a certificate of travel.

A certificate of travel issued to an adult will usually be valid for 10 years if you have permission to stay in the United Kingdom permanently (holders of indefinite leave to remain). If you have temporary permission to stay in the United Kingdom (limited leave to remain), your travel document will usually be valid for the same period as your permission to stay in the UK, up to a maximum of 5 years.

Certificates of travel issued to children will usually be valid for 5 years or valid for the same period as their permission to stay, up to a maximum of 5 years.

Stateless Person Travel Document

If you have been recognised as stateless person, you are entitled to apply to the Home Office for stateless person travel document. A stateless person is a person who is not considered as a national by any country.

Applicants must provide a letter from the Home Office confirming this status with their application.
A stateless persons’ document is normally valid for travel to all countries.

Applicants must have permission to stay in the UK for at least 6 months at the date of application as many countries will not accept travel documents with less than 6 months until expiry. If your status is due to expire in less than 6 months you should make a settlement or extension application before applying for a travel document.

A stateless person travel document issued to an adult will usually be valid for 10 years if you have permission to stay in the United Kingdom permanently (holders of indefinite leave to remain). If you have temporary permission to stay in the United Kingdom (limited leave to remain), your travel document will usually be valid for the same period as your permission to stay in the UK, up to a maximum of 5 years.

Travel documents issued to children will usually be valid for 5 years or valid for the same period as their permission to stay, up to a maximum of 5 years.

For further information and a free telephone consultation, call our Central London or Croydon offices today on 0208 681 5128 and speak to one of our senior lawyers.