Brits beware of renewing your passport in Japan!

[TFG]

It seems the British embassy in Tokyo is as of April this year, not issuing passports to British nationals residing in Japan.

The process involves sending your passport to Hong Kong, a communist country to improve security. It also takes up to 6 weeks to get the passport, sounds really efficient does it not. LoL

It costs over 20,000 yen for the passport and probably 4, 000 Yen or more for the International cheque. They also want you to send a "Biometric photograph" but do not inform you of where to get one or how much they cost.

All this so the embassy staff in Tokyo can do less work and fuck up all the Brits in Japan.


Here is the link.

Totally insane.



Anyone actually done this, how much did it cost in total and where the hell does one get a biometric photograph that conforms to international aviation standards?



http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/apply-from-ne-asia/japan

[GomiGirl]

I am just in the process of doing this myself as my UK passport is about to expire. There is no need to be an alarmist as there is not that much hassle.

The link for ensure the photos meets the biometric criteria ishere. It clearly tells you what you need to do.

It is NOT a biometric photo (do these even exist?) but just means that the photo needs to meet certain standards. This is not something new so there is no need to panic.

[CrankyBastard]

Got my British passport renewed last March at British Embassy Tokyo..
Took the photo at a kiosk outside my local Ito Yokado cost 700 yen.
Cost of biometric passport was 17000 yen + postage.
I had to wait alittle under three weeks.

[Mulboyne]

The link for ensure the photos meets the biometric criteria ishere. It clearly tells you what you need to do.

There's also a photographer's studio near Hanzomon Station which the embassy recommends to people who aren't sure what the standards mean. It's not that much more expensive than a kiosk if I remember correctly.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

friend of mine in osaka just renewed his, but had to go for an interview.

btw, TFG...Hong Kong is not a communist country.

[gkanai]

[GomiGirl]

Update:

8 July
Sent off my passport renewal docs including the photos taken inside my local station at a standard photo booth. These cost 600 yen and were the standard passport options. I did trim them down to the right size but then I included an extra photo that was untouched.

28 July (ie today)
Shiny new passport arrives via DHL and included the return spare photo that I included in the original package just in case.

I just followed all the instructions from the website which were easy to understand and bada-bing, bada-boom, new passport with 10 year validity.

I was charged a total HK$1,716 (that included the DHL) which will be about JPY20,000 in total when it comes through on the credit card. But I get frequent flyer points for that. So my passport earned me frequent flyer miles for a trip I didn't even take.

So, as long as you follow the instructions, it isn't too bad a system.

[omae mona]

Update:

8 July
Sent off my passport renewal docs including the photos taken inside my local station at a standard photo booth. These cost 600 yen and were the standard passport options. I did trim them down to the right size but then I included an extra photo that was untouched.

28 July (ie today)
Shiny new passport arrives via DHL and included the return spare photo that I included in the original package just in case.

I just followed all the instructions from the website which were easy to understand and bada-bing, bada-boom, new passport with 10 year validity.

I was charged a total HK$1,716 (that included the DHL) which will be about JPY20,000 in total when it comes through on the credit card. But I get frequent flyer points for that. So my passport earned me frequent flyer miles for a trip I didn't even take.

So, as long as you follow the instructions, it isn't too bad a system.

Doesn't sound too bad. But for comparison... recent visit to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo for a passport renewal cost about 8,000 yen (also got credit card points). Shiny new passport arrived 7 days later via regular mail in a self-addressed envelope I left with the application. That being said, I got lucky with the timing.. a few weeks later, in July, the U.S. increased fees significantly, and I think the same renewal costs more like 11,000 or 12,000 yen now.

[FG Lurker]

Doesn't sound too bad. But for comparison... recent visit to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo for a passport renewal cost about 8,000 yen (also got credit card points). Shiny new passport arrived 7 days later via regular mail in a self-addressed envelope I left with the application. That being said, I got lucky with the timing.. a few weeks later, in July, the U.S. increased fees significantly, and I think the same renewal costs more like 11,000 or 12,000 yen now.

Was that for a 5 year passport or a 10 year one?

[omae mona]

Was that for a 5 year passport or a 10 year one?

5 year kid's passport.

[FG Lurker]

5 year kid's passport.

So compared to the new US rates GG's 10 year passport price isn't too bad at all.

[omae mona]

So compared to the new US rates GG's 10 year passport price isn't too bad at all.

Yes, but for adults the price is basically the same ($5 extra) and is a 10-year validity term.

Actually the kids' passport was originally supposed to be $20 less than I paid, but they charged extra because the kid is so ugly.

[FG Lurker]

Yes, but for adults the price is basically the same ($5 extra) and is a 10-year validity term.

Ah, okay...

Canada unfortunately doesn't offer 10 year passports which is a real PITA.

[Jack]

If Hong Kong is a communist country, then put me under the column of those who like communism.

[SovietSupreme]

If Hong Kong is a communist country, then put me under the column of those who like communism.

You and I have much to talk about...

[chan]

Can a Brit answer these questions for me:

1) Does your old passport automatically get returned with the new one or do you have to specify?

2) Can the photo be taken at any booth or do we need to use a photographer? If so, any recommendations for one who can do it perfectly in central Tokyo?

Many thanks

[Longname]

Can a Brit answer these questions for me:

1) Does your old passport automatically get returned with the new one or do you have to specify?

2) Can the photo be taken at any booth or do we need to use a photographer? If so, any recommendations for one who can do it perfectly in central Tokyo?

Many thanks

I did it last month it was very easy.

- Your old passport is returned with one corner cut off to show it is expired
- The photo can be from any vending machine.