Passports
You have to hold a valid passport to enter or leave the UK. You may also need a visa to travel to other countries.
If you are travelling to another country from the UK, your passport may need to be valid for your whole trip. You should renew your passport before you travel if it is due to expire while you are away.
You may also have to attend an interview as part of the process of applying for a passport.
All new, full UK passports use facial biometrics. Your passport photographs will have to meet a required standard set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
'How to apply for a UK passport' sets out the passport application process and what you need to do. 'Applying for a UK passport' explains specifically what you must do to apply for a UK passport in the country you are in. You need to read both pages to have all the information that you need to apply for your passport.
Please note that due to the installation of a new IT system in the Embassy over the weekend of 10-12th October, there may be some delay in Passport processing times the following week.
NEW PASSPORT ARRANGEMENTS FOR BRITISH NATIONALS IN COLOMBIA
From 2 November 2009 full passports will no longer be issued at this Embassy.
All full passport applications will need to be sent to UK Passport Service for the Americas and Caribbean, British Embassy, Washington.
The British Embassy in Bogotá will continue to issue Emergency Passports for people who need to travel quickly.
Customers are advised to keep their passports in a safe place at all times and to check the validity.
Passports can be renewed up to 9 months in advance; the additional time will be added to the period of validity of their new passport.
Why change the Passport Operation
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Passport Network Rationalisation Project was set up in May 2008 to deliver a more streamlined and efficient passport operation for British Nationals abroad, to achieve immediate financial benefits to the FCO and establish a sustainable operating platform for the future.
The UK is alone among major partners in retaining a large overseas passport network. In order to keep costs covered, the UK Government is committed to looking for opportunities to reduce administration, centralise excellence and deliver beneficial economies of scale.
These are the parameters we have set ourselves as we introduce more sophisticated measures to protect personal identity, reduce passport fraud and prevent illegal entry into the UK.
Passport fraud and identity theft are on the increase. The way we issue passports and the document itself must change to safeguard personal identity and to ensure UK passports continue to meet international quality and security standards.
Where the FCO have introduced changes already, it is working well e.g. in Europe and North America. Improved efficiency means the FCO should be able to maintain current service delivery times and in some cases improve levels of customer service and experience.
Consistency, as a result of improved governance, training and communication across the network, means fairer decision making, better service delivery and reduced fraud.
In their 2006 report on consular services, the National Audit Office recommended limiting passport production to fewer locations to increase security and reduce expenditure on new passport issuing systems and processes. The total repatriation of book production to the UK was encouraged - this will happen in 2010.
The FCO is committed to supporting the UK National Identity Scheme which aims to:
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Secure our borders and tackle illegal immigration;
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Prevent identity fraud;
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Become a key defence in the fight against crime and terrorism;
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Enhance checks as part of safeguarding the vulnerable;
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Improve customer services.
How to apply for a UK passport
Applying for a passport in Colombia
New passport arrangements for British Nationals in Colombia
Frequently asked questions for new passport arrangements
Frequently asked questions
