UK passports if resident in Poland

EUR 160 for processing
EUR 22 for postal costs
They process them in Duesseldorf - applications to be made by post, download from the fco website.

The UK embassy compound in Warsaw cost GBP 60 million, is built like a labyrinthine fortress and nothing happens there. Dumb Britania.

Nothing new there. It's hardly a secret that the Labour government somewhat deliberately destroyed the Embassy network, turning it into a network of "jobs for the boys" and precious little else.

The 600zl+ fee to get a "Certificate of non impediment" is daylight robbery.

Which is one of the reason to close down UK passport issuing consulates?


its been like that for about a year now, all was well with my last application till DHL Wroclaw got hold of my package.

My personal favourite about the new process is that they won't let you hang onto your current passport while they process your new one. This means you are unable to prove your identity to Polish police when requested to do so and failing to be able to do that means you can be locked up until your identity (and immigration status) can be established (which is impossible given that you have no passport).

The British consulate in Warsaw are very well aware of this but they apparently do not give a fucck. When I emailed about my concerns they replied that I should carry a photocopy and driving licence when I didn't have my passport. I replied that photocopies are generally not acceptable to Polish police and my driving licence neither state my nationality nor has a photo on it: they replied that I should carry a photocopy when I didn't have my passport. I emailed back pointing out that that photocopies are generally not acceptable to Polish police. They didn't bother to reply.

On the plus side, if you can't prove you're British, you aren't entitled to consular assistance while you're locked up.

Hah - we got our son's passport from the Warsaw bunker on Jan 8, 2010 ... one of the last, I see.

A UK driving licence is no longer considered as a valid form of id in UK. Go figure.

Seriously? Is that first-hand knowledge?

well that is strange as I used mine about 2 days ago to open a business bank account

Can Polish people travel to the UK with a pesel only?

With a Dowod Osobista

This is easily the stupidest thing I've heard so far this year.

I was able to do my last US passport through the local consular office. I don't even remember having to leave my passport at any time. IIRC once I got the new one they invalidated the old one on the spot.

Drool Britiania!

Saves them a few mill though. Thats what its all about right?

For employment purposes, no, it's not enough. In fact, it's not recognised at all now as being an acceptable document - because the DVLA's records are so bad that it's simply not possible to rely on them.

Yet, bizzarely, it's still acceptable to produce a birth certificate in combination with a letter from a government agency with your national insurance number written on it.

About 18 months ago I was trying to get some temp work in UK and went to register with a company or two. I was told the Home Office had decreed that DL were not valid id and only a passport or birth certificate (because it's obviously YOURS!) were valid for UK citizens.

I was told it was to do with a high number of forgeries but I think it was more to do with labour govt trying to push UK id cards through.


In UK? maybe things have changed with Con-dem govt.

So, what does a person do if they don't carry their passport everywhere or it's with the UK Govt for renewal etc? I spoke to some police here yesterday about an unrelated issue, had they have found me 'a bit shifty-like' and wanted my ID, how would I prove it to them when all I'm carrying is a credit card and bus pass?

Being forced to carry ID is not something I'm comfortable with, frankly, for lots of reasons.

I wonder if Constable Polski would have accompanied me to the flat to retrieve my passport?
But if it were in Dusseldorf or lost with a courier, then what?

I've always been ok with credit cards and bus pass (it helps that the ones in Warsaw have photos on them). But I do know a couple of people who have been taken back to their flats to get passports to show. If your passport is out of the country, you could well have a problem.

I'll bear that in mind, thanks Harry.

We can live in hope.. :)

My suspicion is that they would want to see some sort of supporting documentation at least - a residence certificate/card, bills in your name, photocopy of the passport/etc.

Actually - thinking about it - for EU citizens, it wouldn't be much of a problem (they'd be able to do some background checks easily) - and non-EU citizens should always have the Karta Pobytu to hand.