I recently applied for my child's first UK passport. It wasn't a difficult process but it does mean a bit of document gathering, photocopying and a trip to the Trendy Condo Building in Bangkok.
You don't actually need to be there in person but if you are in Thailand its probably easier to go yourself unless you are paying someone. Your wife and child don't need to attend.
Using an agent could cost you 10,000 THB which isn't a massive amount, but its not worth paying for if you can just as easily do it yourself.
For that price you will receive guidance, get any translations and copying that need done and you won't need to visit VFS in person. It may be worth paying if you live miles away but wasn't for me.
The first thing to do is have a read online about what you will need. I'd suggest gathering everything before you make an appointment because if you are unable to locate a document and cannot attend the appointment you will not be allocated another for 8 weeks.
Check out the UK Government website for all that you will need.
https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passport...united-kingdom
Download the application form, the payment form and guidelines:
Application Form:
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...plication-form
Payment Form:
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-authorisation
Guidance Notes:
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...ports-guidance
Supporting Documents Notes:
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...uments-group-2
Photos
Get some passport photographs done. The guidelines are in the link below, but they need to be the correct size; 35mm by 45mm, white background, no one else in the picture and no dummys/pacifiers obscuring their face etc.
https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports
The photo will need to be countersigned, as will the application form.
https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications
You will then need to gather just about every legal document you own between you and your wife and child, according to the list on the UK Gov website.
All documents will either need to be in english or translated to english. You will be asked to bring the original document for them to look at (they didn't bother with mine) plus a copy for them to include in the application.
You may have most of, if not all of your documents already in english. If you need translations there are places in Trendy building. Translation cost me 300 baht per page.
The copies all need to be in colour. The first place I went to charged 25 baht per sheet, (first place on the left as you enter main door, has Korean writing on door) whereas another I used cost 10 baht a sheet (TSL to the rear of the building next to lift you take to VFS on 28th floor). Both within Trendy.
Alternatively if you are organised you can do it cheaper locally or if have the equipment you can do it yourself.
This is a list of document that I needed:
* Application form, filled out and countersigned. Be sure to use black ink and stay within the boxes.
* Payment form – Fee was £76.01 which includes courier from Thailand to UK and back
* Two photographs of my son, one countersigned on the back.
* Colour copies of every page in my UK passport.
* Colour copies of every page in my son's Thai passport.
* Colour copy of ID page of Wife's Thai passport.
* Colour copy of Wife's Thai ID card – translated – this is not asked for anywhere but was included as a precaution because her parents can't find her birth certificate.
* My son's birth certificate, translated.
* Marriage certificate, translated.
* Wife's Name change document , translated – if your wife has taken your name on marriage.
* My original UK birth certificate, long version.
* Tabien baan (House Registration Book) only the page with my son's name, translated.
Other things you may need are copies of your divorce certificate or Deed Poll document if applicable.
If both you AND your partner were born after 31st December 1982, you need to supply both your mother and fathers birth certificates. Not applicable to us so no worries.
If you have all of those things to hand you are doing well and can go ahead with making an appointment. Get yourself a few document wallets/folders because with the copying you will be carrying a lot of paperwork and will want to keep it separate and organised.
There are quite a lot of threads on the net about this subject but a lot of them still refer to going to the British embassy. As you may know this is no longer where you make applications for a UK passport. You must apply through the VFS service located in the Trendy Condo Building.
Email them to make an appointment. Email: BangkokHMPO@vfshelpline.com
Tell them you want to apply for your child's first UK passport and then they will get back to you asking you to suggest three times/dates when you can attend. You could skip this first email and just give them the times and dates you can make it.
Once you have done that they should get back to you pretty quickly and let you know which of the three times/dates fits in with their schedule. The person answering seemed to have a good level of english and it was all very polite.
This is the website, and physical address:
UK Visa Information - Thailand - Home Page
The Trendy Office Building, No.10/200,
28th Floor, Sukhumvit Soi 13, Klongtoey-Nua,
Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
The nearest BTS station is Nana for those in Bangkok. Otherwise its by car. There is parking.
They will email back with an appointment letter which they ask you to print out to show to the receptionist on arrival.
I didn't bother. I just showed the girl the email on my phone and she confirmed it on the list of appointments. No issue.
On arrival at Trendy if coming in the main door from Soi 13 direction, you will see two reception desks, with a coffee shop behind.
If you have all of your translations/copies head to the desk on the left and let them know you are there.
They will give you a numbered ticket and send you upstairs to the 28th floor via the lift to the rear of the coffee shop. You arent supposed to go up until 5 minutes before your time.
If you are early or have time to kill while/after getting translations and copies done you can relax at the coffee shop, Tom and Tom I think its called.
Coffee was acceptable and they have basic snacks like toasties and the like. I had a cheese and ham toastie, perrier and a coffee, which cost 290 THB to give you an idea of the prices. You get free WIFI for 180 minutes, with the code on the receipt.
When the time comes you will have to pass through VFS security, with a cursory bag check and weapons check. You will need to switch off your phone.
Take a seat or go with the guard as directed. You will be led to a secure office with cubicles numbered 1 to 5.
There are TV screens showing your number and which cubicle you should go to.
Hand over everything and they will go through it all. If like me you didn't know that you needed to give them a copy of every page in your child's Thai passport you will be asked to go and get it copied.
There are copiers within the office just outside. No idea of prices for them as they were busy so I went downstairs to TSL.
This was an oversight on my part and ended up making the whole process take two three times as long as it should have. Once I got the copies I had to go back and wait until the guy was free again. All in all it took about an hour from entering VFS, but that was my mistake.
If you have everything together it will be a quick process, but even if you don't it wont be the end of the world as you can go and get copies of anything you forget or didn't know you needed.
It really was surprisingly efficient and all very polite. My only complaint was the guy that handled my application was a very quiet speaker and the applicant next to me certainly was not. I had to put my ear to the gap in the glass to hear what was being said.
Once that was done I then left after getting the parking receipt stamped by security at the desk to the left of the exit to validate an hours free parking. The parking wasn't expensive anyway.
According to the website it will take 6 to 9 weeks to get the passport. It will be couriered back to the VFS office for collection. They won't post it out to you. They will email and or phone using the details provided when the passport is ready for collection.
You can send someone to pick it up if you like but will need to give them the letter the assistant gave you as well as a copy of your passport and an authorising letter.
Im currently waiting for the shout to go and get it. I notice that the IPS has taken the £76.01 out of my account. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly.
Quite a lot to read through there but not too daunting a prospect when you know what is required. Read up on it and don't bother paying an agent unless you really have to.
You could leave all the copying and most of the translations to the day of the appointment like I did and still manage to get it done. Just give yourself enough time and you'll be alright.
Hope this gives some clarity and saves you some time and money.
Good luck.