I've noticed lots of comments and innuendos about my trips to Bangkok to renew passports. The thing is, I have two current passports, children's passports only last for five years and if course I have offshore medicals to take every two years and there's a host of other things that Korat just does not cater for.

Anyway, I hope to take the daughter to the UK again this summer but guess what... her passport needs renewing beforehand!

Some people may be daunted by renewing a child's passport in Bangkok but it really is easy and the intention of this thread is to show just how straight forward the whole process is. You could argue that with all my experience I make it look easy but I really do believe that just about anyone could do it.

First up... follow this link.

Applying for a passport from outside the UK: how to fill in the application form - GOV.UK

But of course experience has taught me a few tricks that aren't on the UK Government website...

The paperwork is fairly straightforward. A difficulty may be finding a countersignatory if you live in a remote, arse-end of no-where kind of place like Korat. The problem is, you have to find a British citizen to countersign the documents and the back of one of the passport photos to prove you are who you say you are.

I checked and double checked, and to my amazement they will accept a Welshman for this so my luck was in. And who says standards are falling?

I got my Welsh mate to countersign the documents and the back of one of the daughter's passport photos. And don't forget... you also need to take the old passport with you and a photocopy of every single page (because they let you keep the passport). I'll be taking my passport along as well for ID purposes.



'Countersigned'... well, what can you really expect?



And then all that's left to do is prepare for the trip to Bangkok. You have to book an appointment at the Trendy Offices on Sukhumvit Soi 13 where the agents who take care of all this for the UK Government are based. Appointments can be booked 08:30-11:00 and 13:00-14:00 Monday to Friday. If you are a busy person living in a place like Korat which is at least 4 to 5 hours away from Sukhumvit, I recommend booking either the last available appointment on a Friday or the first available appointment on a Monday. That way you could theoretically wangle the weekend in Bangkok and only lose one day of work.

Being the cautious type I booked a Friday afternoon slot but have decided to go down a day early in case of traffic problems. Mittrapap Road can be a real b@stard at times and Friday is a busy day.

So, all that was left to do was to pack a few shirts and some suitable footwear.



Then pop out for a couple of last minute chores...

You can of course make many transactions electronically these days but cash is king on a passport renewal trip. I like to have a wad of beer vouchers in my wallet when walking about Bangkok.

Would ya believe it... my bank is SCB... but he didn't take long.



And then a last minute hair cut. I like to look my best in the big smoke but why get stung for Bangkok barber prices?

I had better luck here... the only customer was just leaving as I rocked up.



In and out in under 4 minutes and as cheap as chips... my kind of place!



I always go for the top of the board 80 Bahter and being a flash git I leave a 20 Baht tip. I have no idea what I could get for the 140 Baht bottom of the board but this isn't really the kind of place I want any extras.



Then all that's left to do is to double check the passport renewal paperwork and then get the Gardener to drop me off at Korat bus station. OK, so I'm not that flash... I'll take a taxi when it's for work and I can put it on expenses but for private use I take the 209 Baht bus. It goes just as fast!