Applying for a passport in Singapore

If you live in Singapore, you may apply for a passport at the British High Commission in Singapore. You can present your application in person or send it by post.

In person
For those wishing to make an application in person:

• We are open from Monday to Friday from 08.30am to 12:30pm
  
• Collections take place from 3pm to 4pm Monday to Friday. For public holidays click here.

Please note that all visitors to the High Commission are security screened and asked to provide proof of identity. We apologise to customers for any inconvenience this may cause. We regret that there is no on-site parking available. The nearest car park is located at Tanglin Mall.

Special arrangements can be made for disabled callers but please call the Section at least 24 hours in advance of your visit.

By post
Postal applications and supporting documents can be sent by mail to:

Consular Section
British High Commission
100 Tanglin Road
Singapore 247919

For all postal applications we can only accept payment by cheque or cashiers order. Please do not include cash with your application.

All applicants should ensure that they submit:

• A completed passport application form (see passport forms)
• Correct passport and postage fee ( see passport fees)
• Correct supporting documentation (see passport documents)

• Two identical passport size photographs - one photo must be countersigned by the person who countersigns your application form. The photograph standards required for biometric passports are higher than those needed for earlier types of passports. If the photograph does not meet the standards required your complete application will be delayed. The passport-sized photographs must meet the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). 

Passport Collection

The British High Commission is open for passport collections from 3pm to 4pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively, we can return your passport by registered mail (see local fees).

Payment information

We will accept payment by personal cheque or cashier’s order (made payable to "British High Commission Singapore"). If you apply in person you can pay in Singapore dollars. Click here to see further information on fees.

Processing Time

The current processing time for a British passport is 10 working days from receipt of a complete application.  A complete application is defined as one that includes a correctly completed application form, all the required supporting documents, correct photos and the correct fee.  If customers do not complete the application form correctly or fail to provide all the required documents, the 10 day processing time will not start until the form is complete, the documents are received and/or payment has been accepted.  These processing times do not include the time it takes to post the passport to and from the Passport Section. 

During the 10 day processing time, we regret that we are unable to give reports on how the application is progressing.  If you do not receive your passport within 10 days, and have allowed for weekends, public holidays and days spent in the postal system, you should contact us.

If your previous passport has been lost or stolen, it may also take longer to process. In fairness to all our customers, applications are dealt with in the order that they are received.

Special note about first time applications for children

First time applications for children can be complex and therefore may take longer to process. Parents are encouraged to obtain passports for babies as soon as possible after the birth of the child. For babies born in Singapore, the Singapore authorities impose a 42 day period from the date of birth of the child to get a British passport. If you are close to the 42 day period you should present your passport receipt to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and apply for an extension.

Special note about visas

When you apply to renew your passport we cancel your current passport and return it to you and issue you a new one. This can mean that visas in your current passport become invalid. Please check with the issuing authorities whether an unexpired visa in a cancelled passport can still be used.

Refunds

No refunds will be issued for unsuccessful or fraudulent passport applications, or for any application, which is withdrawn before it is completed 

Countersignatories

When you have completed the application form, someone who has known you personally for at least two years should complete and sign the countersignatory section of the form and the back of one of your passport photographs (this cannot be done by the passport staff at the High Commission or a member of your family). That person should be a British Citizen, other British National or Commonwealth Citizen or EU Citizen.

If you have been in Singapore a short time and cannot meet this requirement, please contact our passport unit on 6424 4200. Further details of who can sign are available in the notes accompanying the form.

Urgent travel

A large number of our applicants need to travel quickly. In fairness to all our customers, applications are dealt with in the order in which they are received. However, we accept and understand that in an emergency for example after sudden death or unexpected illness in the family, we will try to help where we can. Please note that a business journey or holiday does not constitute an emergency.

In such circumstances, if we are unable to provide you with a full passport in time and you are travelling back to the UK or on to certain Commonwealth countries (approval permitting), we can issue an Emergency Passport. This allows the holder a one-way journey to his or her destination where a replacement passport can be obtained in slower time at the nearest British passport issuing office.

In case of a genuine emergency please call 6424 4200. Outside office hours you will be given guidance on how to contact our out-of-hours response centre.

About us

The British High Commission's passport issuing office in Singapore issues approximately 6,000 British passports a year to British Citizens permanently or temporarily resident in Singapore.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office requires all British passport issuing offices outside the UK to issue 90% of straightforward British passport applications within 10 working days.

We met this target consistently in 2008 and expect to do so in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, we strongly advise you to apply for a replacement or first-time passport 4 or more weeks in advance of travel and that you do not confirm any travel arrangements until you have received your new passport.

Applying for a passport in the UK

If you live in Singapore, you may apply for a passport from the British High Commission in Singapore. Alternatively, you may also apply to the British Identity and Passport Service (IPS) in person whilst visiting the UK.

In order to do this, you need to make an appointment with IPS in the UK and you must provide an address in the UK to which the passport may be posted. Applicants will have to be available at this address to sign for the receipt of the passport. Please note that IPS do not accept applications by post or email if you live abroad. Further information about the IPS is available from its website.