HOW TO RENEW YOUR SOUTH AFRICAN PASSPORT IN LONDON

If you've settled in the UK then sooner or later the time will come that you need to renew your, or your family's South African passports. Although the renewal process is not that difficult there are a few problem areas.

This post is intended to help point out what you need to do to renew your passport.

Applications to renew your passport can be made by post or in person at the South African High Commission, 15 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2DD.

However renewing an adult passport requires a full set of finger prints which will be done for you if you apply in person. Obviously then, if a postal application is made you will have to have the finger printing done elsewhere. This can be a problem because in the UK, not all Police Stations can do this. Only those with a finger printing bureau will. They will also charge £63.00

The SA High Commission also require that the finger prints are completed on a specific form - BI-9. The form cannot be downloaded from the internet. One will be sent to you however, if you send a request for the form with a self addressed stamped envelope to the SA High Commission. From what I read elsewhere, you will also then need to convince the British Police to do the finger prints on the South African form and not their own. There have been a number of cases where the British Police say that their UK form is suitable. Its not - it has to be on the SA from BI-9.

The choice to get your own finger prints done as opposed to making an application in person then depends really on how much of a hassle it is to get into London.

Obviously there other forms and supporting documents required. These are as follows;

• Passport application form - BI-73
• Determination of citizenship form - BI-529
• 4 x passport photographs (6 x photographs if older than 15 and a half and do not have a 13 digit identity number).
• 2 x certified copies of the bio page of your passport or identity book. (That's the page with the your photo on it.)

If you have had your passport lost or stolen you will need the original police report or the case number and a completed form CMO219.

If your passport has been damaged or destroyed then a sworn statement of how it was destroyed or damaged will be required.

If you're renewing a child's passport then the written consent of both parents is required.

The fees are as follows;

• Adult passport - £14.00
• Child's passport - £10.00

Payment must be made in British Pounds by cash, bank draft or postal order. Bank drafts and postal orders must be made payable to SA HIGH COMMISSION.

Postal applications must sent by special delivery and must include a prepaid self addressed special delivery envelope. This is for the return of issued documents or, if there is anything wrong with the application, for the return of the application and supporting documents.

A further word of warning - once the passport arrives you will need to send in your existing passport so that it can be cancelled before the renewal passport is issued.

For full details and further information you can view the South African High Commission's Passport Renewal page

OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT

Opening a UK bank acount in South Africa before I left was probably the best thing that I ever did when it comes to my family's move to England. My tip to all South African's leaving for the UK would be to do the same. In case these comments are perceived as Financial Advice - they are not, they are simply my opinion on a matter that really helped me.


It wasn't even my idea, so I'm not claiming to be a genius. My relationship manager at ABSA Private Bank almost forced me to and I'm glad she did.


Why am I so glad? Firstly, I had a target account to move my SA money to before I left. Secondly, I didn't have to go through all the stress of proving residential address, identification and income when I arrived in England.  Lastly, it meant that I could operate seamlessly from a financial perspective immediately on arrival.


My ATM card worked in all the cash machines and at all the EFTPOS machines at the checkouts at all stores. I also had a credit card to use in a country where I had no credit history. When I needed to pay for anything on-line or over the phone I did so with no problem whatsoever.

The alternative to the above is obviously opening a bank account once you have arrived in the UK.  To do this you will have to prove who you are and where you live and more than likely that you are earning a monthly income.

This means a passport - no problem.  Proof of address is a little more tricky as you will need a utility bill or a lease agreement.  For these it means you've found a place to live, signed the agreements and have already had the utilities switched into your name.  This can take some time - all time in which you will not be able to have a bank account.

Three months salary slips is self explanatory - you may have to wait three months once you've found a job before the banks will open an account for you.

I can't stress then how much easier things will be if you somehow get your account opened before you make the journey to the UK.