PETITIONClosedPetition · petition.parliament.uk

Restore Passport Services at UK Embassies and End Centralised Processing

We call on the UK Government to reinstate full passport issuing and renewal services at British embassies and consulates abroad, ending the current system where all overseas applications are centralised through HM Passport Office in the UK.

Last fetched 06 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk

Signatures

signatures

Government response threshold (10,000) · 28/10,000

Debate threshold (100,000) · 28/100,000

Background

Since April 2011, British citizens abroad have faced severe delays, excessive bureaucracy, and prolonged periods without valid travel documents because embassies are no longer authorised to process and issue passports. It is common for overseas applicants to wait 8–16 weeks—or longer.

We urge the Government to:
Authorise British embassies and consulates to issue and renew passports directly.
Reduce processing times for citizens abroad to match or exceed in-country service levels.