Travelling without a passport

When in doubt, post it in here.

Moderator: Singaporum Moderators

Locked
Shaxiaoyu
Limp Member
Posts: 16
Joined: 5th Mar, '13, 10:47
Mood: ok

Travelling without a passport

Post by Shaxiaoyu » 4th May, '13, 14:42

Ok so my UK passport (the one my EP is linked to) is chock-a-block and needs replacing but the UK embassy has outsourced everything to HK and it'll take 4 weeks to get a new passport leaving me with a bit of a problem as I MUST travel for work and play.

So I have my NZ passport which will get me in and out of other countries but I'm not sure how I get in and out of Singapore...I know I can come back in with a swipe of my EP pass but leaving I'm 99% sure I need to swipe my UK passport.

I was told there's some sort of card you can get that you swipe to get in and out of Singapore that means you don't have to use a passport but the details were basic...anyone know if this exists and if so what it's called?

Any other ideas on how to travel without my UK passport?

Thanks, appreciate the help!!

User avatar
BoD
Part of the furniture
Posts: 4052
Joined: 14th Feb, '08, 09:44

Re: Travelling without a passport

Post by BoD » 4th May, '13, 16:37

Go to JB on your UK passport, then come back in on your NZ passport- you will then have a white card. Apply for new UK passport. While waiting you can come and go on your NZ passport. When your new UK passport arrives( and before your svp on your nz ome expires) leave the country on your NZ passport and then come back in on your new UK one

If it doesn't work you will just be arrested, flogged and deported, so no drama :)
We are the TPF

Shaxiaoyu
Limp Member
Posts: 16
Joined: 5th Mar, '13, 10:47
Mood: ok

Re: Travelling without a passport

Post by Shaxiaoyu » 4th May, '13, 16:56

Hmm you might actually be on to something there! Leave country on UK passport and come back in on NZ one, given I'm travelling every week I'll never hit the limit of the visa...only one way to tell if it'll actually work I guess...if you don't hear from me assume the worst

User avatar
expat yorkshire
Going Postal
Posts: 1314
Joined: 13th Feb, '08, 23:22

Re: Travelling without a passport

Post by expat yorkshire » 5th May, '13, 08:06

There is a better solution . Just apply for second uk passport . This is very easy to do . This means you don't even send off your old passport . There is a procedure for this but as I recall its just a covering letter and you must photocopy all pages of your current passport . . Just speak to the British High Comm to clarify what to do

User avatar
BoD
Part of the furniture
Posts: 4052
Joined: 14th Feb, '08, 09:44

Re: Travelling without a passport

Post by BoD » 6th May, '13, 01:41

Well there is that.. but sometimes its more fun on the edge :)
We are the TPF

User avatar
Fat Bob
Can't find the exit
Posts: 7964
Joined: 14th Feb, '08, 07:42
Mood: Born to Tour!
Location: Top of the world, looking down on creation

Re: Travelling without a passport

Post by Fat Bob » 6th May, '13, 07:53

Do a trip to the UK, book a time at one of the passport offices and get your passport exchanged in a day. However, it is rather an expensive way of doing it.

(And don't get me started on why expats pay more for a far worse service than those in the UK).
"Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life" ...Cecil Rhodes.

Poppy Appeal

User avatar
JJ
Post Traumatic Stress
Posts: 361
Joined: 19th Feb, '08, 07:21

Re: Travelling without a passport

Post by JJ » 6th May, '13, 09:43

Dont get me started on the UK passport as an expat dramas. Suffice to say, that from my research, we UK citizens are worse served by our High Commission than any banana republic 3rd world country. its top of the list of reasons I might apply for Singaporean citizenship. God knows what the hell that lot actually do in their big Singapore "office"...

Anyhooooo, my advice would be to apply right away for 2 passports... I only applied for one mid 2011 and now I have to go through the entire damned process again as I only have one page left on my current passport.

Angst. Annoyance. Expense. Being without a valid travel document for 4weeks. Having to check my cc statement for weeks on end to make sure its not been cloned given that i have just sent all the details along with my primary ID document into the ether. And having to deal with idiots. Thats about as much as being a UK citizen provides me with at the moment. Bah humbug :-)

Shaxiaoyu
Limp Member
Posts: 16
Joined: 5th Mar, '13, 10:47
Mood: ok

Re: Travelling without a passport

Post by Shaxiaoyu » 10th Jun, '13, 21:40

So leaving on the UK passport and coming back in on the NZ one seems to do the trick...those clever lads in the Singapore govt. have worked out how to link my two passports to my EP without me even having to present the NZ passport.

On the downside I'm now 3 weeks in to my UK passport renewal and no sign of life. I phoned the other day to make sure there's really someone there with a pulse and it's not just one big practical joke only to find myself having to hand over my credit card details. Seems they charge 79 pence a minute (on top of whatever your telecom is charging you for the non-toll free UK call!) just for the privilege of being informed they are indeed alive but it could be another two weeks before my application will be passed to an examination office for it's first review. 5 weeks. Oh and yes they do charge 79 pence for the minute it takes them to take and process the credit card details...well in for a penny in for a pound I guess...

User avatar
nev
Going Postal
Posts: 1264
Joined: 18th Feb, '08, 10:59
Mood: mental

Re: Travelling without a passport

Post by nev » 10th Jun, '13, 23:20

And here I thought 3 days to renew my Indonesian passport is way too long...

User avatar
Pinklepurr
I post here professionally
Posts: 2464
Joined: 20th Feb, '08, 11:44
Location: quietly chilled in Melbourne...

Re: Travelling without a passport

Post by Pinklepurr » 11th Jun, '13, 08:40

They charge you for calling them? I hope not too many other places cotton on to that idea.
"Always turn and look when your cat gazes behind you with that intent look in her eyes. Some day there might actually be something there." - Anonymous

User avatar
Tas
I live here
Posts: 3505
Joined: 18th Feb, '08, 11:53
Mood: Confuddled

Re: Travelling without a passport

Post by Tas » 11th Jun, '13, 14:03

Shaxiaoyu wrote:So leaving on the UK passport and coming back in on the NZ one seems to do the trick...those clever lads in the Singapore govt. have worked out how to link my two passports to my EP without me even having to present the NZ passport.

On the downside I'm now 3 weeks in to my UK passport renewal and no sign of life. I phoned the other day to make sure there's really someone there with a pulse and it's not just one big practical joke only to find myself having to hand over my credit card details. Seems they charge 79 pence a minute (on top of whatever your telecom is charging you for the non-toll free UK call!) just for the privilege of being informed they are indeed alive but it could be another two weeks before my application will be passed to an examination office for it's first review. 5 weeks. Oh and yes they do charge 79 pence for the minute it takes them to take and process the credit card details...well in for a penny in for a pound I guess...
I thought the Australian PR system seemed a little bit galacial for some various friends that have applied at different times, all with the right sort of quantity points etc. But it's beginnging to look positively friendly to non citizens compared to how UK manages the paperwork of its' born and bred.
Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all.
- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

Locked