Travel urgently from abroad without your UK passport
Who can apply
An emergency travel document lets you travel from abroad if you need to travel urgently and cannot use your UK passport. It is usually only valid for one single or return journey.
You can travel through a maximum of 5 countries.
You can apply for an emergency travel document if all the following apply:
- you’re a British national
- you’re outside the UK
- you need to travel within 6 weeks
- your UK passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, is full, has recently expired or is with HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy
- you cannot renew or replace your UK passport from abroad before you travel
- you have had a valid UK passport that was issued on or after 1 January 2006
If you have not had a passport issued on or after 1 January 2006
If you have not had a UK passport that was issued on or after 1 January 2006, you’ll usually need to apply for a UK passport instead of an emergency travel document.
You might be able to get an emergency travel document if all the following apply:
- you have, or are eligible for, British nationality
- you’re outside the UK
- you need to travel within 6 weeks
- you have an urgent and unplanned reason to travel due to exceptional circumstances
Exceptional circumstances may include if:
- your child was born unexpectedly
- you need urgent medical treatment that you cannot access without travel to another country
- you wish to attend the funeral of a close relative
If you have not had a UK passport that was issued on or after 1 January 2006, you cannot get emergency travel documents for activities such as holidays, weddings, family events and job interviews.
You’ll have to explain and provide evidence to show why your journey is urgent and essential. Applications are assessed on a case by case basis.