How to apply for a full UK passport - from 5 October 2009

If you're in Argentina and need to apply for a full UK passport, then you should apply direct to the "UK Passport Service Centre for the Americas and Caribbean", Washington D.C., USA.

The UK Passport Service for the Americas and Caribbean
British Embassy
19 Observatory Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20008

Visit UKinUSA on how to apply.  

The British Consulate Buenos Aires can no longer accept full UK passport applications, and will return any that they receive, charging customers for the courier fee.  

Warning: If sending a photocopy of your passport, unless requested in your application your current passport will automatically be cancelled on the issuing of your new passport.  You should therefore not undertake any cross border journey until you have received your new passport.  To travel before this could leave you stranded in another country.

Passport Information Helpline

Unable to find what you're looking for on the UKinUSA website?  Try calling Careline Services (the UK Passport Helpline service) on +44 208 082 4721, between 8:30am and 8:30pm EST, Monday to Friday.  

A Textphone service is available for customers with hearing difficulties.

Got any feedback on our passport services?  

Please email your thoughts to: ukpassportserviceUSAcanada@careline-services.co.uk. Careline Services will respond to you within 1 business day.

Got an urgent need to travel to the UK?

We recognise that there may be occasions when there will not be time to replace a passport before travelling. In some circumstances we may be able to issue an Emergency Travel Document. Before we can consider this option the following criteria generally apply:

• A lost or stolen passport must not have expired
• You intend to travel within the next five working days
• You can demonstrate a genuine reason for wanting to travel urgently

If issued, the Emergency Travel Document will be of restricted validity, typically 9 months. If you are resident in Argentina the Emergency Travel Document can be made valid for a return journey. Please contact the Embassy in Buenos Aires, for further information.

If a Consular Officer has to attend the office out of normal working hours to issue you with an Emergency Travel Document then an hourly 'call-out' fee will be charged.

PLEASE NOTE: Argentina requires holders of an Emergency Travel Document to obtain a visitor's visa before entering the country. This can take between 5-10 working days. We also strongly recommend that if going to or transitting the US you should obtain a visa beforehand. If you intend travelling to any other country on an Emergency Travel Document you should contact the relevant embassy beforehand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to some frequently asked questions on passports.