Islanders who apply for a passport will start to be issued the new blue Jersey variant British passport from this week, following the UK’s departure from the European Union.
The current burgundy British passports will remain valid for travel until they expire.
The previous blue passports were phased out in 1988 when members of the then European Economic Community agreed to a consistent design. The back cover of the new British passports will carry an embossment featuring the floral emblems of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Islanders should apply online for passports, following the introduction in February of a digital application and online payment system. The online service is available for anyone who wants to apply for their first passport, or who wants to renew, amend or replace an existing passport.
To complete a digital application:
- Visit the passport application page on the Government of Jersey website.
- The online form will guide users to fill in only the relevant parts of the form.
- Pay the application fee, and receive a payment receipt and PDF copy of the application.
- Print off the PDF and sign it as usual; attach two passport photos.
- Submit the form by post or place into the secure drop at Customer and Local Services, La Motte Street.
Some passport photos will need to be countersigned before the application is submitted. More information on countersignatories is available online.
Completed forms should be posted to Passport Office, PO Box 55, Phillip Le Feuvre House, La Motte Street, St Helier, JE4 8PE or can be hand delivered to Customer and Local Services, La Motte Street.
The new blue passports are ‘sign after receipt.’ This means that after receiving a new blue passport, the holder must sign the relevant page of the passport immediately unless they are exempt from doing so.
While COVID-19 travel restrictions remain in place, Islanders are encouraged to check the validity of their passports and renew them if needed to ensure they are prepared for any ease in border restrictions.
Government of Jersey News Release.