APPLYING FOR A BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY CITIZEN (TCI) PASSPORT

Eligibility

You can apply for a British Overseas Territory Citizen (Turks and Caicos Islands) passport if you have British Overseas Territory Citizenship. However, there are some circumstances where your application can be refused or your existing passport can be retained.

Your eligibility and entitlement to a British Overseas Territory passport will be considered when you apply.

Who is British Overseas Territories Citizen?

Prior to 26 February 2002 British overseas territories citizenship was called ‘British dependent territories citizenship’.

If you were born before 1 January 1983

You became a British overseas territories citizen on 1 January 1983 if both of these applied:

• you were a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies on 31 December 1982
• you had connections with a British overseas territory because you, your parents or your grandparents were born, registered or naturalised in that British overseas territory

You also became a British overseas territories citizen if you were a woman married to a man who became a British overseas territories citizen on 1 January 1983.

If you were born on or after 1 January 1983

You’re a British overseas territories citizen if both the following apply:

• you were born in a British overseas territory
• at the time of your birth one of your parents was a British overseas territories citizen or legally settled in a British overseas territory

You’re also a British overseas territories citizen if one of the following applies:

• you were adopted in an overseas territory by a British overseas territories citizen
• you were born outside the overseas territory to a parent who at the time of your birth had British overseas territories citizenship in their own right (known as ‘otherwise than by descent’)

If you are unsure about whether you are a British Overseas Territory Citizen please refer to the document Do I need to Naturalise.

How to Apply for a Passport

Step 1 - Complete the Application Form

You must acquire and complete the required application form. The application form comes with guidance notes to help you fill it in. Passport Application Forms are available;

• online via the attached link British Overseas Territories Passport Application Form
• at the Ministry of Border Control and Employment One Stop Shop Customer Service Centres located at Sam’s Building, Providenciales and Three Degrees Office Complex, Grand Turk
• at the Immigration Department Offices or District Commissioners’ offices on the island of South Caicos and North Caicos
• at the District Commissioner’s Office on Salt Cay

If you are renewing your passport and your previous passport is lost or stolen, you are also required to complete the Lost and Stolen form and provide a police report about the incident.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Application forms must not be printed on both sides of the paper or stapled together.
• Photocopies of completed application forms are not acceptable. That is, you cannot fill in an application and submit a photo copy of the application to us.
• If you are printing your own application form, you cannot use paper weight that is less than 24 bond.

Step 2 - Provide the Required Supporting Documents

You must send original documents that prove your identity as part of your application. Photocopies, certified copies and laminated documents will not be accepted. The documents you need to send depend on the following circumstances.

BORN OR ADOPTED IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

Before 1 January 1983

You must send your birth or adoption certificate.

On or after 1 January 1983

You must send your birth or adoption certificate and either:

• your mother’s or father’s Turks and Caicos Islands birth certificate, certificate of registration/naturalisation,
• a Turks and Caicos Islands passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born or a Turks and Caicos Islands
• evidence of one of your parents’ immigration status in the Turks and Caicos Islands at the time of your birth

If you send documents related to your father, you must also send your parents’ marriage certificate (unless you were born or adopted on or after 1 July 2006).

BORN OUTSIDE THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

If you have a certificate of naturalisation or registration

You must send:

• your naturalisation or registration certificate
• the passport you used to come into the Turks and Caicos Islands

IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF A BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY

OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES AND MORE ADVICE

If your circumstances aren’t listed here, or you want more advice, please read the Do I need to Naturalise or Guidance on Applying for a Passport.

PHOTOS AND COUNTER SIGNATORIES

You must supply 2 identical photos of yourself with your application.

Follow the rules about Passport Photos - your application may be delayed if your photos are rejected.

You must get someone to sign (‘countersign’) your form and 1 of your photos to prove your identity.

Check who can sign and what they have to do.

Step 3 - Pay the Required Fee

Adult passport - $150 USD

Child passport - $75

Expedited Service – Not Available

Step 4 - Submit Your Completed Application

To submit your application you must:

• deliver your fully completed application form along with the required photographs and supporting documents at any of the following locations
• at the Ministry of Border Control and Employment’s One Stop Shop Customer Service Centres located at Sam’s Building, Providenciales and Three Degrees Office Complex, Grand Turk
• at the Immigration Department Offices or District Commissioners’ offices on the island of South Caicos and North Caicos
• at the District Commissioner’s Office on Salt Cay

What Happens Next

You will be contacted if additional documents are needed or if it is necessary to conduct an interview. If none of the above are required, your application will be case-worked and you will be contacted when the passport is available for collection.

How Long It Takes

It takes at least 4 weeks to get your passport. Don’t book travel until you’ve got it. If this is your first passport, the Passport Office may ask to interview you as part of the application process. If you have a medical emergency, please contact 649 338-2940 for assistance.