Council Set To Offer A New Passport Checking Service

A simpler way of certifying verifying official passports will become available to Ceredigion residents as the County Council is set to offer the European Passport Return Service (EPRS). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In a Cabinet meeting in December, Members decided to approve the principle to begin administering the EPRS, which will allow residents to request the council to photocopy their European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss passport and send a copy to the Home Office. It will only be possible to use this service if an online application has been made for a registration certificate or a document certifying permanent residence using an EEA or Swiss passport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

When the customer applies online and selects the EPRS option, they will be advised to contact their nearest participating local authority immediately to arrange an appointment. The local authority must then provide them with an appointment within five working days of the customer applying online. The fee for using this service is £10. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The appointment itself should only last between 10-15 minutes, and its sole purpose will be to check the passport for fraud and make a photocopy of the passport and return this to the customer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ray Quant MBE, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “The EPRS provides a new and easier option for people to use in order to get their passports checked and verified. I would encourage everyone to make the most of this service.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The EPRS will not impact upon the service currently being offered by Technical Services on behalf of the Passport Service at Canolfan Rheidol (which relates to British nationals applying for a new passport). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​