Passports
Find answers to the most common questions about working with Swift Journey Visa Ltd, passports, travel visas, ETAs, and travelling with children.
A travel visa is an official document issued by a foreign country granting permission for you to enter. It is your responsibility to determine whether a visa is required before your trip. Use our Visa Quick Check tool to see requirements for any destination worldwide.
Requirements vary by country, but most destinations ask for recent photographs, a completed application form, and your original passport (the visa is usually affixed to a blank passport page). Additional documents such as a travel itinerary, proof of accommodation, health certificates, or invitation letters may also be required. Swift Journey Visa Ltd maintains an up-to-date proprietary database of requirements for over 200 countries.
We submit your completed application and all required supporting documents to the relevant embassy or consulate on your behalf, removing the need for you to visit, communicate, or correspond with them directly. Use our Visa Quick Check to review requirements for your specific destination.
For the vast majority of countries, a travel visa is stamped or affixed to a blank page inside your passport. A few exceptions exist. Use our Visa Quick Check to confirm requirements for your specific destination.
Swift Journey Visa Ltd provides visa services and requirements for travellers of many nationalities. Regardless of the passport you hold, we can provide detailed visa guidance for most destinations worldwide.
Processing times vary by destination. Swift Journey Visa Ltd can process travel visas for many destinations in as little as one business day. Visit our Visas section and select your country of travel to view estimated processing times.
Yes. For destinations that require additional documents such as country-specific invitation letters or clearance certificates, Swift Journey Visa Ltd can assist in obtaining these on your behalf where possible.
For most countries, an original passport and signed application are required. Faxed or scanned copies are generally not accepted. A few exceptions apply — visit our Visas section for your specific destination's requirements.
Photographs must meet specific requirements regarding size, background colour, and paper type. The standard is a 2" × 2" colour photo taken against a plain white or off-white background, taken within the last month, and printed on proper photo-quality paper. Digital photos must adhere to the same standards.
Transit visa requirements vary widely. Many destinations do not require a visa for short in-transit stays, but there are exceptions. Visit our Visas section to view transit requirements for your specific destination.
Some countries issue visas upon arrival rather than requiring prior authorisation. Entry conditions and fees vary. Visit our Visas section for the specific entry requirements of your destination.
Some consulates require applicants to appear in person to verify identity or conduct a formal interview. In these cases, you must submit your application directly to the consulate. Swift Journey Visa Ltd can collect your visa once it has been issued, but cannot submit on your behalf in these situations.
The Schengen visa allows free movement across European countries that have eliminated internal border controls. With a single Schengen visa you may enter one country and travel freely throughout the zone. Apply for the country where you will spend the most time; if there is no main destination, apply for your first point of entry. The Schengen zone currently includes:
Consular jurisdiction is the geographic area for which a consulate is responsible for issuing visas. Requirements vary by country — some consulates enforce jurisdiction strictly, others are flexible. Contact our team at info@swiftjourneyvisa.com to confirm which consulate handles your application.
No. While refusals are uncommon, any embassy or consulate may decline to issue a visa at any time. In the event of a refusal, Swift Journey Visa Ltd will contact you promptly to discuss next steps.
Use the Order Status tool on our website for real-time tracking. You can search using your Swift Journey Visa order number and last name, or your date of birth and last name.
Fees include the consular fee charged by the issuing country and Swift Journey Visa Ltd's service fee. Consular fees are subject to change by the issuing government at any time without notice. All applicable fees are clearly itemised in your Swift Journey Visa application kit.
A rush surcharge applies when we have 4–7 business days to process your order from the date we receive your completed application.
An emergency surcharge applies when we have 3 or fewer business days. Standard processing applies to orders with 8 or more business days available.
Refer to your application kit for the most current processing timeframes.
Some countries require proof of vaccination for certain diseases as part of the visa application. Any mandatory vaccinations will be clearly listed in your Swift Journey Visa application kit. We strongly recommend also consulting your GP or a travel health clinic for any recommended vaccinations for your itinerary.
For UK citizens, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) publishes up-to-date travel warnings at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. For US citizens, the US Department of State provides advisories at travel.state.gov.
A passport is a travel document that serves as the ultimate form of proof for your citizenship. Every country issues passports to citizens of that country. British Citizen passports are issued by the United Kingdom Identity & Passport Service (IPS).
UK passports come in two sizes to accommodate frequent travellers — jumbo and regular. Jumbo-sized passports contain 50 pages while regular-sized passports contain 34 pages.
British citizens require passports to exit and enter the UK and all other countries in the world. It is your responsibility to carry the correct identification while travelling abroad.
No. British Subject passport holders have different entry requirements than British Citizen passport holders. If you hold one of these passports and require information on passports and visas, email info@swiftjourneyvisa.com for further information.
Swift Journey Visa Ltd provides passport services for UK citizens by submitting proper documentation on your behalf to the UK Identity & Passport Service (IPS). This eliminates the need for you to visit, communicate, and correspond directly with the IPS.
Please visit the Passports section of our website to see the full range of passport services we provide. For citizens of any other country residing in the UK, please consult your home country's local consular office for passport details.
If your passport was issued when you were 16 years of age or older, your passport is valid for 10 years. If your passport was issued when you were 15 years of age or younger, your passport is valid for 5 years.
Yes, your old passport will be returned unless it is deemed to be damaged by the UK Identity & Passport Service (IPS). The passport will clearly indicate that it is invalid — it is important that you advise whether any valid visas remain in the passport before applying for it to be renewed.
Most countries require that a passport be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of a trip. If your passport expires sooner than that, you must apply to renew your passport.
Please view our Visas section to determine how long a passport must be valid for each specific country of travel. In the event that your passport is set to expire, Swift Journey Visa Ltd can assist you.
No. You must apply for another passport. Please visit the Renew Passport section of our website for details.
Passports must have enough blank pages to accommodate entry and exit immigration stamps for each country of travel. At least one visa page in your passport is required for each visa.
Most travel visas that are stamped into your passport require an entire blank visa page. A 'blank' visa page must be clean, clear, and not show ink or stains from any other pages in the passport.
With proper documentation, you are able to change the name listed in your UK passport. Swift Journey Visa Ltd can assist you with this process by submitting the necessary documents on your behalf. Please visit our Passport Name Change section for details.
With correct documentation, Swift Journey Visa Ltd can replace your lost or stolen UK passport in as little as six business days after a scheduled appointment. Please visit our Lost or Stolen Passport section for details.
Yes. Each individual citizen, including infants, must possess their own passport. You are not allowed to represent other members of the family inside your passport. Swift Journey Visa Ltd can assist you if you need to get a new child passport or if you need to renew a child's passport. Visit our Child's Passport section to learn about passport requirements for children.
Your children must be 15 years old or younger to apply for a child passport. Visit our Child's Passport section to learn about passport requirements for children under the age of 15.
For most passport services, Swift Journey Visa Ltd has two processing times: Same Day (1 working day) and Standard (6 working days), after scheduled appointment. Please visit the appropriate passport service section on our website to determine your passport processing time.
Swift Journey Visa Ltd recommends using Royal Mail Special Delivery Post or other trackable methods of delivery when submitting your completed application pack. Please send all documents to: Swift Journey Visa Ltd, 128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX.
An Australian ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) is an electronically stored visa issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. It authorises eligible travellers to enter Australia without a physical stamp or label in their passport it is linked digitally to your passport number and verified automatically by airlines and border officials.
Yes, there are two types. The Tourist ETA covers holidays, recreation, and visiting family or friends. It is valid for 12 months for multiple entries of up to 3 months each.
The Business ETA covers conferences, negotiations, and exploratory business visits. It is also valid for 12 months for multiple entries of up to 3 months each.
You must reside outside Australia and hold a passport from an approved country. Approved nationalities include:
Australia introduced an electronic visa system so that travellers no longer need to submit their passports to an embassy. Your ETA is stored digitally and is accessed automatically by airlines at check-in and by border officials on arrival.
No. You can apply for an Australian ETA before booking your flights or arranging your travel.
In most cases, ETA applications are approved instantly. Processing may be delayed if incorrect information is entered, if there is a criminal record flagged, or if the application is referred for manual review. Business Long-Validity ETAs may take up to 2 days.
Swift Journey Visa Ltd submits your ETA application to the Australian Department of Home Affairs on your behalf, removing the need for you to navigate the government portal directly. Visit our Australian ETA section for full details and to begin your application.
If you are not eligible for an ETA for example, if your passport nationality is not on the approved list, or if you are currently residing in Australia you will need to apply for a standard Australian visa. Visit our Visas section to determine the correct visa type for your circumstances.
Yes. Every individual including infants must possess their own valid passport to travel internationally by air. Children cannot travel on a parent's passport.
Yes. Swift Journey Visa Ltd provides child passport services by submitting the required documentation on your child's behalf. Both parents or legal guardians may need to provide consent. Visit our Child Passport section for full details.
Children aged 15 and under qualify for a child passport, which is valid for 5 years. Children aged 16 and over must apply for a standard adult passport valid for 10 years.
Swift Journey Visa Ltd can process a child passport in as little as one business day. Visit our Child Passport section to select the processing timeframe that best suits your travel dates.
Passports issued to children aged 15 and under are valid for 5 years from the date of issue. Passports for individuals aged 16 and over are valid for 10 years.
Yes. Visa requirements apply to all travellers equally, regardless of age. Visit our Visas section for the specific requirements that apply to your child's passport nationality and intended destination.
Yes. Requirements vary depending on the custody arrangement outlined in your legal documentation. Specific paperwork from both parents or legal guardians may be required. Contact our team at info@swiftjourneyvisa.com for guidance on your specific situation.
Additional legal requirements apply to children in the care of foster parents or legal guardians. All children aged 15 and under must have an authorised adult sign their passport application, regardless of circumstances. Contact Swift Journey Visa Ltd at info@swiftjourneyvisa.com for guidance on the specific documentation required in your guardianship situation.
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