IMPORTANT - PASSPORT RENEWALS - ALL BRITISH NATIONALS IN EGYPT (AND ANYWHERE ELSE!)

22/2/2010: STOP PRESS: THE BRITISH EMBASSY WEBSITE HAS NOW BEEN UPDATED:

UPDATED BRITISH EMBASSY WEBSITE

 And I quote:

"The Cost

If you apply for a British passport overseas you can expect to pay:

·          For your passport (the fee is the same worldwide).

·          The cost of sending your application to us (as you would in the UK)

·          For the secure return of your passport and documents.

In the next 6 weeks we will publish instructions on how to submit your application and advice on using local courier services."

This seems to confirm that the INDIVIDUAL will be responsible for dealing with the postal side of things.

I have just been informed tonight (and have been sent a copy of a letter from the British Embassy in Cairo to prove it!) that from 15th APRIL 2010 it will NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE TO RENEW YOUR (FULL VALIDITY) PASSPORT AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY HERE.

AT THE TIME OF WRITING, THIS DOES NOT YET APPEAR ON THE EMBASSY WEBSITE


Update from a source:


"Applications direct to Paris and returned to your overseas address via courier (to be paid for by you of course) if you don't trust the post. Embassy only to get involved in emergencies. This will make it really secure........ go figure.......This was from embassy employee last night."

The sooner this is clarified by the Embassy on their Website the better!


Passport renewals are being consolidated in several countries and apparently ours is to be in Paris.

You can still get it by post but (a) consider how utterly inefficient the postal service here is and (b) how impossibly fussy the new regulations for passports regarding photographs are, this is actually going to be pretty well impossible.
 

Here are print-screens of the letter.

I have also uploaded the print screens here:
British Embassy passport letter page 1 of 2
British Embassy passport letter page 2 of 2


British Embassy in Cairo Website (Not showing changes as of date of post).

.

Purchase of Property in Egypt - British Embassy Advice

BRITISH EMBASSY ADVICE ON BUYING PROPERTY IN EGYPT:

Advice

Purchase of Property

British nationals have purchased land and property in many parts of Egypt. Some have encountered problems. If you intend to purchase land or a property in Egypt we strongly advise you to engage a local lawyer in whom you have confidence. A list of English speaking lawyers is available on this website. You should deal only with established and reputable lawyers and estate agents or with other contacts whom they know to be reliable and genuine, and you should make all payments within bank premises and/or through banking channels and not in cash.

In parts of Egypt and increasingly, in the area of the West Bank in Luxor your land or property tenure rights can be severely curtailed by local legislation. It is important that your lawyer obtains an extract from the local land registry to satisfy you that the property or land in question is formally registered. You should again seek legal advice before entering into any contract. Don't sign anything that you do not understand. A list of translators is available on the British Embassy, Cairo website (see above). You should ensure that your personal details and the full purchase price of the property are reflected on the deeds.

The British Embassy is unable to interfere with court or legal proceedings. Neither can it lobby, intervene or provide updates to British nationals involved in land or property disputes.

End of Advice.

My comment:

And for those of you buying property with your Egyptian 'loved one' DO NOT PUT IT IN HIS NAME - it is not required and you will have NO claim on it if things go pear-shaped.

And that goes for bank accounts too.

You are legally allowed to hold property and bank accounts in your own name, even as a foreigner, and no, it's NOT HARD to do and it IS worth the 'fuss'.