- I was lucky enough to have my friend's mum travelling home from UK so I gave her all my docs, - the app form and certified copies of my ID, old passport, affidavit allowing my relative to process my app & collect passport & the last document was a UK visa. This helped me save on DHL costs.
- So my friend's mummy, let's call her MaiS, graciously delivered the package to my cousin Mr N, who does not have the same surname as myself, Miss C, as I am a Bulawayo girl & most of my paternal relations reside in Blues & work Mon-Fri, anyway the plan was for my cousin Mr N to get an affidavit from a relation of mine a former Miss C who had recently married. Let me tell you now & save you the hassle, it won't work for someone who does not have your same surname to do your passport app - it can also work if they have your mother's maiden surname. Unless under special mitigating circumstances but I'm unable to advise on how that's done...as I said before I am just sharing my own experience.
- Anyway, luckily cousin Mr N knew of a cousin of mine Mr C, same surname who was now working in Harare (can I get a Hallelujah!) so that solved the 1 problem.
- The fee for a 24 hour app is USD318. I sent USD300 so I think Mr N and Mr C went for the non-24 hour option so my passport took 6 working days to be completed processing.
- USD253 for 7 days & if you are DHL-ing back to the UK it costs USD40 as at September 2012.
- Next, another favour I needed, I don't live in London so I asked my friend S to take my old passport to the Zim embassy & get a cancellation, this she said took all of 10 minutes @ Zimbabwe House in London & she was able to get to work on time, so this may work for you too especially if you work in Central London, you can save yourself your leave days.
- I scanned & emailed the copies of my passport cancellation page & the letter from Zimbabwe House, to cousins Mr N and Mr C and they took the scanned copies to the passport office to collect my new passport.
- The turnover of the passport forms arriving in Zim & getting the passport is fairly quick, to be prudent I would say less than 2 weeks.
- Bare in mind, the people in Zim doing your passport for you will have to take time off work, possibly the whole day to spend in queues.
- I was fortunate enough to have a friend returning to UK from Zim around the time my passport was out, so he brought it back for me, saving another DHL cost.
- This passport stuff has left me owing many people many favours, but I am so grateful for all the help & support I was given. No one was obliged to help, but fortunately they did help me & saved me money (DHL costs), took their time (queueing! every Zimbabwean knows how painful Zim queues can be) & just the added inconvenience helping me out (when my passport got to UK - a passport relay ensued before I actually got my hands on my passport, so and so went to this tube station to get the passport from someone who got it from birmingham, big sigh!)
- All I can say now is Woooosaaa & Thank God for great family & friends & Good Luck with your Zim passport renewal, to be prudent put aside GBP400 for the entire process.
Peace.Love.&.Happiness
Thanks for the fantastic articles... live in London and have been looking for definitive info on how to get the "Green Mamba" renewed. Looks like it will have to be DIY... ridiculous in the 21st century but hey, wouldn't have expected otherwise!
ReplyDeleteThanks again.
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteReally great info you've posted. Quick question though; regarding the cancellation of the old passport, presumably, this is done once the application is with the passport office in Zim? Also, the scanned confirmation of the cancelled passport HAS to be presented upon collection of the new passport. Is that correct?
Thanks for your help!
you are welcome! Yes that's exactly correct, good luck !!
Deleteonly cancel your existing passport once you get confirmation that your new passport is ready for collection
Deletehi there,
Deleteim a little confused could you please explain. the old passport needs to go and shown in zim or not?
No, a photocopy of the Cancelled passport page needs to go to be shown in Zim
DeleteHey! Do you know like through the grapevine whether or not the 24hr passport Actually takes 24hrs? I need my passport back like asap and want to know if its worth paying the 24hr fee.
ReplyDeletei think 24 hours is indeed 24 hours, I cant confirm it but I know my cousin gave me the 24 hour option, please feedback your experience so I can update the blog if you decide to take the option. Thanks!
DeleteThanks alot for the info. My process starts soon as soon as i download the form from the registrar generals website. How about getting your visa onto your new passport. How long has that taken?
ReplyDeleteit was instant...because my visa is an ID card, if your visa is a sticker you will have to move around with 2 passports.
DeleteUNLIKE you I don't no anybody who is going to zim so I want to send by post to my brother who lives in Harare.
ReplyDeleteWhat's your opinion about and any recommendation cause 24months for a passport is ridiculous
I think it is best that you send to your brother, use DHL, it's the best way...because 24 months is not the greatest option! Just make sure your brother is aware about having to queue etc...and knows what he is getting himself into
DeleteDo you know if the embassy offers any fast track options
ReplyDeleteNo they do not, the fast track option is taking the app form and doing it yourself by sending it home, otherwise 24 months it is...
DeleteLady Genuis,please keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI would like to go back to Zim permanently as Home office has had my passport since 2010. However how can i do this since i dont have a passport. Is it possible if i can apply for an ETD, since i cant apply for a new passport.
I would appreciate your advise and any one else.
hi, I am not too sure about that one...have you tried to ask the HO to return your passport to you?
DeleteHie do you have to fax the whole passport pages or just the page which shows "cancelled" .
ReplyDeleteJust the cancelled page & the details page.
DeleteHi Lady Genius. Thanks for all the info. My passport expired in 2011 so I have my fingers crossed, I am going to the embassy tomorrow. Did you say the copies have to be certified??
ReplyDeleteGood luck xx Yes the copies should be certified
Deletehi fortunate my passport also expired in 2012 and i am about to start the renewal process. Could you please let me know if you managed to get yours done and any obstacles you faced along the way. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated
DeleteHie thanx for the advice. I recently applied for my passport sent it home, my brother submitted it in Harare yesterday and he was told to bring my old passport for collection. I thought it was supposed to be the cancelled pages only.Is this a new change?
ReplyDeleteI don't know! Did your bro ask about it being cancelled pages?
DeleteEesh... Just went to Zimbabwe House today, my Zim passport expired 2011, I wanted to get a TTD (Temporary Travel Document) as I need to go Zim to visit my father ASAP in April. Zim Embassy Website completely out of date saying £80, I got to Strand Officials told me you MUST apply for TTD (£80) in conjunction with Passport renewal (£65), total £145!! I did my photos at a photobooth (£10), went twice coz 1st time Official said tie back hair so I went & redid my pics, he then said Oh these were done in a photobooth can't accept go to professional photographer (opposite Charing Cross Underground stn (£8). Then given 2 forms to fill and told need 2 copies of each required doc. By time I did all this, went to counter with £80 then this is when I was told its £80+65 told its 12:30 now, we closing now, so wasted day.
ReplyDeleteShaaa, I am so sorry! That sounds terrible, thank you for sharing (under such unfortunate circumstances) but it may be useful to someone else in your shoes, sorry hako, so even though you just want an ETD they want you to go through a full passport app as well?
DeleteMy mate just got the visa on biometric ID card but passport expired 2010 while lost at the HOffice.... So can she apply without the old style passport and how would they cancel yo old passport coz she doesn't evn hve the number. Is it possible to just use the Zim ID and birth certificate??
ReplyDeleteI think so, there are different procedures to follow for lost passports...but I am not experienced to advise, but I think I do remember seeing instructions regarding the matter of lost passports when I was going through the process ...sorry I couldn't be of much help - good luck to your mate!
Deleteit is ridiculous that Zimbabweans cannot renew passports at Zimbabwe embassies.wHY DO WE HAVE TO PAY here in London £65-140 and another USD200-320 IN Zimbabwe?
ReplyDeleteHopefully this is something they will look into because the process is quite frustrating and most countries seem to issue passports at their embassies
DeleteHi my lady,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned sending the UK visa to Zim with your application - does this need to be the original document or biometric?
Am petrified at the thought of my original visa copy being lost considering how long I had to wait to get it processed here.
Please do advise.
Hi you send a photocopy of your biometric document - certified - they can certify for you at the embassy
Deletethanks for the quick reply. blessings.
DeleteBtw do the Zimbabwean embassy take debit or credit card payments or is it just cash?
ReplyDeleteCash only!!! So be sure to have enough on you :-)
Deletethanks for the reply. your original post said something about proof of citizenship - does this apply to everyone even people born in Zim?
Deleteproof of uk residence, like your uk visa, so just a copy of that... your birth certificate/national ID is all the zim proof of citizenship you should need!
DeleteHi. You are very help in so many ways. In your article you mentioned something about affidavit does the embassy need to see that and certify it aswell of it is just a normal letter authorising a nominee?
ReplyDeleteEmbassy doesn't need to see the affidavit & it doesn't need to be certified
DeleteDoes the affidavit need to be certified by the embassy aswell or it can be a normal signed letter authorising nominee
ReplyDeleteNo need for certification of affidavit, it can just be signed letter
DeleteHie thanx very much for your advice I received my new passport from Zim today .....do I need to take it to the embassy for aunthentification or its fine to use it like that.
ReplyDeleteYou are good to go!
DeleteHi Gal, your blog is fab and thank u so much. I got my biometric a few months ago and been chasing my passport at the HO passport bank who told me they don't have it anymore since Aug last year. It expired a while back whilst there. Can I go to the embassy with just the biocard birth chitupa and the rest and will they process? How will my relation then be able to collect without the cancellation pages to scan. Ta
ReplyDeletehey, sorry for the late response, your situ is a bit tricky! I do not know how best to advise you :( maybe you can apply under lost/stolen passport but you will have to pay a fine
Deletea star is what you are
ReplyDeleteawww you are welcome!
Deletehi thanks for the good advice- just wanted to ask something . i have a refugee status that is the 5yr limited stay in uk- is it still possible for me to appy for a zim passport. i have the id and birth certificate from home.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about that, but I doubt it, maybe when you have ILR - indefinite leave to remain?
DeleteSando dzako Lady Genius, ugare kure nemoto!
ReplyDeleteHiya will they take my application if i only have birthcertificate, copies of my visa and no id card?
ReplyDeletethey want to see an ID card
DeleteHey thanks for yo blog will my apolication be processed without an id card? I have my long birth certificate
ReplyDeleteI went back to Zim a year before my passport expired to get my ID card because they stress the need for an ID card
DeleteWill they process if i dont have id card?
ReplyDeleteCan you get it done without id card?
ReplyDeleteI highly doubt it, but if you try and they accept please let me know so I can update my info accordingly for the next person who may have the same query ...
Deletehey Miss C!! my visa & my passport have expired. can i still renew my passport? i'm looking to go home so i'm not renewing my visa
ReplyDeleteI don't know about that... sorry I couldn't be more helpful
Deleteno worries. went down a few days ago & there weren't any issues. to echo the recurring rhetoric, awesome article. stay blessed.
DeleteWonderful, safe travels & happy the article helped you, stay Blessed.
DeleteHi I just need to renew my passport its expired I do not have anyone back home with same name to do this for me so it would be a case of letting the embassy do it for me. If I go to the Embassy and they do everything how much will I have to pay and do I have to leave any of my original documants with them. Would really appreciate your help with this urgently.
ReplyDeleteThese costs are as at 2012 - don't know what they are currently, it takes up to 24 months if done by embassy. Not sure about whether you have to leave your docs - they may just want certified copies. Good luck!
DeleteHello Lady Genius: I am in the same situation as you, could you send us a template for the following "affidavit allowing my relative to process my app & collect passport". Thanks and have a "Merry Xmas!"
ReplyDeleteHi...you can email me ladyg3nius@gmail.com and I can send you a template but I am sure any wording will do
DeleteJust only yesterday I was searching for the embassy website then I came across your blog. I copied and printed all your advice and my husband went to the embassy today to get his passport renewed..not even a single glitch, all was done in less than an hour and a half hours. Your help has been invaluable..God give us more people like you in society.Hugs and blessings xxxx
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! Very happy that the blog is useful!
Deletehie. do i need to send my old passport to zimbabwe along with my application forms?
ReplyDeletecan i just send the application and get it cancelled here once i get word that the new one is out?
do i need to send my current passport to zim along with my application?
ReplyDeletei understand i have to get it cancelled here in london once i get word that the new one is out
Lady G can I get all the paper work from here and then go and process the passport by myself in Zim... Or could I just go to Zim do it from there? If I get the new passport do I have to inform the HO of my New passport as I am on Biometric?
ReplyDeleteLady G i need to apply for a new passport as mine expires in 6 months. I understand I need a Zim ID but i only have my current passport and a certified copy of my birth certificate and no ID as i have been away from Zim for a long time. where is the zim embassy in Joburg as that is where i am?
ReplyDeleteIf renewing kids passports, do they need to see them/ fingerprints etc or l can go alone as the parent with all docs?
ReplyDeleteThanks
I think so, if they are their own passports they definitely will need to be there to get their fingerprints done
DeleteAnonymous 6 &17 November 2013, did you finally get your passport from zim... My sister is in a similar predicament...
ReplyDeleteto Lagy G, great job....
I have a southern rhodesia birth certificate and my fathers southern rhodesia citizenship letter can I get a zimbabwian passport
ReplyDeleteNo idea! Maybe someone else will respond
DeleteDo you have to have a relative to collect yourpassport in zimbabwe or can you ask a friend with an affidavit to collect passport for you?
ReplyDeleteMany thanks
You need a relative
DeleteIf the relative does not have the same name does the affidavit just need to name the person collecting the passport?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much this is helpful information
ReplyDeleteHi Lady G, I echo the thanks of others, it's amazing that you're willing to share your knowledge and help others like you do. God bless you
ReplyDeleteHi Lady G, thanks for the job well done on behalf of others, l want to ask for my sister she has her passport and the visa in her passport has expired however she applied for indefinite leve to remain which she was granted but not in her passport but a home office document, her passport hasnt expired , so can travel using this passport or need to apply for another one to transfer her visa, she needs to travel ASAP as her daughter is not well home, please advice or anyone.
ReplyDeletethanks.
Hi,i'd like to know if i travelled by british passport before to zim.I still have my zim passport but expired 2012.Is it possible to renew my zim passport without any husle sbout why i got british passport even if i don't tell them.Can they find out i'v travelled with one before?
ReplyDeleteThey will ask if you have any other passports
DeleteI don't have the original birth certificate,but have a copy and metal id.will they accept these.
ReplyDeleteI am so disappointed, I went to the embassy in canada and I gave them my PR card my old passport for renewal and everything was fine. I sent my family member to Harare to get me a passport but the officers accused me of having another passport from Canada because I was "too late" applying for a passport. How do we not apply for other citizenship if our own country treats us like that! With all the money I have spent just trying to get this application processed as I don't live anywhere close to the embassy but in another province, I am so dissatisfied with tis office! Why bother with a Zimbabwean passport that needs visas just for you to blink!
ReplyDeletethat sucks! I am so sorry about that, too late? how do you even prove you have no other citizenship though?
DeleteSo sorry for your troubles. Its silly by the Zim authorities to do that seeing as new constitutions does not prohibit dual citizenship.
DeleteIn UK you can get proof that you are not a UK citizen from the Home Office - for a fee. Check the HO equivalent in Canada.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have a sample letter of submission? I am wondering what kind of detail I need to include.
ReplyDeleteGood blog. The information here is largely still relevant apart from a few changes at the embassy. Like fees and the like. I was at the embassy last friday and the blog made the process smooth right down to the photo booth by Charing cross station (underground). Thank you for posting.
ReplyDeleteHi, please let me know the new prices so I can update...Thank you, happy it was helpful to you :)
DeleteHi l paid £65 today to renew my passport.. hope that helps :-)
DeleteSandra
Hi there, very useful information considering Zim embassy website is really dull and useless! Did you ever get info on how mandatory the ID is when renewing a passport? I used to have a metal ID which I lost many years ago and I believe now they issue a plastic version with finger prints. Of course my current expired passport is the old style (with no fingerprints) and with that said I am unable to obtain an ID. I have everything else to hand, i.e. BC, old passport but no ID.... does that mean I can never renew my passport? I considered obtaining an emergency travel document so I do it all in Zim, but I'm hearing an ID is still required for this.... Any info would greatly help!
ReplyDeleteJayne
Not sure Jayne, hopefully someone will see this and shed some light... you may want to consider trawling through the comments on both pots, sorry I cannot be of more help! You could go back to Zim on an ETD to get the ID, maybe they make considerations for you to get an ETD without an ID?
DeleteGood luck!
Does anyone have any idea what the difference is between an Executive Passport and an Urgent Passport beside the obvious difference in waiting times of 1 day to 3 days? Does the Executive Passport have more pages or something? or is it valid longer?
ReplyDeleteI don't know... Sorry!
DeleteThanks Lady Genius...this us very helpful and you've invested your time wisely for the benefit of your fellow countrymen and women!
ReplyDeleteIs passport fee still 80 pounds if you do not have the old one with you
ReplyDelete