Kito,

If you're self employed that's just the same as being a freelancer with another name, so why not? There is no reason at all why you can't travel the world, supporting yourself as you do by earning money en route as a joiner, just the same as you could by being a brickie or chef or whatever. And moving from job to job ( even if you're not) makes it highly likely that you might well need to apply for visas for one country, while you're still in another, and to comply with local laws, you might well need to have your passport on you at all times - which you can't do if you've sent it off to an Embassy. So become a sole trader, create a letterhead, and apply for a second passport. If you're self employed, you'll have tax records etc anyway, which support your status, so you're part way there. But be warned - make sure your application is as good as it can be (eg spellcheck it, make sure it reads properly, fill in all the bits they ask you to etc)because once you're on the radar, there is no going back, and if they bin you, chances are, you'll stay binned.

I got mine last month

applied as if first passport, ie include birth certificate and signed photo, covering letter stating you are travelling to incompatible countries ie if you have USA stamps then Iran, Syria, Jordon and Iraq

worked for me without any proof of travel

Cheers
Geordie aka Will

umm, I haven't been to USA, might not go to Iran, and not going to Israel. Does anyone else know if incompatible countries?

Thanks

F

I got my second passport

I got finnished up in work the other week ( self employed sub contractor joiner ) so starting to get ready for the next trip now
I made up a letter on word saying that i was going on bussines looking at different types of timber and construction methods and that some of these trips will be at short notice .I also said that i will be going to some incompatible countrys in the future and that I would be applying for a 10 year american visa so i would like a 10 year jumbo passport
I posted off my application form with my passport on the monday ,on wednesday the fee was taken out of my bank and a week later a new passport turned up with my old one . I now have 2 ,10 year jumbo passports in use.
no body ever phoned or emailed me for other details or proof of travel

Likewise, we got ours without any bother. Applied/sent off on 19th Dec, issued on 23rd Dec :thumbup1:

We noted the incompatible countries that we are planning to travel to and gave an indication of when we were setting off and how long we expected to go away for. As we (Iain and I) are travelling together we wanted to make sure that we both got them so we crossed referenced our applications and passport numbers and added that we were travelling by sidecar, just to enforce that we both needed them. Also, sent both applications in the same envelope.

Debz

Good to know Debz, thank you. Will give it a go shortly.

:-)

Worked a treat.
Phoned passport office for advice - they couldn't have been more helpful.
Said all we needed to do was pick up basic passport application form from post office. Fill it in as if you are applying for a first passport. Send existing passport and 2 new pasport photos (one signed by a professional person on the back).
When you've got the forms, if you need more help call passport office and they'll talk you through filling it in.
send a covering letter regarding traveling to incompatible countries like USA / Iran and Israel / Sudan. They dont seem to be interested whether or not you're actually going there.
Also provide a simple letter from an 'employer' stating you are representing him and visiting incompatible countries. Make up a letterhead if you need to.
Finally, if you want it even faster, take it to Post Office for their 'Check & Send' service.
Got our 2nd passports back and our originals within 10 days.
Great stuff.

Here is the howto (optaining a 2nd passport) for german and swiss people:

Trans-Africa: Der ominöse Zweitpass für schweizer und deutsche Bürger..

Just for the case that the community search leads the people here....

Surfy

To continue this thread. I work at sea but do fill in jobs on many different ships. Had to get a new passport for my upcoming trip so wanted to get two in order to get the required visas whilst still at work.

For the first appointment I was given a normal passport but they wouldn't give me a second one as my supporting documents weren't enough (I didn't have an accompanying letter, only proof of the job I do.).

Had another appointment the other day with a letter from an employer, however was turned down as it wasn't an original, only a printed copy. I was also told that it would probably have been refused anyway as I hadn't worked for them for long enough and there were not enough countries listed on there (I only listed 2) that would cause problems. I was told though that being self employed either a letter on your own letter headed paper, or a letter on my accountants letter headed paper would work instead of an employer, as would a client of mine as well. I should have in addition to this listed 4-5 countries that cause problems in order to get the second passport.

I explained that it was for personal travel as my main passport is being held by the ships that I work on when on board and was told that the second passport can only be issued for business use.

Next appointment is in a week so we shall see how that goes. Will update with more information then.

My experience July 2018
 

I have just received my 2nd passport. This was the procedure I employed.

I read this thread and others multiple times.

I filled out the application form as if for a new passport (available from the post office) & enclosed photos and my original passport. £95 for a jumbo (extra pages) +£5 for secure return of supporting docs ( my original passport).

For supporting documents, I wrote a letter from my employee (self employed) to say that I had been given leave to travel in 2019 for my trip London-China. I mentioned that I will be travelling through incompatable countries (Iran,USA, Israel). I also have family in the US and the authorities can be intolerant to Iranian stamps in your passport. I also explained that whilst this was an essentially a tourist trip I would be representing my company should any business opportunities arise. I also included my proposed itinerary detailing the months and destinations where I will be riding. All truthful & no BS.

I received my 2nd passport after 2/3weeks. Hope that helps