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Copy passports for AML - must be black and white?

PeterMPeterM Member
in General
We have just had a provider refuse to accept a certified copy of a client's passport as it was in colour and they will only accept a black and white copy.

Apparently Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (yes she really has a stationary office!) do not want colour copies as these could be mistaken for the actual document.

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/copyright/guidance/gn_20(old%20format).htm

Has anyone else ever heard of this?
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Comments

  • benjaminfabibenjaminfabi Moderator
    I think technically if you certify a colour copy then you're in breach of that guidance and it's unlawful. Probably not much public interest in a prosecution though(!) but a provider is perfectly within their rights not to accept it.

    I haven't photocopied in colour since 2003: I got a kicking at the bank because it stopped my manager at the time hitting our weekly account opening target (we couldn't submit the application).  :'(

    Benjamin Fabi 
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  • Suse1969Suse1969 Member
    We scan in colour and print it black and white. It's a better print, but always submit and certify the b&w version. 
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  • StuartBFMStuartBFM Member
    I thought there was some revised guidance a while back that said it didn't matter anymore.  Can't find a good link though as the internet is full of 'its illegal...' hits. Best I can get is part 3 of this https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/information-management/reproduction-british-passport.pdf
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  • parawhatparawhat Member

    I also came across this (but from even earlier in 2011):

    https://www.icaew.com/archive/members/practice-resources/icaew-practice-support/practicewire/news/photocopying-passports-revised-guidance

    And this is text that Stuart refers to above in section 3.2:

    "• where copies of the bio-data, observations or visa pages are required, copies may be
    taken in either black and white or colour, and may be held electronically or in paper
    format. The person or organisation taking the image must ensure that it complies with the
    Data Protection Act when holding personal information    "

    Jonny (paraflex)
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  • NathNath Member

    Yep we have always been told black and white and we also can't upload colour to back office system as compliance pick us up on it.

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  • parawhatparawhat Member

    @Nath said:
    Yep we have always been told black and white and we also can't upload colour to back office system as compliance pick us up on it.

    Yeah, I think that's probably another one of those throwbacks to bank/network compliance departments and is hard to get people to change their opinion, even given 'evidence' like the above! :( ;)

    It's probably not worth digging your heels in over, but I'm definitely going to refer my guys and anyway who mentions it to those two links.

    Jonny (paraflex)
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