Stephen Chapman | UK Rep to ICAO ICBWG
HM Passport Office

Stephen Chapman has been the main point of contact between His Majesty’s Passport (HMPO) and other travel document issuing authorities and international organisations since 2007 to ensure that British passport holders may, as far as possible, “pass freely without let or hindrance”.  This role includes sharing and obtaining information on travel document policies and procedures, the exchange of specimen passports and passport-chip certificates, and horizon scanning for new threats and opportunities.  He works closely with the diplomatic community in London as well as bilaterally with capitals and represents HMPO at the ICAO Implementation & Capacity Building Working Group. In the past he has attended the New Technologies Working Group and several EU working groups, and works with Home Office border policy colleagues on document acceptance and the reviewing of visa requirements.  Having worked in several government departments over the last 40 years Stephen is fortunate to have had a varied and interesting career and is looking forward to having a similarly interesting retirement starting in less than 2 years’ time (and counting).  He lives in a typical English village north east of London with his partner, 2 daughters and what seems at times to be a medium-sized zoo of pets.  Feel free to ask Stephen anything about British passports and how they are issued but be aware that in return he will seek to “steal with pride” any good ideas and practices that your own country has, for the benefit of HMPO and their customers.