Anyone have recent experience of getting a second UK Passport from overseas

[fatowl]

We live in SEAsia

DH travels an awful lot, and has just told me his three year old 48- page passport has two clean pages left.

Anyone know what the turn around is like at the moment, so we can find a window to send it off?
We used to send to Hong Kong, but apparently it is now quicker to send straight to the UK?

If it is still taking 4-5 weeks we are going to struggle to find a window that long he can be without a passport.
Someone mentioned they know someone who has two UK passports (ie not a dual national), purely for this reason - ie lots of travel and to places that require the passport to be at various embassies for two weeks at a time while they issue a visa.
I have looked, but can't see an answer on the .gov websites, and the only travel forum posts I can find on the subject go back to 2010.
Anyone with recent experience?

[Terrortree]

Yes, you can get a second passport for a legitimate reason - which you have. I don't know if the rules have changed lately but I got my second passport renewed in 2011 no problem. My DH got his second passport within a week when we used the fasttrack system in the UK.

It used to be your local embassy that did it but now they have 'centralised' and so you may well be better getting it done in the UK. IIRC, I used the same passport renewal application and just ticked the box for the second passport.

[Hairylegs47]

You might need a letter from his employer detailing why he needs the second passport. My DH had to fly back to the UK to get a new passport, he flew in on the Wed, appointment Thurs am, passports in his hand Thurs pm, back on the plane Thurs night.

[fatowl]

Thats what he did last time Hairy, just about, but he managed about four days so he could go and see his mum, but it was tight!