Feedback, experiences, timelines, tips and useful information from people that have recently been through the UK passport application process.
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1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport With Interview
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-07-15
Date Received:
2022-10-07
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
I submitted my application on 15/07/22, my documents were received on 25/07/22. I received a letter in 10/09/22 to book my appointment with the 1st available appointment being 05/10/22. Within 48 hours of having the appointment I received my passport. Absolutely ridiculous that my application took 12 weeks to process, I made several complaints once it was the 8 week stage to which I was told as it is a 1st passport there is nothing they can do to speed it up. My application was dealt with by Peterborough however looking at the forum other passport offices were processing quicker. Absolutely shocking service
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-09-22
Date Received:
2022-10-07
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-07-15
Date Received:
2022-10-07
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-09-24
Date Received:
2022-10-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I used the digital process and had the photo checked before applying. Once I’d sent my old passport back there were clear updates at every stage and I received my new passport within a week.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-09-16
Date Received:
2022-10-06
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Adult renewal completed fully online with digital photo. Old passport send Recorded 1st class and receipt in Bootle acknowledged after posting 3 days later. Very simple after all the horror stories..
Delivered 2:50pm on 6 October 2022
Passport printed 3:46am on 5 October 2022
Application approved 11:32am on 4 October 2022
Documents received 3:41pm on 21 September 2022
Application received 2:03pm on 16 September 2022
Application submitted 2:02pm on 16 September 2022
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-10-03
Date Received:
2022-10-07
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent service. The media are full of crap about delays. Within 4 working days for to door.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-09-17
Date Received:
2022-10-07
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very happy with this as it involved a name change (marriage) and it was over the time of the Queen’s funeral so there was some delay in receiving the documents (physically received on 22nd September)
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-09-20
Date Received:
2022-10-07
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy. I did go to the Post Office and pay for the check and send service. I received confirmation from the Passport office by text and email whilst still in the Post Office that they had received my application. My old passport was sent away by special delivery as part of the service and two days later I received confirmation that this had been received. From the receipt of my old passport it took a further 15 days until I received my new passport. They informed me at each step, approval, printing, despatch and finally a text message from TNT informing me of the date of delivery.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-09-19
Date Received:
2022-10-08
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Applied online on 19 sep. posted my old passport on 21 sep. received a text that old passport received. On the 6th oct I received a text message that passport was printed. I then used the link for tnt that someone shared on Twitter . As advised I used my Pex number and postcode to track my passport. A message came up that it would be delivered on 7 oct . At this point I hadn’t received any text from TNT or passport office to confirm delivery despite the confirmation I got from the link. My husband spend all day at home yesterday waiting for the delivery. At around 2pm yesterday I got a text that the driver had failed to deliver because I have no letter box on the door and the text contained a photo of a door that definitely was not mine. I instantly realised that the driver attempted to deliver to the wrong address so I called TNT to report this. It was not easy trying to speak to a human . I think I was lucky that there was no one in at the wrong address as they may have signed for my passport and that would have been the end of that , as the passport is likely to have vanished. TNT said I could book redelivery for Monday and she offered to put my mobile phone on the system so that the driver calls me so that I could direct him to the right property. I felt that this was too risky so asked if I could pick it up myself from the depot. She told me this was possible and that she would send me An email with the address and details. They needed photo ID and utility bill within 3 months . On arrival at TNT Exeter I had to show them the email or text from passport office and my ID. I must admit that I remained anxious until I physically had the passport in my hands . When I did finally receive it I felt so relieved Overall the process took about 3 weeks which is acceptable but I do think that if I did not intervene by asking to go to the depot this could have gone horribly wrong. My advice is track delivery religiously and if it they failed to deliver DO NOT take the chance of redelivery as it’s too risky . Good luck .
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-06-28
Date Received:
2022-10-07
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-06-28
Date Received:
2022-10-07
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Emailed Durham upgrade service after waiting 13 weeks. No response but application was approved 1 week later.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-27
Date Received:
2022-10-06
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-14
Date Received:
2022-08-22
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-09-06
Date Received:
2022-09-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-04-24
Date Received:
2022-05-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied online with a photo I took myself on an iPhone, the photo was pre-approved by the Gov website, sent the old passport by registered next day delivery and was lucky the whole process was dealt with amazingly quickly, just under 3 weeks from start to finish. The passport was processed at the Peterborough Office.
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Submission Date:
2022-05-17
Date Received:
2022-05-21
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Excellent experience in difficult times.
I decided to go straight for fast track despite having 8 weeks until our holiday for my baby’s first passport. This was the best decision I made.
3 week wait for appointment.
Appointment Tuesday 17th May 2pm.
Passport through door Sat 21st May 1pm.
Experience at the passport office was excellent. Very efficient, polite happy staff.
I honestly cannot fault the fast track service. Completely worth the money to save my stress levels.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
First UK Passport (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-08-16
Date Received:
2022-10-07
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
No visibility on how long it will actually take is frustrating.
The process was stuck on “Documents received” for the entire time until it was printed and sent.
Once it got approved the passport got printed over night and sent the next day, it arrived in Ireland the day after so that was nice and quick.
Type of Application:
First UK Passport (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-20
Date Received:
2022-10-07
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
11 weeks and 2 days in total. Applied from HMPO Bangkok. I was told people applied a month earlier (June) still havn’t got theirs. Now my children can go back to school!
Type of Application:
First UK Passport (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2022-05-18
Date Received:
2022-10-08
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Took really long. Then on 6/10 it was approved, printed by 7/10, and is now in transit to South Africa, arriving 12/10 according to DHL. All in all 16 weeks for approval- 112 days.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-21
Date Received:
2022-09-30
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
They decided to send a text and email a day after I got my passport telling me to sign in BLACK BALLPEN only. Whereas the first page of pamphlet just say please sign it immediately.