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
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-07-07
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-24
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I’m very impressed with the passport application process. I love that you get updates at each stage as the application winds through HMPO. If only it were this transparent in the United States! Applied: 2022-08-24, Received: 2022-09-13.
Passport printed 5:33am on 10 September 2022
Application approved 11:31am on 9 September 2022
Documents received 11:36am on 31 August 2022
Application received 6:36pm on 24 August 2022
Identity details received 6:36pm on 24 August 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 5:19pm on 24 August 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 5:16pm on 24 August 2022
Application submitted 5:16pm on 24 August 2022
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-31
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 13 September 2022
Application approved 12 September 2022
Documents received. 5 September 2022
Application received 31 August 2022
Application submitted on 31 August 2022
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-28
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
I had applied for a new passport due to a name change after marriage. I just had to fill in the online form and send my old passport and marriage certificate in the post. It took less than a month to receive my new one
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-06-10
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Took 8 weeks for formal acknowledgement that my old passport had been received (signed for by HMPO Peterborough the day after my application was submitted) so the email after 6 weeks that said they would withdraw my application if I didn’t sent my old passport to them wasn’t a good start. I rang the 0300 2220000 number after 10 weeks to enquire why the online tracker said I couldn’t speed up my application as they hadn’t had my old passport for 10 weeks! That generated further concern as I was told that an examiner had updated my notes saying they didn’t have my old passport. Emails and phone calls gave conflicting information, didn’t appear to achieve anything and made the experience far more stressful than it ever should have been. Absolutely shocking customer service. Overall, nearly 14 weeks from start to finish.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-09-05
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Absolutely simple process, I recommend you get a professional photo taken and checked for peace of mind as this should only cost around £10.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-19
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Despite advising the office of travel plans for July they ignored our request. Taken 21 weeks to receive the passport and the loss of funds due to cancelling out holiday!!!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-28
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I submitted my application online on the Sunday. The following day was a bank holiday so I couldn’t take my documents to be posted until the Tuesday and then there was the postal strike so my old passport arrived on the 5th September. I was notified on the 9th it had been approved and was being printed.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-29
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Fantastic from start to finish, easy online process, new passport received within 7 days of them receiving my old one.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-08-30
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy. Only 11 calendar days from my old passport being received to the new one arriving.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-26
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application received 12:22am on 26 August 2022
Documents received 2:23pm on 1 September 2022
Application approved 10:54am on 9 September 2022
Passport printed 3:14am on 10 September 2022
Passport arrived today( 13/09)
18 days in total from Application received to Passport received, could have been around 11,12 days without the bank holiday & royal mail strike.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2022-08-28
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Gave feedback on online application after it was stuck on documents received for over 7 days, passport was approved later that day and posted 2 working days later.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-07-13
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Applied for first child passport on the 10th of July using paper form and check service at the PO. Got text of documents received on the 13th of July.
Unfortunately we lost the tracking number so after about 1 month we tried to contact the customer service. Just after 3 chats with different people, the fourth one seemed to be nice and tried to help us. But she said she couldn’t find anything in the system so this means it is not processed as yet, to try to call back in 1 week time. After more then 1 week we called again and a kind man managed to give us a tracking number. Last time we Checked the tracking was on the 3rd of September and it said it was waiting for checking . My flight was on 20th of September but we were worry so we paid extra to change date in October.
Received text from HMPO on Monday 12th at 8.30 says the passport was ready and scheduled to be delivered and today, 13th of September I got my daughter ‘s passport in my hands. Now just need to wait for my passport that I sent with my child’s application as requested.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-08-26
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Due to postal strike my document weren’t received until 2nd September, approved 12th and passport received 13th. Excellent!
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-26
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Easy to apply online and have digital photo added. Arrived much quicker than expected.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Submission Date:
2022-04-15
Date Received:
Not Received.
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
I have applied and sent in my application on 4/15 it was received and i received a text saying i need to send in my old passport. That arrived in UK from USA on MAY 4th…I still as of 5/20 HAD NO UPDATE I leave mid July for international travel with my entire family who are US citizens and have passports. What must or can I do? Also has anyone been able to expedite overnight mail at least?