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:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-27
Date Received:
2022-09-14
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
In the end got my passport under 10 weeks, but communication with the passport advice line was not helpful.
It seems you are just talking to a middle-man, which cannot do much besides giving advice. I was also advised different things at different times.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-16
Date Received:
2022-09-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-09-06
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-29
Date Received:
2022-09-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Remarkably fast and efficient. It was actually less than two weeks from the time I posted my old passport to receiving the new one.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-09-07
Date Received:
2022-09-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Thought the process was very efficient as applied online and sent my old passport back the same day. Didn’t receive confirmation of old passport being received but got notification of approval after 6 days and new passport back on the 7th day.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-09-01
Date Received:
2022-09-14
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Glasgow
Submission Date:
2022-09-01
Date Received:
2022-09-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent, needed to resubmit photo as the one I took myself had a shadow which caused a three day delay. The new photo was approved within an hour of me uploading the digital code, and printed a few hours later.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-06-05
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
It should have been a simple passport renewal from overseas. I have send it in within a week from renewal application, but then heard nothing from them whatsoever.
Suddenly it turned to approved status and passport was printed swiftly. Both new and old passports were received on the same day.
The old passport included valid overseas visa (cover letter included), which was correctly handled.
I did get a bit distressed by HMPO generally slow processing – you will get a new passport in the end, just don’t know when (it was quoted 11 weeks at application, but it took slightly longer than that).
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-08-21
Date Received:
2022-09-13
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
August 21: Application submitted.
August 24: Courier reported that old passport & document were delivered to Durham Passport Office.
August 26: Passport service acknowledged that documents were received.
September 7: Passport service reported that my application was approved.
September 8: Passport service reported that new passport was printed.
September 12: Courier attempted delivery of passport to my address, but I was not there to sign for it.
September 13: New passport successfully delivered to my address.