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:
Belfast
Submission Date:
2023-01-01
Date Received:
2023-01-25
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-01-15
Date Received:
2023-01-30
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-17
Date Received:
2023-01-30
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Submitted – 17th January
Documents sent – 18th January
Documents marked as received – 20th January
Passport application approved – 26th January
Passport received – 30th January
I am however still awaiting my sons child renewal – they have requested my marriage certificate (this was originally sent with both of our old passports) but they haven’t linked the applications even though the correct process was followed to do this. The advice line are very unhelpful and looks like I’ll now have to send the marriage certificate back again (once I have received it!)
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-19
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
TNT courier claimed I was not home for delivery the first day (he apparently had difficulty understnaing the ringing of bells in apartment blocks).
I am still awaiting the return of my passport from my other country of citizenship, which HM Passport Office cruelly requires one to submit with the UK passport renewal.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-12
Date Received:
2023-01-30
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-27
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-01-15
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I used the online portal, including uploading profile images taken by me.
Other than a few issues with uploading my own profile picture (my bad images rather than the system) the process worked perfectly.
I particularly like how it would rate the image based on the chances of it getting approved the first time. This was a real plus on the digital site.
A painless process and I was well informed throughout the process.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-01-17
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Oddly, on the day the new passport arrived the website was still saying that ‘Your new passport will be transferred to our delivery supplier in the next few days. When it’s ready for delivery, they will contact you with a tracking reference.’
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-01-25
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Used online with digital photograph: no problems.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-01-17
Date Received:
2023-01-30
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-23
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very impressed with the service. Passport office only received my old passport on 26 January so less than a week to receive my new one
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-19
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Royal Mail for my old passport took 4-5 days for delivery first class signed
Some problems with TNT delivery as shared letterbox which added an extra 5 days.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-23
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very impressed. Passport office didn’t receive my old passport until 26 January so under a week to process and receive passport.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-01-16
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
0023-01-18
Date Received:
2023-01-30
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Apply passport renewal application form on 18/01/2023 (sent the same day)
Passport office received on 20/01/2023
Passport received on 30/01/2023 at 10.20 am
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-01-18
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
18/01/2023 Passport renewal application form submitted online (sent the same day)
19/01/2023 Old Passport received , but not opened yet.
23/01/2023 Old Passport received and opened
27/01/2023 New Passport application approved
28/01/2023 New Passport printed
31/01/2023 New Passport received
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-16
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
easy quick – no problems at all – 15 days and I was not able to send old passport immediately.
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-21
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-14
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-01-09
Date Received:
2023-01-30
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
As a Father I applied for my daughter’s passport renewal. There was a slight delay as after submitting the old passport I had to send proof that I had parental responsibility for my child. (This does not apply to Mother’s who automatically have parental responsibility apparently). In future my wife will apply as the process is easier and quicker for Mother’s. (Seems rather sexist but I understand the reasons why).
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-16
Date Received:
2023-01-31
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Not a bad experience – took a bit longer than the average quoted here but nonetheless pretty fast turnaround. Relevant dates below:
Received – 31 January 2023
Passport printed 1:02am on 28 January 2023
Application approved 9:46am on 27 January 2023
Documents received 10:19am on 22 January 2023
Application received 6:38pm on 17 January 2023
Identity details received 6:38pm on 17 January 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 11:29pm on 16 January 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 11:20pm on 16 January 2023
Application submitted 11:20pm on 16 January 2023
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-01-15
Date Received:
2023-01-30
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
We booked to fly a while ago, but I didn’t realise that our daughter’s passport was about to expire until 3.5 weeks before our departure!! The renewal process was quite quick and easy, although after the passport got printed there was no further update or notification from the delivery courier. It took 5 days from the passport being printed to being delivered and I was starting to get quite nervous about it. Overall, it took 15 days. Refer to the below history. The passport was delivered on the 30/01/2023.
Application history
Status Date
Passport printed 5:51am on 25 January 2023
Application approved 2:47pm on 24 January 2023
Documents received 1:31pm on 19 January 2023
Application received 5:13pm on 15 January 2023
Identity details received 5:13pm on 15 January 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 4:55pm on 15 January 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 4:44pm on 15 January 2023
Application submitted 4:44pm on 15 January 202
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Belfast
Submission Date:
2023-01-16
Date Received:
2023-01-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Renewal on line. Photo done at Max Speilman – easy to upload with the code. Quick and efficient service. Really surprised with the quick turnaround.
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:
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?