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:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-03-23
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
One of the most stressful experiences in my life. Got nowhere with online advisor, helpline expedited team and complaints team – they either told me they could not locate my application or some supporting documents were missing. Ended up contacting my local MP and the application was then approved within 24 hours and two days later my passport was delivered!
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-02-08
Date Received:
2022-08-17
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
I applied for this passport back in February. 6 months ago. I finally got it on August 17th. It was ridiculous how long it took. My application was basically pushed aside for the most part. Trying to get in contact with HMPO was ridiculous as well. I basically bothered them so much that they allowed to get a 2nd opinion on my documents with an examiner and got my passport approved. I will say the moment it got approved it was fine afterwards and received my passport the day after it was printed. But the whole process of trying to get it approved was tragic.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-29
Date Received:
Not Received
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
I’m still wait has been over 10 weeks said they lost it then found it 12 weeks still wait for it I leave overseas trying to get home booked flight for Sept and still nothing.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Belfast
Submission Date:
2022-07-21
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
I was preparing for the absolute worst, but thankfully it was a relatively easy and straightforward process. Haven’t yet received my original submitted documents, so hope they will turn up within the next two weeks as advertised.
Passport delivered on 19 August 2022 (no tracking info/email was sent, just an unexpected knock on the door)
Passport printed 5:07am on 18 August 2022
Application approved 1:26pm on 17 August 2022
Documents received 12:23pm on 26 July 2022
Application received 10:40am on 22 July 2022
Identity details received 10:40am on 22 July 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 5:59pm on 21 July 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 5:56pm on 21 July 2022
Application submitted 5:56pm on 21 July 2022
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-02
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport Received 19 August 2022 at 11:55am
Passport printed 18 August 2022 on 5:06am
Application approved 17th August 2022 at 11:20am
Documents received 5 August 2022 at 1:39pm
Application received 2 August 2022 at 8:01pm
Application submitted 2 August 2022 at 8:01pm
Amazing Service keep it up!!! It took around 17 days to receive my passport from Liverpool to Manchester.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-05-23
Date Received:
2022-08-16
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
I used the Post Office Passport Check & Send service.
Documents were received quickly, after only 1 week, then my application dropped into a black hole.
Meanwhile, I watched this site to see that people who had sent their application months after me were receiving their passports within a week. Someone on the forum said it’s like they throw all the applications into a bucket and just pick at random, and it honestly feels like that.
My application was only approved when I did a survey on the application tracking site. Within an hour of doing the survey, I received an email saying that my application had been approved. I really wonder how long it would have taken if I’d not completed the survey.
Application history
Passport printed 5:58am on 15 August 2022
Application approved 6:48pm on 12 August 2022
Documents received 4:13pm on 31 May 2022
Application received 4:34pm on 23 May 2022
Application submitted 4:34pm on 23 May 2022
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-08-01
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Sent to Hemel Hempstead
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-08-03
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied online with digital photo, had to post my old passport back. Super quick, tracking the whole way.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-03
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Process was fast, I wasn’t expecting to get it back so quickly, but I had all my documents ready to go and double checked my application and it went through lightning quickly!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-02
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
StatusDate
Recieved passport early morning 19 August 2022
Passport printed 7:24am on 18 August 2022
Application approved 3:12pm on 17 August 2022
Documents received 3:17pm on 5 August 2022
Application received 9:42am on 2 August 2022
Application submitted 9:41am on 2 August 2022
Super easy to do renewed online and uploaded photo taken on phone, dont crop your photo yourself as you need an unedited picture, the website will crop it for you.
Received new passport in under 3 weeks.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Belfast
Submission Date:
2022-08-13
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application was made online on Saturday 13/08/22. Old passport sent to the Belfast passport office. Got an update on Wednesday 17th stating application and documents received. Thursday 18th got an update stating passport was being printed.
My passport was delivered today – Friday 19/08/2022. Only took 6 days from application to delivery.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Glasgow
Submission Date:
2022-07-05
Date Received:
2022-08-16
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Would be better if you could actually speak to someone regarding progress of application. Recorded message indicating they have all the information required is not really satisfactory.
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-11
Date Received:
2022-06-30
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
I ended up driving from Essex to Durham 2 days before my holiday to collect my passport. One of the most stressful experiences.
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-11
Date Received:
2022-06-30
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
I ended up driving from Essex to Durham 2 days before my holiday to collect my passport. One of the most stressful experiences.
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-07-13
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
I lost my passport whilst working abroad in France at the beginning of July. Getting emergency documentation issued without any difficulty (only pain being you have to collect in person from the embassy) I got back to the UK and applied for a new passport the next day. I had a holiday already booked for exactly 10 weeks after submitting the application, but also work abroad 9 weeks after submitting. There were no fast track appointments available at all otherwise I would have chosen that path to make sure my commitments were not affected. My husband had sent his passport for renewal at the end of June and got it back in 11 days but after finding this website and the difficulties that many were facing, I was very worried. I left it three weeks and then used the livechat on 1st August to ask which office my application was with and what its status might be. The man I spoke with was as helpful as he could be, advising that it was at Durham and awaiting examination. I advised of my need to travel for work and holiday in 5 and 6 weeks time respectively and he advised he would note this on my application but could not make any promises about the timeframe, which I understood. I then heard nothing and was starting to get worried. I knew we were approaching the six week mark which I would have then got to the pestering stage. However, I then received a text message on 17th August saying the application had been approved. A further message at 8am on 18th saying it had been printed and would be handed over to the delivery company. It was then delivered at 9am this morning! A generally stressful time, because I was anxious about the timeframe but there wasn’t anything the passport office did that caused extra concern.
Passport printed 9:55pm on 17 August 2022
Application approved 2:44pm on 17 August 2022
Identity details received 1:36pm on 14 July 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 7:19pm on 13 July 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 6:26pm on 13 July 2022
Application submitted 6:26pm on 13 July 2022
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2022-06-12
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Lost passport replacement with a name change. Posted my documents. Didn’t hear anything for 9 weeks then it was processed, approved and printed on the same day and delivered 2 days later. It did almost take the full 10 weeks, but if you go in expecting that, you won’t be disappointed and the service was easy, although slow.
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-06-10
Date Received:
2022-08-16
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
From submitting my application nothing was updated on the online tracker but when I rang and waiting nearly an hour to speak to a member of staff they told me it had moved to the next stage, if this was updated on the tracker it wouldn’t be as stressful, also there is no indication that you have to link a lost passport reference to your new application and ring or text to add this on. Staff tell you different rules when you ring there should be a set guideline that they all follow.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-23
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 7:41am on 18 August 2022
Application approved 2:46pm on 17 August 2022
New photo received 2:44pm on 17 August 2022
Photo rejected 2:24pm on 17 August 2022
Documents received 12:22pm on 1 August 2022
Application received 10:03pm on 24 July 2022
Identity details received 10:02pm on 24 July 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:23pm on 23 July 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 12:14pm on 23 July 2022
Application submitted 12:14pm on 23 July 2022
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-23
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 7:40am on 18 August 2022
Application approved 2:05pm on 17 August 2022
Documents received 12:24pm on 1 August 2022
Application received 10:06pm on 24 July 2022
Identity details received 10:06pm on 24 July 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:22pm on 23 July 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 12:00pm on 23 July 2022
Application submitted 12:00pm on 23 July 2022
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-30
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very straightforward.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-06-15
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Mine came after 3 weeks . My sons sent at the same time took 3 months !
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-05-02
Date Received:
2022-08-18
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Had to call them every week since mid-July. Stressful experience.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-01-15
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
The less I say the better.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2022-08-04
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied online, took own digital photo during the process. Posted old passport, was notified that it was received the next day.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2022-05-01
Date Received:
2022-07-26
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
A lot of chasing. But once over 10
Weeks and with travel booked, got through to escalation team and was able to collect son’s passport from London office.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-08-02
Date Received:
2022-08-18
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
I need passports renewing to travel and wanted to use fast track but available appointments were too late when any did show on the website and seemed to be all for Belfast office (I live 30 min from the durham office)
I Sent two child renewals online and bath were sent to different offices – one to bottle and one to Peterborough. This meant I had to post old documents to separate offices costing more as I needed them to be sent asap
Luckily the turnaround has been pretty quick as we hope to travel soon.
Once printed I received no update and no info or text from the delivery supplier DHL it was just put through the postbox
The other passport was printed yesterday at Bootle so I hope this one arrives soon too as there has also been no delivery info
Application history
StatusDate
Passport received 18 August 2022
Passport printed 7:10am on 17 August 2022
Application approved 12:14pm on 16 August 2022
Documents received 5:12pm on 4 August 2022
Application received 12:37am on 3 August 2022
Identity details received 12:37am on 3 August 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 7:15pm on 2 August 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 7:14pm on 2 August 2022
Application submitted 7:14pm on 2 August 2022
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
Glasgow
Submission Date:
2022-08-04
Date Received:
2022-08-09
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really easy and quick. Be prepared to get new photos though as mine were too dark even though I got them from an approved booth. That was what took the longest amount of time.. redoing the photos. They have a machine there at Glasgow which takes card thankfully.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-05-02
Date Received:
2022-08-18
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Had to call them every week since mid-July. Stressful experience.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-17
Date Received:
2022-06-24
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
I submitted my passport along with my 3 childrens’.
The online tracker is useless. My postal receipt showed that they signed as receiving the 4 passports in April, but this wasn’t updated on the tracker for another 3 weeks. Apparently this isxthe point when they start ‘counting’, so make sure you add another 3 weeks onto the 10 week processing time!! That said, mine was processed & issued relatively quickly from that point, but despite many many many queries (all with useless responses), the kids’ renewals are all still being processed over 4 months later….argh!
Type of Application:
First UK Passport (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-05-31
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
The application was stalled at documents received until I sent a few emails requesting expediting for a citizenship application. Once they responded, I had my passport within six days to my overseas application.