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:
2022-06-10
Date Received:
2022-08-19
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
The process was quick but it took ages to say my passport is being printed.
Type of Application:
First UK Passport (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-11
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
4 applications, 2 renewals and 1 first adult passport, 1 first child passport!
We Waited far too long! In the end, MP helped us to get our passports!
This forum helped me a lot. So thank you so much!
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-18
Date Received:
2022-07-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Includes name change
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-08
Date Received:
2022-08-24
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
On line application with digital pic. Really simple no hiccups, thankfully. See below for tracking.
Delivered by TNT 24 August 2022
Passport printed 9:50pm on 23 August 2022
Application approved 10:14am on 22 August 2022
Documents received 11:18am on 10 August 2022
Application received 5:11pm on 8 August 2022
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Glasgow
Submission Date:
2022-08-10
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I used max spielmann passport service. My picture was taking by the staff member who then uploaded my picture and filled in all my details on thier online system. This took 10 minutes to complete and cost very little. They also took care of posting my old passport. My passport was recieved by the passport office the following day and i was alerted at every stage after that.
I noticed on my email alerts that my passport was being printed at 10.30pm so credit to the staff at the passport office who are getting nothing but bad publicity.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-13
Date Received:
2022-08-24
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Waited far too long! In the end, MP helped me to get my passport!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-08
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Easy application process and texts / emails received along the way letting you know at exactly what stage your application is.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-10
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The application was SO easy, can’t fault the process or turnaround times. I made sure to send my old passport signed for and never had any problems. Updated at every stage.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-21
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really easy especially with digital code for passport photo.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-19
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very quick turnaround, process was simple with a digital photo ID
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-08-11
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Easy digital submissions.
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-06-15
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
As with other comments there is nowhere to escalate. Mine didn’t require any documents to be sent in. It was all digital and I had all my previous passport details available to give but still took over 10 weeks.
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-06-16
Date Received:
2022-08-24
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
On 16th June applied for Emergency Travel Documentation as a result of lost passports in Greece for myself and wife. On the same day applied for replacement passports.
Needless to say had no updates on progress. As we were due to travel again phoned 2 weeks before flight and had email to send flight details etc to upgrade team with potential additional costs…..
48 hours later my wife is advised that her application has been approved, printed and passport arrives 24 hours later. However, no sign of mine. Email upgrade team to be told that I had not submitted an L reference for lost passport. Funny, neither had my wife but she has her passport. Email upgrade team again to point out that neither of us has lost references due to the fact that passports are automatically cancelled when you apply for emergency travel documentation- no response. Contact call centre by phone- passport team does not work on Saturday. Receive email on Monday that I am not to email or phone otherwise my application may be delayed….
A day later receive call to advise passport approved but I need to collect at nearest passport office due to impending strikes and cannot ship by courier. Finally collect passport a day later, with no additional charges.
It should be noted that the numerous people we talked to tried to be as helpful as possible(with the exception of one person) but the system appears to be rotten and in need of significant change and direction from top management or their replacements. There is a huge variance in processing times for passport applications from days to months and the covid excuse is now wearing a bit thin.
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-06-24
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Identity was confirmed on the 2nd of July. Stressful as approaching close to holiday already booked but came with weeks to spare.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2022-08-05
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Didn’t expect to receive so quickly. The stages progressed quickly, with the exception of the massive gap in between documents received and application approved, that did make me a little anxious!
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2022-07-16
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Much quicker than expected. Arrived the same day it was printed!
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-02
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
As foreign residents, we need our passport as ID. Were advised that submitting a copy was OK. This turned out to be wrong advice, and we then had to send the original passport. During June, attempted to chase progress many times. Written enquiries were ignored, or answered with rubbish replies. They refused to expedite after 11 weeks, resulting in a last minute rearranged holiday. They even ignored correspondence from our MP. Basically a catalogue of errors. I’ve never experience such incompetence from a government organisation. Someone in senior management needs to be held accountable for this appalling service.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-13
Date Received:
2022-08-24
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Waited far too long! In the end, MP helped me to get my passport!
Type of Application:
First UK Passport (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-11
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
4 applications, 2 renewals and 1 first adult passport, 1 first child passport!
We Waited far too long! In the end, MP helped us to get our passports!
This forum helped me a lot. So thank you so much!
How do you contact MP to aid with passport
Which MP specializes in helping those with overseas applications please?? My HMPO office is in Durham.