Feedback, experiences, timelines, tips and useful information from people that have recently been through the UK passport application process.
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Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-28
Date Received:
2022-08-24
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I applied from the Sultanate of Oman and the whole process took 27 days including overseas postage and delivery. A good service.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-08-08
Date Received:
2022-08-26
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very straightforward, good notifications on updates to status. Once approved, passport arrived within 24 hours.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-27
Date Received:
2022-08-23
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
The experience was mostly simple we had to retake a photo due to shadows.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-08-03
Date Received:
2022-08-26
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Renewed a damaged passport. Was asked that someone verify me after 3 weeks, the very next day they did this I received my passport. The passport office was in Corby (which wasn’t there as an option to select).
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-29
Date Received:
2022-09-08
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Issues with photo not accepted from iPhone so downloaded photo identité app and worked within seconds (cost £4) it’s a French owned app.
ype of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-06-07
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Had to get mp involved and emailed lots.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-22
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really fast posted Monday arrived 8.00 Thursday morning.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-13
Date Received:
2022-08-26
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Only took 13 days from applying online for renewal to receiving the passport in the post. Received update after day two stating documents received, then the next update was 10 days later stating application approved. The passport was printed and sent the day after.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-04-15
Date Received:
2022-07-22
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
4 renewals submitted 15th April, 2 adults and 2 children. 1 adult and 1 child received back within 3wks, the other 2 suck in the system. Passport office lost my son’s old passport when it was tfr from one office to another. After weeks of chasing I received the child’s renewal just over 13wks later, and 14wks to the day I had to drive to my nearest office to collect mine.
5wks later I’m still waiting for my marriage certificate to be returned which I paid extra for.
Absolutely shocking service!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-08
Date Received:
2022-08-24
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
TNT only sent me a pic of my apartment door (which has no letter box) while I was away for a couple of days ‘as proof of delivery’ no signature obtained in breach of requirements. my post box is downstairs. Had a concerned 2 days hoping they hadn’t just left it outside my door like most couriers do. Fortunately it was in the mail box but why sent me a pic of my door making me panic and no signature.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Glasgow
Submission Date:
2022-08-05
Date Received:
2022-08-24
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied online with self-taken photo. The forms are well designed and easy to use, but there is no way to review your details after submission. If I had known that I would have kept screenshots.
Good updates from HMPO by text and email at every stage. TNT courier only sent notification by text, not email.
Lost/Stolen Passport
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-05-12
Date Received:
2022-08-26
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Rang a few times and got unclear advice. Eventually got through to the progress team who advised me to report my previous passport as lost and ring back with the reference number. I was told this was the last outstanding detail and got my passport through just over a week later.
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Belfast
Submission Date:
2022-07-23
Date Received:
Not Received
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Still waiting and due to travel on 4th September early hours.
Lots of people have received there’s before me after applying a long time after.
Ridiculous.
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-06-19
Date Received:
2022-08-27
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Fly out next week so was pushing it receiving it so late.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-07
Date Received:
2022-08-26
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Easy online application for 2 x child passports
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-07
Date Received:
2022-08-26
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Overall very quick once documents reviewed. Additional proof of parental responsibility required (i.e. birth certificate) because father made passport application (although not been required for previous renewals), hence the extra steps, but quickly acted upon once sent in.
Passport delivered: 26 August 2022
Passport printed: 25 August 2022
Application approved: 24 August 2022
Proof of Parental Responsibility received at Passport Office: 23 August 2022
Proof of Parental Responsibility posted to Passport Office: 22 August 2022
Passport Office requested Proof of Parental Responsibility: 21 August 2022
Documents Received: 09 August 2022
Documents posted to Passport Office: 08 August 2022
Application Received: 07 August 2022
Identity Details Received: 07 August 2022
Ask Someone to Confirm your Identity: 07 August 2022
Application Submitted: 07 August 2022
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-05-03
Date Received:
2022-06-29
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Totally random.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-06-29
Date Received:
2022-08-09
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Stuck at examination stage for a long time – no one able to give any answers. Quick delivery from approval but I did contact my MP
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
20022-06-09
Date Received:
2022-08-26
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Passport printed: 11:09am on 22 August 2022
Application approved: 1:41pm on 20 August 2022
Documents received:10:32am on 21 June 2022
Application received: 5:04am on 9 June 2022
Application submitted: 5:04am on 9 June 2022
I was left legally at large by HMPO, as the clear instruction to me after applying on-line was to return my old passport. Subsequently I was informed on three separate occasions (including a HMPO officer) when I chased my application I should not have done that and to cut a log story short it was only reason I was expedited – as I needed to my passport to remain legally compliant in my country of residence. I was also told by one Teleperformance call handler, I should have planned in advance, I applied 3 days after renewing my latest visa, I’m on a 6 month visa renewal cycle with no intention of returning to Blighty in the foreseeable future. It is questionable that the current process is fit for purposes – can a Government Dept leave British nationals at large earning revenue for her Majesty at no fault of their own? it would appear so. Conspicuous by her absence is Priti Patel, not answering questions on this matter or being held accountable for her none management` of a dysfunctional Dept. I rated 3= average, because I know there are significant number of folk worse off that me. My application was a bang average straightforward renewal, my documents from the other side of the World took too and fro Blighty all of 6 days in the 11+ weeks I have waited. Not good enough Ms Patel.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-28
Date Received:
2022-08-24
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I applied from the Sultanate of Oman and the whole process took 27 days including overseas postage and delivery. A good service.
Applied from Bali vis VFS, application received at Liverpool office 8 June, my debit card charged on the 9. June,
12 weeks & still no word – tried contact helpline – waste if time constantly engaged (tried calling oved 600 times)
Used the online tracking – again a waste of time,all they say is to use the helpline.
It is a total shambles, school kidd would do a better job. FFS get it sorted
You are not alone, my case –
Submitted in Bangkok, 30-June-2022,
DHL confirmed delivery to Liverpool 4-July-2022.
Payment taken from credit card 6-July-2022
Tried email and online tracking – no feedback yet.
The most frustrating thing is, when you read the application review above that they received their overseas passport renewal in 27 days!
I applied the 6th June from France, application sent to Durham. I’ve heard nothing no updates My online application tracking still says ‘we’ve received your application, we’ll get back to you’
Phone calls and sending emails are a waste of time, they tell you nothing.
The whole situation is stressful and ridiculous!