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:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-05-24
Date Received:
2022-08-31
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Passport office did not start processing until 6 June 2022 – and then rejected my counter signature stating they had been trying to contact the person but failed which was completely invalid claims. After contacting my MP, she reached out to the passport office and my passport was approved in less than 24 hours.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-07-27
Date Received:
2022-09-01
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
It was stressful at first, as my case was slightly different in that I was worried about an ageing parent in Canada and not being able to visit them in an emergency. I spoke to various people, but once I spoke to the right individual, they helped me out and explained what I could do in order to mitigate this. Basically, I was able to photocopy and certify my Canadian passport so that I don’t sent the original. It was made clear to me that the reviewer could also not accept this and ask for my original. I was lucky that they didn’t.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-01
Date Received:
2022-09-01
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Passport was ruined by water by accident, 5 weeks until travel date. No emergency appointments available and so sent a standard renewal as advised. Forms was moved from Bootle to Newport and appeared to go to back of queue. Tried to get emergency appointment and pay again but was told not allowed. Passport office issue new appointments regularly and yet wasn’t told this by help line. At start. Wouldn’t talk to me because hadn’t been in system 6 weeks. No options for this type of accident. Contacted MP because passport was only ruined as a result of doing some community good will work. MP stepped in, issue resolved. Frustrated as many requests on here was turned around ahead of mine and was a straight replacement. The whole system needs an overhaul, should have a tracker countdown so know where you are in queue and an option to reprint damaged passports would save time. Felt bad contacting MP but need a visa and so super urgent.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-08-26
Date Received:
2022-09-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent Service. Applied online. Got photos in booth with code and used code in application. Was told during application what documentation I needed to send to passport office. As this was renewal I just had to send old passport. Was kept up to date by passport office and received passport on 6th day after application. I thought originally I would have to wait weeks.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-07-13
Date Received:
2022-09-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Submitted 13.7.22
Documents received 6.8.22
Approved 29.8.22
Printed 30.8.22
Received 1.9.22
Could have been shorter if i didn’t delay sending the documents.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-07
Date Received:
2022-08-29
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
I know my passport arrived very fast (well my sons ) it was still stressful. He was only 4 weeks at the time but the passport i submitted didn’t pass I think because the background was grey but when I first took it the scales indicated it was a good picture so I submitted it. I then took a photo of him once I received this message and it came back with your eyes need to be open. I contacted the passport office and they said yes he’s eyes need to be open. I mentioned he’s a newborn he’s eyes are never hardly open. I needed this passport asap as we go on holiday shortly. Also my first child he’s eyes were closed on he’s passport photo. They was like no they need to be open. Luckily whilst I was feeding him not long after he did wake up. I must of took over 100 photos. One of which was approved. It took about a week from when I got the message it had been printed to receive it.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Glasgow
Submission Date:
2022-08-11
Date Received:
2022-09-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Easy, quick process. Kept updated along the way. Happy with service.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-03
Date Received:
2022-09-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Documents received 8th August and got the passport 1st September. Not bad at all considering our application was based on the EU settlement scheme.
After waiting for 3 weeks of documents received status I emailed them asking where my documents are (I read it on this page someone did the same and got it quicker) and the next few hours it was approved.
For those complaining about TNT tracking information not provided, you can use your application reference number on TNT’s website along with your postcode and it will show your tracking. Worked for me at least.
Timeline:
Passport printed 4:26am on 31 August 2022
Application approved 10:39am on 29 August 2022
Documents received 2:44pm on 8 August 2022
Application received 11:56am on 4 August 2022
Identity details received 11:56am on 4 August 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 4:48pm on 3 August 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 4:43pm on 3 August 2022
Application submitted 4:43pm on 3 August 2022
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-13
Date Received:
2022-08-31
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
The website is pretty good overall but after saying they have received the documents, there’s nothing until it’s approved.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-09
Date Received:
2022-08-25
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Received quickly via the normal route. Only downside was that we couldn’t get a fast track appointment and missed our holiday. We realised the passport was out of date very last minute. Called the office to try to fast track and pick up from there etc and this was of no help.
Application history
StatusDate
Delivered: 25th August 2022
Passport printed 12:36am on 24 August 2022
Application approved 7:59am on 23 August 2022
Documents received 8:17am on 11 August 2022
Application received 11:29am on 9 August 2022
Application submitted 11:28am on 9 August 2022
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-08-03
Date Received:
2022-08-31
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Used post office check and send – no issues
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-05-06
Date Received:
2022-08-09
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Had to wait 14 weeks. Received passport on day of travel. Very stressful process from start to finish.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-11
Date Received:
2022-08-30
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 5:56am on 26 August 2022
Application approved 2:19pm on 25 August 2022
Documents received 3:29pm on 15 August 2022
Application received 5:50am on 12 August 2022
Identity details received 5:50am on 12 August 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 8:35pm on 11 August 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 8:33pm on 11 August 2022
Application submitted 8:33pm on 11 August 2022
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-08
Date Received:
2022-09-01
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Had to resubmit photo as first photo was rejected as child was smiling (even though guidelines stated that children under 6 don’t need a neutral expression).
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-06-26
Date Received:
2022-06-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
(This is my second submission as my first wasn’t published.) Applying from US. Took 2 days for identity to be confirmed. The gave my photo rating “fair” so I challenged it and also sent in two actual photos with my documents which I over-nighted on June 30 and which were delivered on July 4, marked as “docs received” on July 6. Heard nothing until Aug. 17 when they said they needed docs to show prior name changes (from prior marriages). That’s half of the one star rating I might have taken away from 5 down to 4. (Should have made it clear for ALL marriages not just the present as I had those on hand and didn’t send them because they said if anything else was needed they’d let me know.) I spent 110 USD to send the docs to them on Aug. 17 which were delivered Aug. 19. On Aug. 24, they sent an email telling me to send in my docs. I used the chat function (it is hard to use but it is possible) and the web submission email form. Via emailing, they said they’d investigate why they asked for docs they already had received. In chat, they said they would also look into it. Aug. 24 I got a text and email application approved, and then printed on Aug. 25. Was supposed to be delivered on Aug. 29. This is the second half of the last star I was reluctant to give, for using DHL which apparently misplaced my package. I had to leave a bad Google review and BBB complaint to get a response. Was told it was hung up in customs when it was mis-sorted in their facility. They didn’t even check their own history.
Below is a history of events with HMPO.
Application submitted 3:03am on 26 June 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 3:03am on 26 June 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 4:23am on 26 June 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 6:16pm on 29 June 2022
Identity details received 7:11pm on 29 June 2022
Application received 7:12pm on 29 June 2022
Documents received 1:29pm on 6 July 2022
Application approved 10:13am on 24 August 2022
Passport printed 5:44am on 25 August 2022
60 days from submission to print (hence 5 stars despite mishaps)
THINGS LEARNED
Send proof of ALL name changes (not just recent) with original docs
Photo challenge and/or sending hard copy photo may help
HMPO website email and chat functions is possible and worked
DHL chat function told me completely inaccurate information