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 With Interview
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-11-03
Date Received:
2022-12-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received Morning of 28 November 2022
Passport printed 4:30am on 25 November 2022
Application approved 11:30am on 24 November 2022
Documents received 3:19pm on 4 November 2022
Application received 11:27am on 3 November 2022
Identity details received 11:27am on 3 November 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 11:05am on 3 November 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 11:01am on 3 November 2022
Application submitted 11:01am on 3 November 2022
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-11-18
Date Received:
2022-11-30
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very straightforward and quick. Papers were sent to Corby HMPO
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2022-11-23
Date Received:
2022-12-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-11-13
Date Received:
2022-12-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Id washed my previous passport and it was badly damaged
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2022-11-27
Date Received:
2022-12-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Fantastically efficient service
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2022-11-28
Date Received:
2022-12-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The passport office telephoned me the second day after submitting my application via the post office check and send service to inform me that the photo taken by the post office staff (on a tablet) could not be used as the collar on my fleece was up. I immediately went to my local Sainsburys and took another set of passport photos in the booth there which can be digitally uploaded to the passport office using the reference number on the printed photos. I uploaded the new photo following the instructions provided in the email the passport office sent me and received almost immediate confirmation of acceptance and approval.
I received several text messages or emails at each stage of the process to update me and received my new passport by courier after just four days.
They are also sending me a letter to reclaim the £16 check and send fee I paid the post office as they messed up the initial photo.
In all I could not be more pleased with the passport office speedy service and excellent communication which allayed my fears after being told that the application could take 10 weeks by post office staff.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-11-21
Date Received:
2022-12-01
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
There seems to be an issue with the Govt system with the photographs if you are fair hair or grey haired. My official photographer at Timpsons took 7 photos before he got the green tick. Then when I went online to submit my photo a warning symbol came up BUT I went ahead and submitted my application and my passport came back fine in 10 days.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-11-24
Date Received:
2022-12-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very fast and easy. 9 days inclusive, from the day the Passport Office received it, to the day it was delivered to me.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-11-22
Date Received:
2022-12-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Was sent to the Corby office for processing
This might have come even quicker if there hadn’t been a postal strike , the sending of my old passport by 1st Class post on Tuesday 22nd wasn’t delivered till Saturday 26th.
Only bit of poor feedback was it was just posted through the door, i would have expected the courier from TNT to at least ring the doorbell.
Details from the tracking service:-
Passport printed 4:55am on 1 December 2022
Application approved 9:43am on 30 November 2022
Documents received 11:11am on 29 November 2022
Application received 6:51am on 22 November 2022
Application submitted 6:50am on 22 November 2022
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-11-22
Date Received:
2022-12-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2022-11-22
Date Received:
2022-12-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-11-21
Date Received:
2022-11-30
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-11-28
Date Received:
2022-12-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Couldn’t believe how quick it was, got approval email 6 hours after message from them saying they had received my expiring passport.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-11-22
Date Received:
2022-12-02
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
It was unnerving as it seemed to take a while for them to acknowledge receipt of my old passport but once they did I had my new passport in two days.
My big gripe od that a leaflet is enclosed with the new passport that implores you to immediately sign your passport and does not refer to ink colour, half an hour’s later I get a text telling me to sign it in black ink but due to their incredible failure to add that detail to their bold plea for immediate signage I had already signed in blue! Turns out many have done this though and the passport office say it does not invalidate the passport.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-11-21
Date Received:
2022-12-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
10 days. Surprisingly fast. Slow confirming receipt of old passport but then instantly printed and sent. Courier delivery by TNT.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-11-15
Date Received:
2022-12-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2022-11-08
Date Received:
2022-11-18
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy