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Whether you’re eagerly waiting for your passport or planning to apply soon, this page offers valuable insights from others who have gone through the process.
How This Page Works
Every day, applicants like you share their passport application experiences on our site. They provide:
- Application Date: When they submitted their passport application.
- Receipt Date: When they received their new passport.
- Photo Method: How they obtained their passport photo (e.g., at home, pharmacy, professional service).
- Processing Office: The passport office or centre that handled their application so you can check to see how quick the agency you have been assigned is processing passports.
Additionally, applicants often share helpful tips and observations that can assist you in managing your application or understanding current processing trends.
Stay Informed
Monitor the latest wait times and gain a realistic expectation for when your passport might arrive based on real-world data. Knowing what to expect can ease anxieties and assist in planning your travels.
Compare Processing Times
See how different agencies and photo methods impact processing speeds. This can help you choose the best options to potentially reduce your wait time.
Learn from Others
Benefit from the experiences of fellow applicants. Many share crucial advice, like which agencies are processing faster or tips for avoiding common pitfalls.
Share Your Experience
Help us keep this page accurate and useful by submitting your own passport wait time once you receive your passport. Your contribution will assist others and contribute to a clearer picture of the current processing landscape.
1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
09-01-2025
Date Received:
17-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Other Max Speilman
Submission Date:
06-01-2025
Date Received:
17-01-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other By photographer
Submission Date:
07-01-2025
Date Received:
18-01-2025
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Application Submitted: 07-Jan-2025
Identity Verification done: 07-Jan-2025
Documents sent: 09-Jan-2025
Approval done: 16-Jan-2025
Passport Received: 18-Jan-2025
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other Max speilman photo
Submission Date:
11-01-2025
Date Received:
17-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
13-01-2025
Date Received:
17-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
very fast
applied Monday afternoon
Tuesday morning notified that my old passport was received
wensday approved
Thursday printed and out for delivery
Friday morning received
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
10-01-2025
Date Received:
17-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Amazingly quick and a number of updates via text received along the way
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
12-01-2025
Date Received:
17-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Didn’t ask for verification which surprised me as I think I look a lot different to 10 years ago! Online application done on Sunday, old passport posted on Monday got them both back by Friday!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
13-01-2025
Date Received:
17-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
12-01-2025
Date Received:
18-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I did my passport application on Sunday 12th Jan. Sent my old passport back on Monday 13th Jan 2nd class with Royal Mail.
Received my passport back 18th Jan with no issues. I was updated the whole time via SMS and was given a specific delivery window which doesn’t really matter as long as you have a letterbox they can post it through 🙂
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
11-01-2025
Date Received:
18-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other Max Spielmann
Submission Date:
12-01-2025
Date Received:
18-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very quick, easy and seamless.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
12-01-2025
Date Received:
17-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted. – 8:29pm on 12 January 2025
Application received. – 8:30pm on 12 January 2025
Old passport posted royal mail special delivery – 13th Jan (mid-morning)
Documents received. – 10:14am on 14 January 2025
Application approved. – 12:24pm on 15 January 2025
Passport printed – 5:53am on 16 January 2025
Passport delivered. – 10:56am on 17 January 2025
Absolutely brilliant experience, this was a standard (non-fast track) type application. Multiple photos were taking using a range of devices using lounge lighting. All photos were unacceptable except the iPhone.
Worth mentioning that there was no message/text recevied saying it had been posted, it went from confirmation it had been printed to reminding me to sign it. So don’t panic if that isn’t received.
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Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
11-01-2025
Date Received:
18-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Super quick! Completed application Sunday, Sent documents Monday, documents arrived Tuesday. Application approved Wednesday evening, passport printed early hours Friday morning, passport arrived Saturday.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Other Max Spielmann
Submission Date:
10-01-2025
Date Received:
17-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Easy straight forward hassle free application process. Simply do your research before you start your application and have your documents ready to send as soon as you submit your application.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
03-01-2025
Date Received:
16-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
It took over a week to deliver my old passport from Spain
Once the passport arrived in the UK, turnaround was 2 days and next day delivery of the new passport to Spain via DHL
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
06-01-2025
Date Received:
13-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Exceeded all expectations. I applied from abroad and am a dual citizen so I thought my application would take longer than usual, but it didn’t.
Old passport received 13th January
Application approved 14th January
Passport printed 15th January 9pm
Passport received 17th January (in Norway!)
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