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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:
Corby
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
23-12-2024
Date Received:
02-01-2025
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
No issue, straightforward process.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
20-12-2024
Date Received:
27-12-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
20-12-2024
Date Received:
27-12-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really quick, i think if it hadn’t been Christmas Day in the middle of the process I might have received my passport in 5 days.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
18-12-2024
Date Received:
28-12-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
12-12-2024
Date Received:
28-12-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
My passport took slightly longer as I was replacing a damaged passport, and was requested to send a letter explaining how the damage was caused.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
15-12-2024
Date Received:
20-12-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Incredibly speedy from start to finish. I was worried about the timeline at this time of year. However, it was five days in total from submitting my application to receiving my new printed passport in the post… feels completely untrue but I cannot fault the renewal process.
Timeline:
Sunday 15th December: submitted new application with digital photo from my phone
Monday 16th December: posted old passport to Hemel Hempstead office
Wednesday 18th December (~5pm): old passport acknowledged as being received
Wednesday 18th December (~6pm): new passport application approved
Wednesday 18th December (~9pm): new passport printed
Friday 20th December: new passport received in the post
Monday 23rd December: old passport sent back in the post
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
29-11-2024
Date Received:
31-12-2024
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Used paper form, post office was unhelpful and didn’t tell me where the form’s application was/to keep record of it. Now can’t track, webchat and advice line won’t talk to me without application code. Forms sent on 29th Nov and still not received new passport yet.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other Max spielman
Submission Date:
02-12-2024
Date Received:
09-12-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Amazingly quick and hassle free
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
18-12-2024
Date Received:
31-12-2024
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
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Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
22-12-2024
Date Received:
27-12-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
28-09-2024
Date Received:
13-12-2024
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
Newport
Photo Method
Other Used a local photo shop who checked it was compliant and provided a digital photo code.
Submission Date:
09-12-2024
Date Received:
17-12-2024
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Overall the experience was good. Please note that your supporting documents are sent after your fast track passport, and they can take weeks to arrive. We needed the fast track UK passport PLUS the foreign passport we had to submit (dual national child) at the appointment to travel. This required urgent calls to the phone line who said they were unable to help, but the web chat advisor gave us an email address to contact. They did overnight the supporting documents, but didn’t email to say they had received the request and were doing so. We found out by checking the Royal Mail tracking code where 2 parcels suddenly appeared.
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