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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
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
18-06-2024
Date Received:
03-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received on 03 July 2024
Passport printed 5:46am on 2 July 2024
Application approved 1:30pm on 1 July 2024
Documents received 9:56am on 24 June 2024
Application received 12:56pm on 18 June 2024
Identity details received 12:56pm on 18 June 2024
Email sent to person confirming your identity 11:52am on 18 June 2024
Ask someone to confirm your identity 11:49am on 18 June 2024
Application submitted 11:49am on 18 June 2024
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
15-06-2024
Date Received:
04-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I used the Digital Check & Send service from a Post Office. However, I would recommend doing the application online if you are already sure about which documents to send. The reason is that I was not able to track the delivery time of my docs when sent by the post office via this Check & Send service and that is the stage which took most of the time.
Passport delivered 4 July 2024
Passport printed 3 July 2024
Application approved 2 July 2024
Documents received 24 June 2024
Application received 15 June 2024
Identity details received 15 June 2024
Email sent to person confirming your identity 15 June 2024
Ask someone to confirm your identity 15 June 2024
Application submitted 15 June 2024
Thank you for this service! This really helped me understand when to apply to avoid missing my holidays. Why don’t you start a similar service in other countries in Eu too? This is brilliant.
Best
Giulia
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Other Max Spielman
Submission Date:
28-06-2024
Date Received:
05-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Paper application submitted at post office Friday 27th pm text received 04/07/24 saying that delivery of hm passport package arriving 05/07/2024
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
16-06-2024
Date Received:
03-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received: 3 July 2024 (Wednesday)
Passport printed: 2 July 2024 (Tuesday)
Application approved: 1 July 2024 (Monday)
Documents received: 21 June 2024 (Friday)
Documents delivered (Royal Mail Signed for Delivery): 18 June 2024 (Tuesday)
Application submitted : 16 June 2024 (Sunday)
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
16-06-2024
Date Received:
02-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport delivered 12:01pm on 2 July 2024
Passport printed 7:01am on 29 June 2024
Application approved 3:53pm on 28 June 2024
Documents received 10:35am on 23 June 2024 (sent on 16/06/2024 1st class, not sure why this bit took so long)
Application received 7:55pm on 16 June 2024
Application submitted 7:55pm on 16 June 2024
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
26-06-2024
Date Received:
02-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
First of all a word of warning. There are at least a dozen fake pages on the web when you do a search. Head for the Gov.UK site.
My autistic son went to a branch of Max Spielman in a branch of Tesco’s and first attempt at the photo failed when we got home and went online. They retook the photo without charge and all went well. We chose the service with the Signed for delivery. for the return of documents
We completed the Application in less than 15 minutes. Put the old passport in a hard backed envelope with the address on with the Application number on. We paid £3 for signed for delivery. We actually missed that day’s collection. The old passport arrived at 10am on the Saturday.
The HM Passport site is still showing it as “Printed” so it was a shock when both (two separate envelopes arrived an hour ago!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
24-06-2024
Date Received:
04-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Service was fantastic! Used the standard renewal process and it took 10 days exactly from the moment I submitted the application to delivery of my renewed one!
Application submitted 2:14pm on 24 June 2024
Application received 2:14pm on 24 June 2024
Old passport sent to HMPO by Royal Mail signed for 1st class (£3.05) on 24/06 which arrived the next morning at HMPO)
Documents received 7:21pm on 25 June 2024
Application approved 7:29am on 3 July 2024
Passport received 12:42pm on 4 July 2024
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
21-06-2024
Date Received:
04-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted – 4:30pm on Friday 21 June 2024
Application received – 4:31pm on Friday 21 June 2024
Old passport posted (Royal Mail 48) – 5:01pm on Friday 21 June 2024
Old passport delivered to HMPO – 9:19am on Monday 24 June 2024
Old passport confirmed received – 8:40pm on Monday 24 June 2024
Application approved – 9:07am on Tuesday 2 July 2024
Passport handed to Royal Mail – 7:18am on Wednesday 3 July 2024
Passport printed – 7:39am on Wednesday 3 July 2024 (HMPO marked as printed *after* Royal Mail received it)
Passport delivered – 1:15pm on Thursday 4 July 2024
From the moment of realising I hadn’t renewed to having a new passport in my hand: 13 days
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
04-05-2024
Date Received:
14-05-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Used a different photo booth (Not Photo-Me)
Submission Date:
22-06-2024
Date Received:
04-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
18-06-2024
Date Received:
05-07-2024
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
The application form was very straightforward and easy to fill in. Sent my previous passport via tracked delivery.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Other Post office clerk took it on the tablet he used to complete my application.
Submission Date:
21-06-2024
Date Received:
05-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The whole process was very straightforward. I originally went into the post office for information on how to submit a digital passport application. The clerk informed me that as I had my current passport with me, he could do the application there and then. He added my details to the online form, took my picture, I paid and that was that! I received my passport two weeks later.
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1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
25-06-2024
Date Received:
05-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
18-06-2024
Date Received:
29-06-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Quick and easy
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
London
Photo Method
Used a Photo-Me photo booth
Submission Date:
26-06-2024
Date Received:
02-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted 26/06
Passport office appointment 28/06
Application approved 28/06
Passport received 02/07
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
London
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
01-07-2024
Date Received:
04-07-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
1 week day track.
When I sent my application, luckily there was an interview the next day. Interview didn’t take long. Interview time isn’t exact, It’s a slot that other people will select too. Once you get there your bags will go through the xray machines and you’ll have to walk through a metal detector. “Interview” Isn’t an “Interview”, they’ll confirm who you are and take your documents.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Took it myself on my phone
Submission Date:
13-06-2024
Date Received:
27-06-2024
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very impressed by the speed. Sent my old passport from Finland on 13 June (Thursday) via Posti Exprès, it arrived Sunday and was logged as received the evening of Monday (17 June). The application was approved a week later on 24th, printed on the 25th and in my hands via DHL courier on the 27th June. In total almost exactly 2 weeks.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Photo Method
Other Photographer
Submission Date:
07-06-2024
Date Received:
02-07-2024
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Renewal from New Zealand. Passport process was clear, biggest waiting/stress time was the postage.
Docs arrived at home in NZ 3:00am on 2 July 2024
Passport printed 6:40am on 25 June 2024
Application approved 1:19pm on 24 June 2024
Documents received 6:27am on 18 June 2024
Documents posted 4:00am on 7 June 2024
Application received 3:41am on 7 June 2024
Application submitted 3:41am on 7 June 2024
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Other Photographer
Submission Date:
11-06-2024
Date Received:
02-07-2024
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
It took 8 days for HMPO to acknowledge receipt of documents.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Corby
Photo Method
Other Photo studio with upload code
Submission Date:
13-06-2024
Date Received:
03-07-2024
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
From online application until passport received in South Africa was 20 days. Impressive.
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