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:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-06
Date Received:
2023-04-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
From start to finish it took seven and a half weeks. Four of those weeks was the wait for the interview.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-03
Date Received:
2023-04-11
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
If you follow the instructions then it is very easy – I recommend getting your photo verified at the right photo booth – ours was in Asda and not doing it yourself on your phone – may cost you £10 but feel this definitely speeded the process up
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-06
Date Received:
2023-04-30
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very fast sent off my application via post office on the 6 April 2023 got it approved on the 30 April 2023 it now in printing and will be here in 10 working days toke 3 week for my passport to be approved.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-23
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Renewed passport online on Sunday evening. Received new passport on Friday morning.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-14
Date Received:
2023-04-26
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I was worried my photo wouldn’t be accepted with a little shadow but it was
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-17
Date Received:
Not Received
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Still not heard anything..old passport got to them on the 20 April not heard anything since
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-19
Date Received:
2023-04-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I used the online application process. Fast and efficient. Can not believe how straightforward the process was and the turn around was very fast, just 7 working days. Received updates as my application went through each process.. Took my own photo following the online guidance using an iPhone – good natural light and a neutral background is key here I think, as my first photo was accepted.
Passport received 08:30am on 27 April 2023
Passport printed 9:10pm on 25 April 2023
Application approved 12:06pm on 25 April 2023
Identity details received 1:49pm on 19 April 2023
Application submitted 9:26am on 19 April 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2023-04-13
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 4:36am on 27 April 2023
Application approved 1:16pm on 26 April 2023
Documents received 4:37am on 17 April 2023
Application received 12:36pm on 13 April 2023
Application submitted 12:36pm on 13 April 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-13
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
It took less than 2 weeks to receive the new passport, after they received the old passport.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-08
Date Received:
2023-04-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Submitted application on 08/04/23 (Easter weekend)
I sent my old passport on Tuesday 11/04/23
They received my old passport on Thursday 13/04/23
I received both my old and new passport on Wednesday 26/04/23
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-02-13
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Applied for a passport renewal. Sent my old passport off which was recorded as received online a week after submitting the application. After a few weeks of no progress with my application, I called to ask what was happening.
I was told They had received an empty envelope with apologies from Royal Mail. I would not have been notified of this without having called up. They assumed I had a second passport which was incorrect.
I eventually had to submit 2 complaints to get some real progress with my application. Overall a poor service, which could have been avoided with better communication.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-13
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
13.04 (Thursday): Submitted with digital photograph. Sent documents signed for next day delivery
14.04 (Friday): Old passport and supporting documents (name change) signed for
17.04 (Monday): Email from passport office stating documents received
26.04 (Wednesday): Application approved
27.04 (Thursday): Passport printed
28.04 (Friday): Passport received
Supporting documents are yet to be returned, email says 10 days.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-10
Date Received:
2023-04-27
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Very smooth and good, nothing was needed from me after I sent my old passport.
Text updates were not as detailed as I expected, eg. did not text to update me when they received my old passport/when my application was approved, the only update was when it was printed and about to be delivered. All of the updates can be seen on the website though. This was inconsequential really, but I was expecting more updates.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-12
Date Received:
2023-04-06
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Considering that I delayed sending iny old passport for 3 weeks after online application the service was very quick.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-24
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Absolutely no problems.
Photo taken at Timpsons.
Application submitted online.
Text and email messages received showing progress of application.
Applied Monday am, new passport arrived Friday am.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-21
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Online application, photo code from photo booth, expiring passport sent via 1st class signed for post. All straightforward and great communication to keep me up to date with progress.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-06
Date Received:
2023-04-18
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy to apply. Passport came back quickly even tho Easter weekend was included in the 12 days
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-11
Date Received:
2023-04-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied for an adult passport renewal online and everything went smoothly to receive the new one 2 weeks later
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Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-12
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Passport received 28th April
Passport printed 1:29pm on 25 April 2023
Application approved 9:16am on 25 April 2023
Supporting document received 12:00pm on 17 April 2023
Countersignature needed: on hold 10:32am on 1 April 2023
Identity details received 9:17am on 13 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 8:37pm on 12 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 3:45pm on 12 March 2023
Application submitted 3:45pm on 12 March 2023
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-13
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted 13 April 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 13 April 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 13 April 2023
Identity details received 13 April 2023
Application received 13 April 2023
Documents received 17 April 2023
Application approved 26 April 2023
Passport printed 27 April 2023
Passport delivered 28 April 2023
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-13
Date Received:
2023-04-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Standard Child renewal.
Applied & Verified Photo online: 13th April 2023
Posted documents: 14th April 2023
Documents delivered & signed for: 15th April 2023
Documents acknowledged as received: 17th April 2023
Application approved: 27th April 2023
New passport printed: 28th April 2023
New passport recieved: 29th April 2023
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-13
Date Received:
2023-04-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Standard Child renewal.
Applied & Verified Photo online: 13th April 2023
Posted documents: 14th April 2023
Documents delivered & signed for: 15th April 2023
Documents acknowledged as received: 17th April 2023
Application approved: 26th April 2023
New passport printed: 27th April 2023
New passport recieved: 29th April 2023
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-12
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The passport was registered received by the passport office two days after posting. Northing happened for a while, then approved, printed and posted out I about 4 days at the end.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-08
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I didn’t realise my sons passport expired in less than 3 months before our holiday return date so panicked and sent for a renewal. I resigned myself to not getting it back with only a month to spare and 2 bank holidays but lo and behold it’s arrived in 3 weeks!!
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-25
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I had booked a fast track passport one week ago after getting the notification from the twitter page and I was surprise to see so many appointments for London as needed to renew my passport very quickly. The process of going to the appointment was very quick and easy I just handed in my old passport, two recent approved photos and my paper application and in under 10 minutes was told my passport would arrive within the next week and was very pleased to have arrive in the post in three days !!! Overall quite a straightforward experience. This twitter page is extremely helpful and would recommend to anyone 🙂
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-03-20
Date Received:
2023-04-26
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Overall a good experience until the end. I should have received the passport on 4/24 but I never received the waybill from DHL, only for the supporting documents.
While some of the staff were helpful while trying to obtain the tracking number, a couple were quite frankly the opposite.
Ultimately, they could not provide the missing waybill number and only the professionalism of the DHL driver who called me after I left a notice on my door as the UK reps were of no help whatsoever at the end.
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We have a very small favour to ask………….
We really hope this information is helpful to you and reduces stress whilst you are waiting for you passport. If you are able to make a small donation for the cost of a coffee it really helps us to maintain the site and continue to make improvements for future passport applicants.