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:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-15
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent! Much quicker than expected. Super pleased.
Application approved
9:35pm on 3 May 2023
Documents received
2:01pm on 21 April 2023
Application received
9:23pm on 15 April 2023
Identity details received
9:23pm on 15 April 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity
1:02pm on 15 April 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity
Application submitted 12:57pm on 15 April 2023
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-12
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received 3 May 2023
Passport printed 3 May 2023
Application approved 29 April 2023
Documents received 19 April 2023
Application received 113 April 2023
Identity details received 13 April 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 12 April 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 12 April 2023
Application submitted 12 April 2023
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-13
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Passport received on 03 May 2023 via TNT delivery service. Awaiting delivery of supporting documents
Passport printed 1:15am on 3 May 2023
Application approved 12:53pm on 29 April 2023
Documents received 9:00am on 17 April 2023
Documents sent by Royal Mail on 13 April 2023 by next day signed for
Application received 12:53pm on 13 April 2023
Identity details received 12:52pm on 13 April 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:41pm on 13 April 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 12:31pm on 13 April 2023
Application submitted 12:31pm on 13 April 2023
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-01
Date Received:
2023-04-25
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Renewal process easy, but customer service staff were no help whatsoever.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-04-24
Date Received:
2023-04-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Went for a 1 week fast track at Durham on the 24th April, they were early on appointment times and I got seen 15mins before my appointment time. Was very quick and efficient.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-13
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 12:46am on 3 May 2023
Application approved 4:32am on 29 April 2023
Documents received 8:32pm on 28 April 2023
Application received 1:43pm on 13 April 2023
Application submitted 1:43pm on 13 April 2023
Very quick! I forgot to post my passport and posted it on the 27th April
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-15
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Strictly passport is not in my hands, but SMS from TNT saying its out for delivery since ~4am today.
19 Elapsed days, 2 Bank Holidays, and some SMS/Email at very unexpected
times (= outside working hours) advising on progress. So, well inside the 10 weeks advised.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-17
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
17/04/2023 Online Passport application submitted
17/04/2023 Online Passport application confirmation received
17/04/2023 Documents (old passport) sent by special delivery to Hemel Hempstead Office
19/04/2023 Old Passport confirmation received
29/04/2023 Passport application approved
29/04/2023 Passport printed (date on passport)
03/05/2023 New Passport received by courier
Really impressed with the service of the Hemel Hempstead office, it took me 2 weeks from when they received my old passport to me receiving my new one, including the bank holiday!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-14
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I was hesitant to apply while the strike was on but the the post office told me that not every one was on strike it depended what Union they were with.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2023-04-17
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application 17th April 2023
Old passport received by Passport Office 19th April 2023
Application approved 29th April 2023
Passport delivered 3rd May 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-16
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Simple application form – applied for 2 adults and a child for renewal. We had a rejection on the photos but was easy enough to
Rectify with clear instructions on what was required. Once submitted, photo was approved almost immediately and passport was received within 5 days. Turnaround Timings were good given that our passport applications were submitted during the strike and we had photo rejections. Great service – well done HMO passport team !
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-12
Date Received:
2023-05-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
My passport was processed through the Post Office and they did everything which was very easy. The Passport Office kept me updated through email and text messages so I knew the process was progressing. It took one day less than three weeks from application at the post office to receiving my new passport through the post.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-17
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Brilliant experience and helped me save a lot of money in the long run as I did not pay to fast track my application nor did i choose the ridiculously expensive same day service which is often never available, I advise everybody who is renewing there passport to use the standard service as it will really save your time and money and it is no where near the 10 weeks wait time the website states..
This website has helped me a lot and gave me the idea to use the standard service by looking at other users timelines who were renewing there passport also.
So I would like to say a special thank you to the administrators who run this webpage as without this I do believe i would not have my passport right now.
Also a side note, I took my photo on my iPhone and edited the dimensions to what was required by the website, however when I uploaded the photo it failed to meet the requirement. So after a couple more attempts I just uploaded a normal selfie including my upper shoulders but not my chest and this time it was approved.
So I recommend using your smartphone and not to worry too much about dimensions as they crop the photo once you upload the file anyway, Also it could save you some $$ at the photo booth.
Good luck to everyone.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-07
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 1:16am on 3 May 2023
Application approved 1:36pm on 29 April 2023
New photo received 1:34pm on 29 April 2023
Photo rejected 12:54pm on 29 April 2023
Documents received 7:11am on 19 April 2023
Application received 1:19pm on 7 April 2023
Application submitted 1:19pm on 7 April 2023
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.
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-07
Date Received:
2023-05-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Considering that the passport staff are on strike the waiting time was good. Had updates at every stage through the website
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-12
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The process is bit nerve wracking as you are told it could take 6-10 weeks. But glad to say it was all smooth and passports received in 3 weeks exact.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-14
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted – 14th April
documents received (birth certificate) – 18th April
Application approved – 28th April
Passport printed – 29th April
Scheduled delivery – 3rd May
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-10
Date Received:
2023-04-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I applied for a child renewal passport on the 10th of April. My daughter will be travelling in July, so contemplated applying for a fast track service, but was worried about not getting any fast track appointments, so bit the bullet and applied for a standard child renewal. I applied on the 10th of April and received my daughter’s passport on Saturday 29th. I have also received her old passport today (03/05/23) All in all, a great service
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:
Once receipt confirmed it was obviously in a queue for several days, then suddenly the application was approved one day, printed the next, and arrived at our house two days after that. Very simple compared with previous years.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-01
Date Received:
2023-04-25
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Easy process for a child renewal. Child first passports…not so good!
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Applied online on 19 March. Identity confirmed on 20 March. Immediately sent documents by special delivery which reached them on 22 March. However their website didn’t update till 1 April when they claimed they received the documents. Then nothing till 28 April when application was successful.
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-04-11
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Used the bot to obtain an appointment at Durham. Waited just over 2 weeks for an appointment. I had my appointment on 28/4 and received my passport by 3/5. Very easy process and was in and out of the passport office within 15 minutes.
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-30
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Very stressful to get appointment and drive to Liverpool but once there, very helpful member of staff.
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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.