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:
2023-02-13
Date Received:
2023-02-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 9:18pm on 27 February 2023
Application approved 9:51am on 27 February 2023
Documents received 1:21pm on 17 February 2023
Application received 5:15pm on 14 February 2023
Identity details received 5:14pm on 14 February 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 4:22pm on 14 February 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 4:15pm on 14 February 2023
Application submitted 4:15pm on 14 February 2023
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-06
Date Received:
2023-02-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-22
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very straight forward by using an online application. Took a photo at home using my phone and uploaded it online. Sent my old passport out with Royal Mail Special Delivery (£6.85) to the HM Passport Office and they received it on the next day. In total it took 10 days for the entire application process.
StatusDate
Passport printed 9:58pm on 1 March 2023
Application approved 3:17pm on 1 March 2023
Documents received 12:04pm on 23 February 2023
Application received 2:22pm on 22 February 2023
Application submitted 2:21pm on 22 February 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-08
Date Received:
2023-03-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport renewal completed online, with self-taken photo. Process simple and was given regular updates via email and text. New passport arrived through letterbox.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-09
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Didn’t hear anything for a few weeks, except being notified that my documents arrived two different times (weeks apart). I received a phone call 1/3/23 to clarify some information and following clarification my passport was approved, printed and shipped within 24 hours.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-02-03
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Passport received – 03/03/2023 07:43
Passport printed – 01/03/2023 19:47
Application approved – 28/02/2023 17:38
Old Passport received – 07/02/2023 06:37
Application received – 03/02/2023 07:33
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Glasgow
Submission Date:
2023-02-16
Date Received:
2023-03-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Two weeks from application day to receiving passport via DHL. I did contact the passport team on two occasions via sms, who I didn’t find particularly helpful, other than that all good. Also it took a day since Royal Mail confirmed my old passport had been delivered for the Glasgow office to confirm receipt, but it does state this online to manage expectations.
Passport printed 2:28am on 1 March 2023
Application approved 10:00am on 28 February 2023
Documents received 5:39pm on 21 February 2023
Application received 4:55pm on 16 February 2023
Application submitted 4:54pm on 16 February 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-02-27
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent well-designed online form. Regular updates by text and email. Incredibly quick!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-09
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Date Application Submitted: 9th Feb
Documents (old passport received by HMP): 15th Feb
Photo Rejected: 3:30pm on 28 February 2023
New photo received 4:21pm on 28 February 2023
Application approved: 8:24am on 1 March 2023
Passport printed 2:01pm on 1 March 2023
Received: DHL notification delivering 3 March
I would definitely advise using the one week service for peace of mind if you are travelling in less than 6-10 weeks.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-17
Date Received:
2023-03-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-02-19
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-17
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-01-30
Date Received:
2023-03-02
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Sorry this is so long but would like for anyone else to avoid this fiasco! Process took over 31 days.
Submitted online with digital photograph, application acknowledged 30 Jan at 1318 by Durham office with request to send old passport back.
Done on 31 Jan in tightly sealed envelope at local postbox collected at 1120.
Received repeat reminders to send old passport back and finally on 16 Feb at 1206 received email stating “we’ve received your documents”
Waited for next stage but on 23 Feb at 1045 received email from Bootle office stating they were still waiting for old passport!
[At the bottom of EACH email it states “if you have sent your passport in the last 2 weeks, ignore this email”.]
Online it says you cannot contact Passport Office until 6 weeks has elapsed but when yet another email from Bootle office on 24 Feb at 1045 asking for my old passport I was extremely worried!
Using online enquiry form https://www.gov.uk/passport-advice-line I received a quick response at 1405 from the noreply@PostRoom stating that my “old passport has been lost in post/unable to be located” and I had to report it LOST! I did so and was emailed a L ref number.
I was very shocked and upset so called Customer Services on 0330 222 0000.
Helpful adviser who said an empty envelope had been received on 16 Feb and that my application had been transferred from the Digital Application Process over to Bootle! I repeated asked why I was not immediately contacted for which he had no answer but 7 precious days had been wasted but could not give me any timescale! He put an alert on the application to be passed to an Examiner and was approved on 28 Feb at 1857. It was then printed on 1 March at 0024.
Then it was sent to DHL for delivery on 2 March due 1407-1507 – hurrah I thought but the courier dropped it through letter box at 1355 and did NOT even knock. This is evidenced on our camera. Finally found at 1530.
I can find no other feedback on Durham office.
What a saga on what should have been a straight forward process. Be warned if anything goes wrong, Passport Office will not contact you!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2023-02-17
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-02-19
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy, very quick
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-19
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Submitted an online application and took the digital photo at home. Posted my old passport using the racked service on 20.02.2023.
Received constant updates, passport arrived earlier than intended.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-02-19
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
19th – submitted online
20th – posted docs 1st class signed for
23rd – they confirmed docs received
1st – confirmed approved
2nd – confirmed sent for printing
3rd – received
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2023-02-18
Date Received:
2023-02-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
We applied online for 3 passports on the same day (18th Feb), my husband, my adult daughter and myself. We sent our old passports back the same day. They arrived on Monday 20th Feb and were processed on Thursday 23rd Feb.
My husband and myself had our applications approved on the same day (23rd Feb) and our new passports were printed on Saturday 25th Feb and delivered on Monday 27th (husband) and Tuesday 28th Feb (me).
My daughter’s passport took a bit longer, probably due to the fact that her photo brought up a warning message when filling in the form online. As the photo had been approved by the photo booth we used, she decided to submit it anyway and it was fine. Her passport was approved on Weds 1st March, printed on the 2nd and was delivered today (3rd March). A really easy process.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-02-19
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-02-24
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very efficient prompt service. Very pleased.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-02-24
Date Received:
2023-02-24
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I used the online service and applied to renew my passport on Friday 24th February, I returned my old passport the next day Saturday 25th February. I was told it could take 10 weeks, one week later Saturday 4th March my new passport was delivered wow still in shock lol. I used the standard online service and did not pay for the fast service. Fantastic, easy to use service and one week turnaround. Must be a record.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-01-26
Date Received:
2023-02-16
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-10-20
Date Received:
2022-10-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-19
Date Received:
2023-02-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I used the regular renewal services, not fast tracked.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-02-23
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
sent by post office , very fast service
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-02-02
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Passport printed 8:45am on 2 March 2023
Application approved 4:18pm on 1 March 2023
Documents received 12:27pm on 13 February 2023
Documents arrived at HH – 3rd Feb
Application received 1:25pm on 2 February 2023
Identity details received 1:25pm on 2 February 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 11:18am on 2 February 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 11:15am on 2 February 2023
Application submitted 11:15am on 2 February 2023
Child born abroad, one British parent. Stressful as it took much longer than average
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-02-20
Date Received:
2023-03-04
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-01-09
Date Received:
2023-02-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-20
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-19
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2023-02-12
Date Received:
2023-03-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-17
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-18
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-02-21
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Based on reviews on here, I decided to risk the standard application even tho travel was only 5 weeks away! eek. The photo was done in a booth, then uploaded with the code given at the booth. I did get a warning message to say the light background was too similar to the the face, but it looked fine to me so I submitted anyway. Very easy to do online application.
I sent the old passport back the same day, 21st Feb, by registered next day post. This was received by passport office next day, then processed 2 days later, 23rd. They send texts so you can track every bit of the process.
Approved 1st March, printed 2nd and received today, 3rd March. Very happy, and relieved! All in all, 10 days from application to passport received.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-02-21
Date Received:
2023-03-03
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Online is the easiest way to go
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-02-20
Date Received:
2023-03-01
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-02-24
Date Received:
2023-02-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-02-03
Date Received:
2023-02-24
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
The texts about the shipping were sent before passport was actually
Printed so those are out of sync. Can’t complain just make sure you’re not under time pressure. My old passport has required visas and that came 2 weeks later.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-02-02
Date Received:
2023-02-27
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Passport call centre told me that I had to expect 10-11 weeks for renewal (I am based in EU) and that it would not be possible for me to use an emergency travel document to enter the UK while I had an open application. I have elderly parents and this is an appalling state of affairs. In fact though, the passport arrived 26 days after the day I posted my old passport as part of the application process. From date on which the passport acknowledged receipt of that passport it took four days before they informed me that the new one was being sent to me.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-02-08
Date Received:
2023-03-02
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
New passport and old passport delivered 6:05pm on 2 March 2023
Passport printed 2:38am on 25 February 2023
Application approved 9:18am on 24 February 2023
Documents received 8:37am on 17 February 2023
Documents delivered 12:10pm on 15 February 2023
Application received 1:45pm on 8 February 2023
Application submitted 1:44pm on 8 February 2023
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