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:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-12
Date Received:
0223-05-04
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 7:50am on 3 May 2023
Application approved 9:48am on 1 May 2023
Documents received 8:18am on 19 April 2023
Application received 4:24pm on 12 April 2023
Identity details received 4:24pm on 12 April 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 4:00pm on 12 April 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 3:54pm on 12 April 2023
Application submitted 3:54pm on 12 April 2023
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-17
Date Received:
2023-05-04
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
3 Bank Holidays in here and still took only just over 2 weeks. A renewal from a child to first adult passport. Updates throughout. Great service
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2023-04-16
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent easy on line application
Computer graded my photo as poor but accepted it after I had confirmed it represented an accurate likeness.
Excellent updates on application progress by e mail
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-04
Date Received:
2023-05-05
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
I had a complication as I had to surrender two passports, so that incurred extra processing time as the initial application did not say I had to return both with the application. it added 10 days or so between them receiving my first passport and asking for my second to be returned.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-17
Date Received:
2023-05-06
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Easy from start to finish
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-17
Date Received:
2023-05-05
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Original application sent by the post office. I did not expect to get it back so quickly. Absolutely delighted with the service received. Less than three weeks from start to finish. I now have a new passport ready for my holidays.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-20
Date Received:
2023-05-05
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Had my original submitted photo rejected as I was “smiling” when I wasn’t…retook and resubmitted a new photo that day and had it approved in less than 24 hours. New passport printed and delivered 2 days later.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-14
Date Received:
2023-05-05
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Took a little longer than usual. Was somewhat concerned as heard nothing from 18th April until 3rd May but it has now arrived and old passport also received.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-27
Date Received:
2023-05-05
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Once I had decided to submit a normal application, the process went smoothly and I received my new passport in less than the average time given on this site. The stress came from realising that my old passport had expired and seeing the official advice to allow at least 10 weeks for a new one to arrive, given that I had about seven week to go before being due to leave the country on a work trip. Initially, I booked an appointment for a fast-track application, but I quickly withdrew it after discovering this website via an article published in the “i” newspaper. My experience of booking a fast-track interview added to the short-lived stress, because, although I live in London, the nearest one that I could book at the time was in Peterborough. Perhaps I was panicking, but the government website didn’t seem to mention that fresh appointment slots are added every day.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-12
Date Received:
2023-05-04
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Passport printed 2:35pm on 4 May 2023
Application approved 11:33am on 4 May 2023
Documents received 11:33am on 20 April 2023
Application received 2:03pm on 12 April 2023
Application submitted 2:02pm on 12 April 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-29
Date Received:
2023-05-05
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The renewal service on an expired passport was simple, efficient and quick. I used a digital photo from a shop.
I applied Saturday afternoon on the 29th April and the passport arrived at 830am on the 5th of May.
Outstanding service for a simple renewal.
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Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-14
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Old passport reported as lost 13/04/2023
Applied for new replacement passport 14/04/2023 using Standard Service
Passport application approved 29/04/2023
Passport printed 02/05/2023
Passport arrived 03/05/2023
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-28
Date Received:
2023-05-04
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Fill out the application properly! I had to return the 3rd time. Other than that good service and happy it came before they predicted.
Comments:
Application was handled by the Corby office.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-16
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Online application. Very straightforward. Quick turn around
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-29
Date Received:
2023-05-05
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
I applied for a fast track renewal. Appointments were very hard to arrange, London office was difficult to get to then passport was delivered to wrong address. All together it was pretty stressful.
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-26
Date Received:
2023-05-03
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Would have been impossible to get a fast track appointment without @ukpassportcheck on twitter but thanks to them I managed to get a London appointment for the following week! You aren’t allowed in more than 15 minutes before the appointment but everyone was very friendly including the application staff. They have passport photo booths in the room if your photo isn’t any good too!
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-15
Date Received:
2023-04-22
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
@ukpassportcheck was invaluable in getting an appointment in London. Got the tweet notification, logged in immediately and found next day appointments available.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-05-07
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
This was way more challenging and long that it should have been. The fact that overseas applicants cannot pay for a faster services is a real problem for those of us who travel regularly for work. I even tried to book an appointment on a quick visit to the UK in March, but that was to no avail.
I learnt from one of my many calls to chase up that overseas applications are still dealt with on an old system along with paper based applications, so perhaps that is a factor. I also don’t really know if this would have been even slower if I had not prodded so many times. I even got my MP to chase it up. It moved from Awaiting Examination to Under Examination (learned from a phone call) that same day, so perhaps, that was a help.
In the end, I had to cancel one trip and delay my travel for another trip by 2 days, so far from ideal, and out of pocket a number of times the passport fee.
Passport printed 2 May 2023 (pm)
Application approved 1 May 2023 (am)
Documents received 24 March 2023 (pm)
Application received 19 March 2023 (pm)
Application submitted 19 March 2023 (pm)
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-10
Date Received:
2023-03-04
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Came much quicker than I expected, it seems this is still moving despite strikes!
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-04-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
My application was dealt with promptly- Passport was printed within a week of my notification email to say old passport arrived. Tracking details online marked documents received one week after old passport delivered by registered post.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-14
Date Received:
2023-05-05
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received in Hemel on the 18th April. Approved on the 28th April
Dispatched on the 2nd May following the bank holiday weekend.
Great service despite being overseas and some staff on strike.
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-04-17
Date Received:
2023-05-08
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Overseas renewal from Belgium
Application received 9:05pm on 17 April 2023
Application submitted 9:04pm on 17 April 2023
Passport sent off my DHL next day delivery 18th April 2023
Passport recorded as delivered by DHL 19th April 2023
Documents received 1:49pm on 20 April 2023
Photo rejected 2:12pm on 2 May 2023
New photo received 6:37pm on 2 May 2023
Application approved 7:13am on 3 May 2023
Passport printed 6:23am on 4 May 2023
Passport delivered by DHL 08/05/2023
Can’t fault the service 🙂
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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.