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:
2023-03-15
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
I would have given a 5 star but it took 2 weeks from them receiving the document to acknowledging it. it took a further 2 weeks to receive the passport after the acknowledgement update. Received on 12/04/2023
Application history
Status Date
Passport printed 11:26pm on 10 April 2023
Application approved 9:11am on 7 April 2023
Documents received 1:06pm on 30 March 2023
Application received 4:24pm on 15 March 2023
Identity details received 4:23pm on 15 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 4:20pm on 15 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 4:13pm on 15 March 2023
Application submitted 4:13pm on 15 March 2023
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-26
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied on the 26th march, sent 27th, arrived there 28th, documents received updated 31st, application approved 6th April, printed 7th, delivered 12th. fast service considering the strikes and 2 bank holidays in between
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Glasgow
Submission Date:
2023-03-30
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Used my own photo as my passport picture which saved a bit of money at the photo booths. Taken against a plain white wall with all the other usual criteria followed.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Passport Office/Helpline staff were excellent. I had an issue with my application as I held two UK passports. The Passport Office needed additional information before the application could be processed. This slowed things down by a few weeks for me.
I had to make a couple of phone calls to the HMPO helpline. Each call was always picked up within the first minute. The staff were brilliant. I felt that they genuinely wanted to help resolve the issues with my application. Excellent service.
If you have a non-standard passport application/renewal – My recommendation is to call the HMPO helpline first. That will help ensure you gather any additional information to be sent with your old passport, rather than being told more information is required later.
Overall a good experience.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-06
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Sent off on the Thursday 6th April afternoon. That was application and old passport. It was bank holiday Friday and Monday: Wednesday I received an update to say it’s been approved and being printed. Got an email today ( Thursday 13th) to say it’s been printed and out for delivery and arrived today 10:44am!!! So happy !!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-28
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Regular contact from Passport Office, and very prompt service considering my old passport arrived the Friday before the strikes started.
Status Date
Passport printed 6:24am on 7 April 2023
Application approved 5:11pm on 6 April 2023
Documents received 12:06pm on 31 March 2023
Application received 4:32pm on 28 March 2023
Application submitted 4:32pm on 28 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-30
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport delivered 11:48am on 13 April 2023
Passport printed 9:13pm on 11 April 2023
Application approved 10:52am on 10 April 2023
Documents received 1:41pm on 3 April 2023
Application received 3:33pm on 30 March
2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-20
Date Received:
2023-03-30
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Took a few days to update after my old passport was received but after that it was so quick
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-20
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 2:06am on 11 April 2023
Application approved 9:14am on 8 April 2023
Documents received 8:25am on 1 April 2023 (they physically arrived on 22 March by Royal Mail special delivery)
Application received 8:34am on 20 March 2023
Application submitted 8:33am on 20 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-03
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Remarkably quick and easy – all hail the passport office workers!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-30
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy and fast turnaround during the strikes, great communication.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-29
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 10:33pm on 11 April 2023
Application approved 1:06pm on 9 April 2023
Documents received 10:55am on 3 April 2023
Application received 4:28pm on 29 March 2023
Application submitted 4:28pm on 29 March 2023
delivered by DPD at 12:09pm on 13 April
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-03-28
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
After trying, unsuccessfully, trying to get a one week fast track appoint for a few days, i bit the bullet and sent off a normal application after reading the average times as noted on this site.
I’m going abroad Friday 21st April, so was stressing a bit, but it all worked out fine.
I applied after 5pm on 28/3/23, and despite the Easter bank holidays and strikes, i have received my new passport today.
There was no signature required, but they did take a photo of them delivering it at the door, so glad i was wfh today.
RECEIVED 12.55pm 13/04/2023
Application history
Passport printed 3:58am on 12 April 2023
Application approved 9:20am on 10 April 2023
Documents received 1:03pm on 3 April 2023
Application received 5:13pm on 28 March 2023
Application submitted 5:13pm on 28 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-29
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Replacement for damaged passport. Even with strikes and Easter Bank Holidays it came in decent time
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:
2023-04-03
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
I lost my passport and needed a replacement urgently as I live abroad and was only meant to be in the UK for 2.5 weeks. After seeing the difficulty in getting a fast track appointment, and finding this website which indicated that the current actual processing time for applications is far less than the advertised 10 weeks (also reluctantly confirmed by the passport helpline!), I decided to make an application online. Passport arrived 10 days after making the application. Very impressed with how little time it took, especially considering the strikes and that it included Easter weekend. Only complaint is that the delivery was not signed for, only put through the mailbox, which didn’t seem very secure.
Application sent 03/04
Countersignatory confirmed identity 03/04
Application approved 09/04
Passport printed 12/04
Passport recieved 13/04
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-25
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Online application 25/3/23- supporting documents recieved by passport office 28/3/23
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-29
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application received 29th March
Documents received 31st March
Application approved 7th April
Passport printed 11th April
Passport received 13th April
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-28
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Online application with a holiday booked for 22nd May so quite nervous. Needn’t have worried. Arrived in quick time. Strikes? What strikes?
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-27
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted 27/3/23
Documents received 30/3/23
Passport application approved 5/4/23
Passport printed 6/4/23
Passport received 12/4/23
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
It took 11 days from when my supporting documents arrived at the passport office to when I was notified they were received.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-27
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted 27/3/23
Documents received 31/3/23
Passport application approved 7/4/23
Passport printed 11/4/23
Passport received 12/4/23
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-23
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Took nearly a week to acknowledge receipt of my documents. Royal Mail delivered them on 28th March but application showing documents received was 3rd April.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Online Application was easy.
I posted yesterday old Passport and it took 11 days by Post for the Royal Mail to deliver it.
Once it was printed by the Passpost Office, it then took 4 days to get to me.
So the main delay was the Royal Mail (15 days) even though they were on NOT on Strike. And 11 days for the Passport Office to process it even though they WERE ON Strike.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-26
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Easy, Fast service even during the strikes and including Easter bank holidays, all done online (just had to post the old passport). I wasn’t expecting it back so fast. Well done HMPO.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-29
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Delivered 13th April 2023
Passport printed 12:35am on 11 April 2023
Application approved 12:44pm on 7 April 2023
Documents received 4:10pm on 31 March 2023
Application received 12:12pm on 29 March 2023
Application submitted 12:11pm on 29 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-09
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
StatusDate
No update since………
Documents received 2:06pm on 22 March 2023
Documents Delivered 12 March 2023
Application received 10:29am on 9 March 2023
Application submitted 10:29am on 9 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-07
Date Received:
2023-04-07
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The most difficult bit was queuing at the Italian post office to send back my previous passport!
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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.