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:
2023-03-25
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 11 April 2023
Application approved 7 April 2023
Documents received 31 March 2023
Application received 28 March 2023
Identity details received 28 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 25 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 25 March 2023
Application submitted 25 March 2023
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-27
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
It took 2 days from application approved to be printed.
And, 1 day from printing to delivery, it was very fast overall.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-03-26
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Process was very easy and I’m so pleased it arrived so fast as I already had a trip booked end of April. I got notifications on sunday and easter monday which gave me a good vibe as it meant they were working even on weekends and bank holidays.
StatusDate
Received – 13 April 2023
Passport printed 7:08am on 12 April 2023
Application approved 2:59pm on 10 April 2023
Documents received 12:32pm on 2 April 2023
Application received 6:08pm on 26 March 2023
Identity details received 6:07pm on 26 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 5:59pm on 26 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 5:47pm on 26 March 2023
Application submitted 5:47pm on 26 March 2023
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-13
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Absolutely awful experience, no update and absolutely shocking customer service! Takes ages to speak to an actual human being, and then when you final get through they’re about as much use as a handbrake on a canoe.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-28
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
4 stars, only because due to the bank holidays there were some delays.
Passport received 14 April 2023
Passport printed 2:46am on 7 April 2023
Application approved 8:58am on 6 April 2023
Documents received 9:11pm on 30 March 2023
Application received 12:17pm on 28 March 2023
Application submitted 12:17pm on 28 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-31
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 5:40am on 12 April 2023
Application approved 10:36am on 10 April 2023
Documents received 1:35pm on 3 April 2023
Application received 8:50am on 31 March 2023
Application submitted 8:49am on 31 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Belfast
Submission Date:
2023-03-09
Date Received:
2023-04-06
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Application Submitted and Received: 9th March
Documents Received: 28th March
Application Approved: 1st April
Passport Printed: 4th April
Passport Received: 6th April
Once my documents were received it was all very fast, but my documents took nearly 20 full days to get to the passport office. I’m not sure what caused this hold up but it was extremely stressful during this time as no further information was available at any point.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-11
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received 11.18am on 14 April 2023
Passport printed 12:45am on 14 April 2023
Application approved 6:36am on 13 April 2023
Documents received 8:30pm on 12 April 2023
Application received 12:17pm on 11 April 2023
Application submitted 12:16pm on 11 April 2023
I am due to fly on 22nd April and only became aware of the fact my passport expiry date needed to be valid for six months over the Easter weekend. Genuinely was convinced that I wasn’t going – especially when I struggled to get Fast Track and Premium appointments. Turns it wasn’t required and the HMPO staff are superheroes.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-31
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Submitted my passport application online via the gov website. Easy peasy. Posted my old passport the same day via Royal Mail signed and tracked. Old passport was received 4th April 2023. New passport was approved on the 11th April 2023. Passport printed 12th April 2023. Received old and new passport on the 14th April 2023.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-31
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Simple online application process with uploaded photo approved no problem.
Application submitted Friday 31 March
Old passport acknowledged Monday 3 April
Application approved Tuesday 11 April
Passport printed Wednesday 12 April
New passport received Friday 14 April
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-27
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Delighted with the processing time, especially since it crossed the Easter bank holidays and there was strike action.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-19
Date Received:
2023-03-13
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
The online application was very straightforward, I promptly sent my old and foreign passports to Bootle office and docs were registered as received the following day. However, a week later I received notification that they required more documents (my foreign passport). After hours spent on the phone and countless emails, they finally admitted that they lost my foreign passport. I am disgusted at the treatment received – most staff members were polite on the phone, except for one unpleasant person who wouldn’t take my call seriously, claiming I was breaking up and sounded like a “broken down dalek”. Horrendous service at Bootle office, needs a good overhaul. This whole debacle meant I waited for a month for my new passport and even lost my in-date foreign one in the process. I paid extra for safe return of my old documents and they didn’t even have the courtesy to inform me my passport was missing. Had I not phoned religiously everyday, I would be none the wiser.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-02-27
Date Received:
2023-04-05
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Staff were helpful but annoyed at how many times that I was required to phone the Passport Office back. Eventually, four weeks later, I was advised to declare my passport lost; I received it a week later.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-26
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Process was very easy for renewal. I took my photo on my phone. The picture checker was really useful. I sent the old passport the next day for special delivery. Delivery was maybe delayed by Easter weekend but happy I got the new passport in 3 weeks
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-03
Date Received:
2023-04-15
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted: 03-Apr-23
Application received: 03-Apr-23
Documents received: 04-Apr-23
Application approved: 13-Apr-23
Passport printed: 14-Apr-23
Passport arrived: 15-Apr-23
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-31
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted 2:16pm on 30 March 2023
Application received 2:16pm on 30 March 2023
Documents received 6:12pm on 3 April 2023
Application approved 10:24am on 11 April 2023
Passport printed 4:17am on 12 April 2023
Passport delivered 11:00am on 14 April 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-03-24
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Seemed to be pretty easy despite the strikes and kept me updated with multiple texts/emails
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-30
Date Received:
2023-04-15
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
During the process of renewing my passport, as it expired in December last year, I heard about the five-week strike at the post office, so I was upset and concerned that I may lose this opportunity. In spite of this, everything went smoothly and I received my passport in a timely manner.
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Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-03
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really good experience. I would recommend applying online if you can as it can help speed up the process instead of sending your details through the post. I couldn’t get a fast track appointment so I used the standard service route. The whole process took 10 days from submission to delivery.
Application History
Passport delivered – 11.52am 13 April 2023
Passport printed – 12:03am on 12 April 2023
Application approved – 2:32pm on 10 April 2023
Identity details received – 2:45pm on 3 April 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity – 2:39pm on 3 April 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity – 2:34pm on 3 April 2023
Application submitted – 2:34pm on 3 April 2023
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-01
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Each stage was complete very quickly. I had lost my passport and bought another on the 1st April. I cancelled the passport on the 1st and applied for a new one on the same day! It has now turned up on the 14th. Super impressed with how quickly it has arrived
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-31
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
good service and fast
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-29
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Documents received by them on the 4th April, we had Easter bank holiday and a notification this morning that it had been printed. Then it was delivered by 1pm 14th April!
I was trying to get a fast track appointment but there were none. We wasted a couple of days trying to do that!
Thank you so much to this group for keeping me sane!
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:
Passport printed 5:41am on 12 April 2023
Application approved 11:42am on 10 April 2023
Documents received 1:54pm on 3 April 2023
Application received 8:59pm on 28 March 2023
Identity details received 8:59pm on 28 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 8:26pm on 28 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 8:21pm on 28 March 2023
Application submitted 8:21pm on 28 March 2023
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-28
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Online first passport application. Very easy, quick and cheaper.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Overseas renewal for Child’s UK passport. Online application. Overall 4 weeks, which seems pretty good to me. Online system easy enough.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-28
Date Received:
2023-04-11
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
2 weeks overall. Very pleased, especially with the strikes.
Delivered 12 April 2023
Passport printed 10:03pm on 10 April 2023
Application approved 7:23pm on 6 April 2023
Documents received 12:36pm on 31 March 2023
Application received 7:07pm on 28 March 2023
Identity details received 7:07pm on 28 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 6:27pm on 28 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 6:25pm on 28 March 2023
Application submitted 6:25pm on 28 March 2023
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-05
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
2023/04/05 submission
2023/04/12 received new passport
2023/04/15 received old passport
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-11
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Use the twitter account to help get the appointment!!
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
First UK Passport (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-31
Date Received:
2023-04-15
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The overall experience was great. Very straightforward and both the processing and delivery time was fast. The timeline is the following:
Passport Received on 15th April 2023
Passport printed 1:08am on 13 April 2023
Application approved 11:11am on 12 April 2023
Documents received 12:57pm on 4 April 2023
Application received 11:07am on 31 March 2023
Identity details received 11:06am on 31 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 10:55am on 31 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 10:46am on 31 March 2023
Application submitted 10:46am on 31 March 2023
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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.