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:
London
Submission Date:
2023-05-02
Date Received:
2023-05-04
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Super Quick !! No problems. Instructions were all clear. Lightning fast processing.
Application approved 16 May 2023
Documents received 4 May 2023
Application received 2 May 2023
Application submitted 2 May 2023
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-29
Date Received:
2023-05-16
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Came fairly quickly considering 2 bank holidays.
Passport printed 9:53pm on 15 May 2023
Application approved 12:18pm on 12 May 2023
Documents received 11:19am on 3 May 2023
Application received 9:13am on 29 April 2023
Application submitted 9:13am on 29 April 2023
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-29
Date Received:
2023-05-16
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Surprisingly simple and quick with updates throughout. Didn’t have an interview, which I’d expected to happen since I’m a new citizen
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-28
Date Received:
2023-05-15
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed: 2:38am on 13 May 2023
Application approved: 8:38am on 12 May 2023
Documents received: 7:21pm on 2 May 2023
Application received: 1:49pm on 28 April 2023
Application submitted: 1:49pm on 28 April 2023
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-27
Date Received:
2023-05-10
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Context: adult passport renewal (two other additional nationalities/passports, which all had to be sent in).
Documents posted via 2nd class tracked delivery on 27/3/23.
Documents confirmed received via Royal Mail tracking on 29/3/23, acknowledged by HMPO a week later on 5/4/23.
Received notification that application was approved after a month on 6/5/23 and new passport was printed on 9/5/23.
New passport received next day on 10/5/23. Still awaiting return of documents (other passports).
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-05-04
Date Received:
Not Received
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Old passport received day after application. No further news 11 days later
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-05-09
Date Received:
2023-05-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Slick online process and very quick turnaround
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-05-04
Date Received:
2023-05-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Amazing! Posted my old passport on Friday 5th May , received by them on Tuesday 9th as Monday 8th was a bank holiday, my new one was approved that day and printed the next. New passport received on Friday 12th less than a week! My old one was received back Saturday 13th,
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-27
Date Received:
2023-05-15
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 11:35pm on 11 May 2023
Application approved 7:44am on 11 May 2023
Documents received 6:54pm on 28 April 2023
Application received 4:08pm on 27 April 2023
Application submitted 4:07pm on 27 April 2023
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1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Belfast
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-05-11
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Still awaiting an update and passport! (11/05/23)
(Could not fill this in without a “date received”)
Application history
StatusDate
Documents received 9:54am on 14 April 2023
Application received 7:42pm on 17 March 2023
Identity details received 7:42pm on 17 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 7:08pm on 17 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 6:52pm on 17 March 2023
Application submitted 6:52pm on 17 March 2023
We are currently still awaiting an update!!
Government page still showing “documents received”
We fly in less than 4 weeks!
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-26
Date Received:
2023-05-11
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Application submitted: 24/04/23 10:45am
Identity details received: 26/04/23 14:28pm
Application received: 26/04/23 14:28pm
Documents received: 02/05/23 08:06am
Person not eligible: 11/05/23 12:00pm
Identity details received: 11/05/23 14:42pm
Application approved: 11/05/23 14:45pm
Passport printed: 13/05/23 01:07am
Passport received: 15/05/23 12:00pm
(I sent 2 first child passports both took the same amount of time however needed a new person to be eligible even though it was eligible with the other passport. I called them up for reassurance as I a booked holiday in June and was told it could still take up to 10 weeks. So very stressful luckily they did it quickly. And passports came quickly)
Also I sent the documents with royal mail special delivery guarantee by 1pm for £6.80 yet they only looked at it a week later. So pointless paying the extra money.
I sent the passports during the strikes, but it’s also peak times for people getting passports.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-26
Date Received:
2023-04-28
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Filled and submitted child renewal application on 26/04. Id verified the same day. Passport delivered to Passport office on Fri 28/04. Passport added to system on 02/05. Approved 11/05. Printed on 12/05. New passport received on 15/05 and old passport on 16/05. Very grateful to passport waiting time for accurate timeline/waiting time as we had already booked tickets for June and not realised little one’s passport was expiring in August.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-27
Date Received:
2023-05-15
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I booked a holiday without checking dates on passport. Gov website says 10 wks so was panicking
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-27
Date Received:
2023-05-16
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really quick process, much improved from previous times I have applied for renewals, it always used to be a bit of a nightmare. Considering there were 2 bank holidays in the time it’s taken to get the passport I’m impressed!
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-29
Date Received:
2023-05-16
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Passport printed 9:50pm on 15 May 2023
Application approved 11:18am on 12 May 2023
Documents received 9:58am on 3 May 2023
Application received 1:23pm on 29 April 2023
Application submitted 1:22pm on 29 April 2023
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-14
Date Received:
2023-05-11
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
If I could give 0/5, awful service, I would. The Hemel Hempstead office are processing applications in 1-2 weeks for a lot of people, even through the recent strike. Yet mine took 8 weeks. Even taking into account it was an overseas application, that’s slow. And the only reason it was that quick was because I sent a formal complaint to the HMPO email address. Once I sent that complaint, the application got some attention. But only after 7 weeks of absolutely nothing, despite more than a dozen phone calls to the passport helpline people (most of whom want to help, but since they can’t get in contact with the people who are actually processing the passports, they are essentially useless). Only a formal complaint by email got the application moving. Had I not done that, I’m sure I’d still be waiting now. If your application is moving slow, my advice, send the complaint. Worse service I’ve ever had for anything until I made that complaint.
My timeline:
Submitted application 14 march
Supporting documents received at Hemel Hempstead 21 march
Application approved 4th may and printed same day
I received it in Asia 11 may. Supporting documents arrived 5 days later.
So I have 2 pieces of advice: 1. for a slow application, send the passport office email address an email saying you want to make a formal complaint.
2. If you’re overseas and didn’t start your application yet, and will need the new passport in less than about 3 months, fly to the UK and get it done there. Should be much faster as they seemed to prioritise and process UK applications much much faster and neglect overseas ones.
Hopefully the above helps someone avoid the same stressful experience I’ve had. For me, overseas passport application? Never again.
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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.