Feedback, experiences, timelines, tips and useful information from people that have recently been through the UK passport application process.
To submit your passport application experience click here
1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-20
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Bootle passport office was lightening quick! Approved my first UK adult passport application with in 6 days on a Sunday!
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-30
Date Received:
2023-04-17
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Needn’t have worried. Bootle didn’t let us down. Applied for 3 renewals at the same time. 1 arrived after 12 days and the other 2 after 2.5 weeks even though they were printed at the same time. Posted through the letterbox so you don’t need to be home to receive them. Biggest issue with the process was getting compliant photos. In the end one was rejected even though it was rated good on line, but I took and uploaded another immediately with studio lighting on and it didn’t result in any delay so happy days.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2023-04-04
Date Received:
2023-04-15
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted 04/04/2023
Confirmation old passport received 05/04/2023
Approval of application 06/04/2023 (8:00 am)
Notified passport printed 07/04/2023
Out for delivery with courier 11/04/2023. I then changed the delivery as I was on holiday. Had I not done so it would have been 7 days from submission to receipt.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-26
Date Received:
2023-04-17
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
26/03/2023 – application submitted
29/03/2023- documents delivered
05/04/2023- documents received
13/04/2023- passport approved
14/04/2023- passport printed
17/04/2023- passport delivered
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-02
Date Received:
2023-04-17
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
My application seemed to be lost until I started to chase it. Eventually on the 5th April I managed to speak to someone on the help line that was actually interested in helping. She chased and requested a call back from the manager…from then on it was pretty quick but had I net be lucky enough to speak the the helpful lady it would no doubt not have moved from documents received.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-15
Date Received:
2023-04-17
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Passport printed 4:59am on 14 April 2023
Application approved 3:56pm on 13 April 2023
Documents received 10:49am on 21 March 2023
Application received 4:51pm on 15 March 2023
Application submitted 4:51pm on 15 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-10
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Amazed at how quickly my renewed passport arrived using standard process. I had my photo taken at an online booth in Sainsbury’s on Easter Monday and submitted online application the same afternoon. As soon as our local Post Office reopened in Tuesday, I posted my old passport to Hemel Hempstead for delivery by 1pm on Wednesday. At 2.13am on Thursday I received an email saying my old passport had been received, immediately followed by another email at 2.14am saying my application had been approved.
At 00.43am on Friday my new passport was printed and TNT delivered it at 07.53am Friday!!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-10
Date Received:
2023-04-17
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted on 10th April (Bank Holiday) so old passport sent on 11th April. Documents received, approved and printed on 13th April. Courier picked up new passport on 14th April but did not do weekend delivers so arrived on Monday 17th April. My wife’s application was done at the same time and her passport arrived by a different courier on Friday 14th April.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-31
Date Received:
2023-04-17
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Very straightforward operation on line except for ensuring that the photograph was acceptable. Although my photograph was accepted with a “Good” rating when I attached it to my online application, it was rejected when the application was processed and I had to quickly get an alternative photograph downloaded.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-03
Date Received:
2023-04-17
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Needed a passport in 6 weeks says online 10 weeks. Decided to chance it with standard service. I then checked on passport waiting time website which was estimating 11 days which made me feel a lot more at ease. Came in 14 days (with a easter bank holiday and strike in between).
03/04/23 applied online
04/04/23 sent old passport
05/04/23 old passport arrived
14/04/23 application approved
17/04/23 received new passport
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.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-23
Date Received:
2023-04-05
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
StatusDate
Passport printed 3:38am on 4 April 2023
Application approved 5:02pm on 1 April 2023
Documents received 11:24am on 29 March 2023
Application received 4:55pm on 23 March 2023
Identity details received 4:55pm on 23 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 4:50pm on 23 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 4:44pm on 23 March 2023
Application submitted 4:44pm on 23 March 2023
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-28
Date Received:
2023-04-17
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent! I was really cornered given the strikes. I did the online application on the 28th March, but after getting a signature I didn’t get to send the birth certificate ( to BOOTLE office) until 3rd April right before the Easter bank holiday and after the strikes had started. I sent this signed for next day and expected to have a delay between it Being delivered by Royal Mail and the passport office actually receiving the birth certificate… much to my surprise, the documents were received the following day by the passport office and my application updated accordingly.
6 working days later on 4th April (taking out the bank holiday weekend) my application was approved. The following day ( Friday 14th) it was printed and today ( Monday 17th I have had confirmation from DHL it is out for delivery today.
An easy process from start to finish. Very happy!
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-29
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very fast, sent documents to Corby. Approved and delivered in 8 days from receipt of documents.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-24
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Very straightforward, it was quicker than I expected
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-04
Date Received:
2023-04-15
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
App submitted: 4 March
Doc Posted 10 March
Docs received 15 March
17 March – passport office confirmed docs lost
18 March – new docs sent to passport office
Application approved 13 April
Printed 13 April
Received 17 April
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
First UK Passport (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-25
Date Received:
2023-03-28
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Application history
StatusDate
Documents received 2:38pm on 17 April 2023
Application received 11:08pm on 28 March 2023
Identity details received 11:07pm on 28 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:25am on 25 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 12:16am on 25 March 2023
Application submitted 12:16am on 25 March 2023
View Previous Post
View Next Post
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.
I submitted my application on 27th March 23 and documents received on 30th March 23. Since this time the application is awaiting examination for no obvious reasons. I am travelling soon and no helpful advice given by passport advice line. Each gives you a different answer. I am not happy that everyone application is processed much quicker than mine. It is only a simple passport renewal.
what office did you post it to ?
Submitted application from overseas for renewal on 14th march. Hemel Hempstead acknowledged receipt of old passport 21st march.
Heard absolutely nothing since. Passport advice line keep telling me it’s normal and there’s nothing they can do to help. Is there anything I can do? It’s been weeks and I’m stuck abroad in a country I’m ready to move on from.
exactly same for me! I am sure they have messed something up or lost something when i look at others getting their passports in 1 or 2 weeks!
StatusDate
Documents received 2:06pm on 22 March 2023
Documents delivered by courier 12th March 2023
Application received 10:29am on 9 March 2023
Application submitted 10:29am on 9 March 2023
I have submitted my online passport renewal application on 18/04 and documents received by them on 21/04. Today i called passport helpline about the progress but they just said their standard reply. I have travel booked on 26/05.. now i am getting worried if my passport will arrive by then.