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:
2023-03-29
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very quick and easy process of receiving UK passport after naturalisation.
Received UK passport 2 weeks after applying, supporting documents followed the week after.
UK passport delivered by DHL, supporting documents delivered by TNT.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-29
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Passport received on 19 April 2023
Passport printed on 18 April 2023
Application approved on 17 April 2023
Documents received on 30 March 2023
Application received on 29 March 2023
Application submitted on 29 March 2023
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-05
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
It was quicker than I thought considering the strikes and this being my first adult passport. I expected it to take 10 weeks.
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-13
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Super quick – posted old passport on the Friday, they received it on the Tuesday and I had my new one posted the next day.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-04-01
Date Received:
2023-04-13
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Arrived much faster than expected using the standard process, and with the strikes having started during rhe time the passport was being processed. Renewing a stolen passport, so didn’t need to send in old one.
Passport printed 3:54am on 12 April 2023
Application approved 3:24pm on 9 April 2023
Identity details received 2:59pm on 9 April 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 2:51pm on 9 April 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 2:49pm on 9 April 2023
Person not eligible 2:40pm on 9 April 2023
New photo received 1:47pm on 9 April 2023
Photo rejected 8:27am on 9 April 2023
Identity details received 4:17pm on 1 April 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 2:53pm on 1 April 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 2:51pm on 1 April 2023
Application submitted 2:51pm on 1 April 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-27
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
The service once the passport was approved was seamless and very speedy! However It took them 3 weeks from receiving my passport to contact me to ask for a statement explaining some damage to my passport, as this was wear and tear (no rips or folded pages) and I had used the passport 2 days before submitting it with no issues I was slightly confused why I had to do this. However once they approved my statement the process has been very easy!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-04-12
Date Received:
2023-04-18
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
On-line application using on-line photo app (with a photo I took at home – it corrected everything to make it 200% valid for the application). Posted old passport same day (Wed) using parcel service – was delviered on Fri.
Application approved on the same day, printed on Mon and delivered next day!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-14
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Super easy. Thought about applying for a fast track, but it was quicker to go through the normal system.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-29
Date Received:
2023-04-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I sent my old passport back special delivery so it arrived the day after I submitted my application
Took passport photo on my iphone and was accepted straight away
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-14
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Just did the online application through the government website. I was going to pay for Fast Track as needed my passport quite urgently, but luckily there were no appointments available as I would’ve paid extra when my passport arrived in 5 days through the normal service anyway. Very pleased with the service and how quick it was!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-31
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 5:23am on 18 April 2023
Application approved 1:29pm on 16 April 2023
Documents received 12:14pm on 6 April 2023
Application received 9:55am on 31 March 2023
Application submitted 9:55am on 31 March 2023
(Easter weekend was 7-10 April)
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-03
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I spent several fruitless and extremely stressful days trying to get a premium or fast track appointment only to get to the front of the queue and find all appointments had gone. After checking this site and seeing that most passports were coming back much faster than 10 weeks, I decided to bite the bullet and sent it the normal way with 8 weeks to go until my holiday. So glad I did. Very straightforward, regular updates from the passport office and they accepted by mobile phone pic with no problems. From application to receipt it was just 11 working days (Easter bank holidays in the middle).
Application history
Passport printed 3:18am on 18 April 2023
Application approved 11:11am on 15 April 2023
Documents received 10:55pm on 5 April 2023
Application received 2:22pm on 3 April 2023
Application submitted 2:22pm on 3 April 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-03
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I have put exact dates and times on the sample of cases submitted during the period of strike action, but the process was easy and efficient bearing in mind Royal Mail failed to deliver my old passport by 1.00 pm the next day (they have re-imbursed the fee) and so that day plus the Easter Bank holiday need to be taken into account. Updates from the Passport Office very good as is the photo checker which advised the majority of my own photos did not comply. Three were advised as being good and the one I submitted was approved.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-12
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Extremely fast – 7 days in total. Huge thanks to Passport Waiting Times – you gave me the confidence to avoid the hassle and expense of the fast track service after I realised I needed a renewal 4 weeks before a trip.
Passport printed 2:46am on 18 April 2023
Application approved 10:42pm on 16 April 2023
Documents received 10:42pm on 16 April 2023
Application received 5:19pm on 12 April 2023
Application submitted 5:19pm on 12 April 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-04
Date Received:
2023-04-18
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied online for the passport then sent old passport to Hemel Hempstead office. They received it 6th April. Application was approved 16th April and the passport was delivered 18th.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-30
Date Received:
2023-04-14
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really pleased with the online service and ease of uploading our own photos. Regular updates on progress and was easy to track. Passport arrived really quickly despite the Easter Bank Holiday. Husband needed to submit his photo again which was then approved the same day.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-04
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Submitted the renewal application the day after the strike started, and received new passport within two weeks despite the bank holidays for the Easter weekend.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-04
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very impressed with all aspects of the service. Quick and easy and kept informed via text and email every step of the way.
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:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-26
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Probably would have arrived sooner if I sent of the documents straight away (I sent of the birth certificate a week after opening the application).
Passport printed 12:17am on 18 April 2023
Application approved 2:08pm on 17 April 2023
Documents received 6:07pm on 6 April 2023
Application received 2:20pm on 26 March 2023
Identity details received 2:19pm on 26 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 2:11pm on 26 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:55pm on 26 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 12:50pm on 26 March 2023
Application submitted 12:50pm on 26 March 2023
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-04
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Got the passport with no hassle, i was concerned about the on-going strikes but it didn’t seem to affect the timelines for the passport application.
Gave 4 star as the SMS update is a bit dodgy but overall great service.
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-12
Date Received:
2023-04-18
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
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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.