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 With Interview
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-30
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received 5.25pm on 21 April 2023
Passport printed 1:16am on 21 April 2023
Application approved 9:03am on 20 April 2023
Interview 8:45am on 20 April 2023
Documents received 1:15pm on 4 April 2023
Application received 9:39am on 31 March 2023
Identity details received 9:39am on 31 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 9:59pm on 30 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 9:54pm on 30 March 2023
Application submitted 9:54pm on 30 March 2023
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-27
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 1:18am on 21 April 2023
Application approved 11:12am on 20 April 2023
Documents received 9:23am on 12 April 2023
Application received 12:07pm on 27 March 2023
Application submitted 12:06pm on 27 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-09
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Five family passport renewals (adults and children), submitted online Sunday ,old passports received Tuesday, printed following Tuesday, received Friday.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-03
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Only took around 3 weeks which was good considering the ongoing strike action.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-17
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very simple and easy, kept updated all the time, received new passport within 4 days from submitting – excellent service
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-06
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Took 22 days and that is accounting the easter bank holidays.
6/04 – applied and sent old passport
12/04 – text message saying they received old passport (royal mail delays over bank holiday weekend so there was a delay in delivery)
20/04 – text message that new passport has been printed and will be sent.
21/04 – new passport delivered and old one too
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-06
Date Received:
2023-04-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 12:10am on 20 April 2023
Application approved 9:11am on 19 April 2023
Documents received 1:29pm on 11 April 2023
Application received 6:50am on 6 April 2023
Application submitted 6:49am on 6 April 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-04-18
Date Received:
2023-04-22
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Normal online renewal service. Posted old passport for next day delivery.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-05
Date Received:
2023-04-20
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
I was very panicked trying to get a passport amid the strikes as I needed one in under 10 weeks time, and after failing to get a fast track appointment I opted for a regular online application which, to my surprise, was a lot faster than I imagined it would have been, it only took 2 weeks. Probably would’ve taken even less time had there not been the Easter holidays right in the middle.
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1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-03-27
Date Received:
2023-04-20
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Easy process didnt think it would be so quick as they are on strike
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-04-03
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied on 3rd April
Documents received on 11th April
Application approved on 19th April
Passport delivered on 22nd April
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-04-19
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Takes a long time to show for your documents to show as received.
My wife’s passport is in her maiden name so we later had to send our marriage cert and my daughter’s birth cert… To save time, it is worth calling the 0300 number at the outset to find out what they’ll likely need and send that along with the new passport.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-05
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
During Easter bank holidays and strikes, Royal Mail tracking showed they received the old passport on 11th April, Documents received updated same day, from then it was 8 days until application approved. Received passport 2 days later.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-04-05
Date Received:
2023-04-22
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really pleased with how quick the process was, especially with the strike and posting the old passport on the Thursday of Easter bank holiday weekend.
One thing to mention is the automatic photo checker when applying online, it stated that the photo was likely to be declined due to the image being difficult to tell apart from the background!! This was completely wrong, yes my daughter has a pale complexion but it was very clear as to what was her and what was the background so I ignored this and submitted it anyway… as expected there were absolutely no issues at all with her photo and it was accepted as it was.
Applied – 5th April
Posted old passport – 6th April
Received old passport – 12th April
Approved – 20th April
Printed – 21st April
Received new passport – 22nd April
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2023-04-15
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very fast turnaround, but no ability to track progress
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2023-04-19
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
I went online Monday 17th April, managed to get an appointment Wednesday 19th April, passport arrived Friday 21st! Honestly wouldn’t have known there was strikes if I hadn’t had read up on it beforehand
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-27
Date Received:
2023-04-21
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Passport received (overseas; Asia): Approx 10:30am local time on 21 April 2023 by DHL
==================================
Below is the official record of steps prior to that (though the ‘documents received’ entry is significantly later than when my old passport arrived at HMPO according to my courier’s tracking number):
Passport printed 1:44am on 18 April 2023
Application approved 10:06am on 15 April 2023
Documents received 9:20pm on 5 April 2023
Application received 3:46am on 27 March 2023
Application submitted 3:46am on 27 March 2023
===================================
* Service actually was relatively efficient, though the strike and the need to get a new passport for a new job in a new country made this application more stressful than it should have been; much easier, cheaper and quicker to obtain non-British passports for my dual-national children during a similar timeframe.
* The date of approval is the date which has been printed in my passport as the date of issue (15th April 2023), and the expiry date is the same date in 2033 (15th April 2033)
* Text refers to ‘Her Majesty’, for those interested.
* Leaflet PPT 4 (12.22) “Your new passport” received with the new passport; old passport to be returned to me in due course.
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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.