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:
2023-03-09
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
3 Star – Average
Comments:
Sent my docs in on the 9th March (same day as application submission) via special delivery. RM tracking showed signed for on the 10th.
Corby passport office sat on them for 12 days and didn’t update status to “documents received” until the 22nd March.
Due to travel on 30th March – convinced this won’t happen. Luckily passport printed on the 29th and should receive passport on the 30th so can just make the flight (flight is in the evening)
Application history
StatusDate
Passport printed 6:33am on 29 March 2023
Application approved 3:52pm on 27 March 2023
Documents received 10:30am on 22 March 2023
Application received 12:59pm on 9 March 2023
Identity details received 12:58pm on 9 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:49pm on 9 March 2023
Person not eligible 12:24pm on 9 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:17pm on 9 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 11:36am on 9 March 2023
Application submitted 11:36am on 9 March 2023
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
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-03-24
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Belfast
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-20
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Received documents on the 22nd,
Approved on the 26th
Printed on the 27th
Received new passport on the 29th
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
First photo was rejected due to tilted head, a new photo taken digitally was accepted almost immediately after re-uploading. The process was easy and I was kept updated my text.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Belfast
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Really smooth experience. Taken my own photo digitally and was kept updated my text message and email.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Submitted with a child passport renewal which took the same time. The adult renewal was requested to be sent to Bootle, the child to Hemel Hempstead. As they are from the same family we sent them together to the Hemel office as that appears not to be affected by strike action.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Received: 29 March 2023
Passport printed 5:46am on 28 March 2023
Application approved 2:39pm on 26 March 2023
Documents received 3:30pm on 22 March 2023
Application received 4:43pm on 18 March 2023
Application submitted 4:42pm on 18 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-15
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport printed 7:31am on 27 March 2023
Application approved 1:48pm on 25 March 2023
Documents received 10:55pm on 21 March 2023
Application received 4:38pm on 15 March 2023
Application submitted 4:37pm on 15 March 2023
Very happy with the speed of the service, and the updates were great.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I was pleasantly surprised with how quick my renewal came! Submitted my request on Saturday 18th March 2023, without knowing a few days before a strike had been advertised on the news. Once I read about the strikes, I was convinced that my passport would then be part of a huge backlog! I opted for a large passport this time with 50 pages, reason being as each trip now will command 2 stamps (or half a page). I also used the at home photo option.
Took my old passport to the post office (sent via special delivery) on Saturday, it was posted on Monday, received by the Passport office on Tuesday. I think if I had not posted in the week rather than on the weekend , I would have got my renewal even quicker!
Passport Delivered: Mid Day 29th March 2023.
Passport printed 1:48am on 27 March 2023
Application approved 12:30pm on 25 March 2023
Documents received 7:35pm on 21 March 2023
Application received 11:28am on 18 March 2023
Application submitted 11:27am on 18 March 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-22
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy, lots of updated, and super fast.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-14
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Took photo on phone and did online passport.
Application Submitted and Application Received 14/03/23 1.59pm.
Posted Recorded Delivery 14/03/23.
Signed for at Passport office 16/03/23.
Documentation received 21/03/23 2.57pm.
Application Approved 25/03/23 9.36am.
Passport Printed 26/03/23 9.39pm.
Passport received via DHL on 29/03/23 approx 12.30pm
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-20
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very efficient and straightforward
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-23
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport sent next day delivery, was expecting the process to take much longer due to upcoming strikes!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-14
Date Received:
2023-03-24
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied on line with photo we’d taken at home.
Returned old passport recorded delivery immediately.
Had near daily text messages of progress and then new passport arrived.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
The Passport Office informed me of the progress of the application all the way
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy & speedy process! The regular text / email updates were very helpful.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-15
Date Received:
2023-03-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied for online 15th March, received new passport 28th March. 13 days and that was with having to send an extra document too.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
Saturday 18th March – applied online
Sunday 19th March – took and submitted the photo
Monday 20th March – posted the letter via Royal Mail Second Class, London to Liverpool
Wednesday 22nd March -old passport received by HM Passport Office
Sunday 26th March – new passport approved by HMPO
Wednesday 29th AM – new passport received by me
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-03-10
Date Received:
2023-03-22
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
No problems at all. Passport office text progress
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Brilliant. Never had a passport come back so quick.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-03-24
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I was astonished it was this quick! I did the application on a Sunday, put my old passport in first class post on the Monday, and it was received Tuesday. I got the email that my application had been approved on Wednesday, that my passport was printed on Thursday – and it turned up in Friday’s post. Well done Bootle: I was thrilled.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-23
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Super quick. I sent off my and one of my children’s old passports together (with both tracking numbers on the envelope, as the passport service advises) by Royal Mail’s Tracked 24 service on the same day I applied, which was a Friday. They were delivered to the passport office on Monday afternoon and mine was processed and marked as received in passport tracking that evening. My application was approved in the early hours of the following day and printed the following evening. The child passport followed six days later.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-02-16
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Passport printed 8:47pm on 27 March 2023
Application approved 12:13pm on 26 March 2023
Documents received 2:39pm on 21 February 2023
Application received 7:58pm on 16 February 2023
Application submitted 7:58pm on 16 February 2023
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Excellent service, very fast applied on the 19th March, received 29th March 10 days from start to finish
Application submitted 19th March
Documents received 22 March
Application approved 25 March
Passport printed 28 March
Passport received 29 March
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I initially thought there might be an issue with the photo but it was accepted.
Brilliant service. I am very impressed with the process. Will wait now to receive my old passport.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-03-16
Date Received:
2023-03-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application history
StatusDate
Passport printed 12:57am on 26 March 2023
Application approved 3:20pm on 24 March 2023
Documents received 11:28am on 21 March 2023
Application received 5:41pm on 16 March 2023
Application submitted 5:41pm on 16 March
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-21
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-22
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-22
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
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Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-21
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Delivered 29th March 2023
Passport printed 10:33pm on 27 March 2023
Application approved 1:37pm on 25 March 2023
Identity details received 10:05pm on 21 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 9:05am on 21 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 7:54am on 21 March 2023
Application submitted 7:54am on 21 March 2023
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-20
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2023-03-20
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-15
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
All great, better than expected considering the strikes. Applied online on 15/03, Documents sent 17/03, Documents received 21/03, Application approved 25/03, Passport printed 27/03, passport received 29/03.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport received 13:02pm on 29th March 2023
Passport printed 11:19pm on 26 March 2023
Application approved 10:56am on 25 March 2023
New photo received 10:55am on 25 March 2023
Fifteen minutes of panic and taking dozens of photos of a 4 months old baby ensues. Eventually had to adjust the brightness and shadows for the website to accept it.
Photo rejected 10:36am on 25 March 2023 (Used the neutral carpet as background but texture was rejected)
Documents received 3:46pm on 21 March 2023
Application received 9:57pm on 17 March 2023
Identity details received 9:57pm on 17 March 2023
Email sent to person confirming your identity 12:27pm on 17 March 2023
Ask someone to confirm your identity 12:24pm on 17 March 2023
Application submitted 12:24pm on 17 March 2023
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-20
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Great service ! This was with an online photo rejection too!
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Do it online. You get regular updates and seems faster.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Belfast
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Much quicker than I thought. I sent off my child’s old passport together with mine (with both tracking numbers on the envelope, as the passport service advises) by Royal Mail’s Tracked 24 service on the same day I applied, which was a Friday. They were delivered to the passport office on Monday afternoon and my child’s was processed and marked as received in passport tracking that evening. Their application was approved a few days later on Friday morning. The passport was printed the following morning and arrived with us on Tuesday afternoon, a few days after my own.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-14
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-04
Date Received:
2023-03-28
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
My son is under 6 so would be allowed to smile in the photo but we received a message saying smiling was not allowed.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-18
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Ordered online 19/3, posted 20/3. It arrived the 21/3. Delivered back 29/3. I didn’t express it. Super quick and super happy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Corby
Submission Date:
2023-03-17
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2023-03-19
Date Received:
2023-03-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Hemel Hempstead
Submission Date:
2023-03-13
Date Received:
2023-03-27
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Very easy was panicking as booked holiday then realised my daughters passport out of date but applied online took photo on my phone all very straight forward 2weeks in total from submitting to receiving passport through door.
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2023-03-05
Date Received:
2023-03-29
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Application submitted 5:28pm on 5 March 2023
Application received 5:29pm on 5 March 2023
*** Delay sending Passport while abroad ***
Documents handed to UPS 2:11pm on 13 March 2023 (EST)
Documents signed for 11:56am on 15 March 2023
Documents received 10:22am on 17 March 2023
Application approved 5:56pm on 22 March 2023
Passport printed 10:46pm on 23 March 2023
Passport pickup by DHL 12:25pm on 27 March 2023
Passport delivered 3:21pm on 29 March 2023 (EST)
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