PWT In The News
We have been contacted a lot over the past 4 weeks by TV, radio and newspapers to give our view on the current passport delays that have been well documented.
Currently we receive over 200 submissions a day from people who have recently been through the passport application process. They provide us with their timelines, overall experience and general feedback about the service. We then use this crowd sourced data to provide an average waiting time for all types of UK passport.
Let’s start with some facts……
As of 29th May 2022 the current average waiting times are:
1st Adult: 32.49 Days
Adult Renewal: 23.50 Days
1st Child: 37.90 Days
Child Renewal: 25.64 Days
Considering Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) state you should allow 10 weeks for your passport you may wonder what all the fuss is? Also, as you will see on our experiences pages, many applicants receive their passport in as little as 2 weeks!
Well, the problem is although the above crowd sourced averages are accurate for the majority there are quite a lot of people who are having to wait far longer than 10 weeks. These applicants are subsequently missing holidays, weddings and other important events.
It is this section of people where frustrations arise particularly with communications and not being able to easily speak to someone.
Most Common Complaints
- Can’t get through on the telephone – we have been sent screenshots of 5 hour call durations whilst on hold.
- No fast track interviews available.
- Stuck on processing with no further updates.
- Told different information from one phone agent to the next.
- Calls not being returned.
- Inconsistencies – some people receiving their passport in only 2 weeks.
Why is this happening?
HMPO have seen unprecedented demand as over 5 million people delayed renewing their passport due to COVID-19 and travel restrictions. In March 2022 HMPO processed more than 1 million passports which is the highest on record. From the feedback we have received delays appear to be more evident when the application is not straight forward and/or requires more supporting documents or if there is a mistake on the application. There also seems to be longer processing times for people making applications for a lost/stolen passport (we have started collecting data specifically for this). Due to the unprecedented volume of applications the current workforce at the passport office are finding it hard to process all passports within the 10 week guideline they state.
What you can do?
1. If your passport has been stuck in the system for 10 weeks you can demand immediate priority.
2. If you are getting desperate you can contact your MP’s office; they have a fast-track hotline.
3. Try this telephone number. Some of our users have reported having more success calling 01633 285419
We are an independent website and have no affiliation with HMPO. We can not advise on your application but we can recommend our forum and experience pages where there is plenty of really useful information shared by our users.
Please comment below if you would like to share your thoughts on the current delays.
Completed 4 forms for 2 renewals, 1 renewal and name change and 1 first child passport. Posted by special delivery 26th March. Got a text from HMPO 5th April to confirm receipt.
Still waiting. Have received nothing yet I know others who have had theirs back with 2 weeks.
Very concerned as when I have tried to call to track, one of the passport application numbers is not even being recognised!. The other just confirm receipt.
Travel booked so am starting to panic as have no confidence these will be processed within the next week, which will take the applications up to the 10 weeks.
Hi , we apply for our son passport from overseas in January 2022, we didn’t receive it yet, we have interview on 23matly,but no sign of receiving passport, when can we get the passport,any idea?
Hi , we apply for our son passport from overseas in January 2022, we didn’t receive it yet, we have interview on 23may,but no sign of receiving passport, when can we get the passport,any idea?
The system is broken when there is such disparity between application/processing times. There’s no accountability and doesn’t seem to be any avenue for complaint or escalation once you get stuck in the system. In our case someone decided to question a birth certificate (officially reissued replacement from Records Office as original had been misplaced) which had previously been accepted. Now stuck in processing black hole and have been told they won’t even look at it again for 2-3 weeks.
you guys have had my passport application for over 4 weeks stuck at processing which is unacceptable when iv had family members who are going on same holiday who renewed theirs at the same time now have theirs while mine is stuck.
this is a £8000 holiday im about to loose due to incompetence.
Went to Glasgow Office (local) without appointment. Explained that my application has been with Durham office, stuck on processing since 28th April, applied 22nd March and will be 2 weeks until departure. Getting absolute nowhere by phone/ email. They went and done a check for me and because my old passport is damaged, without me explaining why seems to be the hold up. However, they never told me that over the umpteen phone calls I made to ask if there was a problem with my application. He said he would contact Durham Office via Skype to get my application prioritised as it will be 10 weeks and also tell them that it was water damaged due to be put through a wash. So hopefully, that pushes things along as I am no completely out of options. MP was contacted and wasn’t much use to be honest.
The service is not fit for purpose. I am a dual national and need my foreign passport to travel to see family after 2.5years of COVID. It’s been a month since I got my renewed British passport but there is no sign of my supporting documents including my foreign passport. It’s been sitting in the Bootle mail room for three weeks now but apparently they haven’t got enough staff to post it!!! On HMPO website it says you get them 14 days after receiving the British passport. Rubbish. Had to change my ticket because of their incompetence.
We have been waiting 6 weeks for a first passport for adult and a first passport for child. Nothing. The child passport is stuck on ‘documents received’ the other on ‘application being processed’. It is frustrating and upsetting! We have a family event in Spain we might not even be able to attend. We’ve already had to travel 12+ hours for 1 passport.
Applied for my daughters first passport (without interview – as had a child passport) on 27th April. I posted her old passport on 28th April which was signed for on 29th but not officially received until 9th May. It sat there for 2 1/2 weeks then went to the dreaded ‘application being processed!’ on 26th May. I’ve called so many times, been on hold for hours, been cut off at least 10 times. I’ve logged 2 enquiry forms and an application tracker and heard nothing. Feeling pretty stressed as have booked a holiday to celebrate the end of my daughter’s A levels mid July and am really worried it won’t be here in time It was a straight forward application! Can’t understand why some are done in a matter of days and others left for weeks. And the lack of communication is shocking… what’s the £80 for.. certainly not efficiency or customer service
Child renewal, applied on 23/04, sent old passport on the 25/04 and was delivered and signed for on the 26th.
Old passport not scanned until 10/05 so was sitting there two weeks and nobody tells you they start counting 10 weeks from the day they have scanned old passport/ received documents, not from the day you actually applied.
Application submitted 22nd march, docs received 8th April…processing documents since then with no further updates. Called helpline and told I’m in the print queue, they should arrive by 13th June, which is too late to get an ETA before we travel.
Hi, mines is the exact same dates as yours and also stuck on being progressed. Have you phoned to upgrade?
What is the number number to phone for updates on progress?
Applied for renewal of lost expired passport 2 April stuck at processing. DespitevSLA being 6 weeks at the time of submission, now being told won’t help until 10 weeks !
My application 21/03/22 stuck in processing since30/03 numerous phone calls with no reply finally yesterday I got through to number given in previous comment only to be passed from dept and kept on hold for in total 2 hrs and finally at 6.04 an automated voice told me sorry deptis now closed ,,my date of travel is 12/06 disgusting service,also now not even getting automated replies from Liverpool upgrade team I think this needs a public explanation of as to why applications do not seem to be done in date order after all the. Civil service wages are paid out of taxpayers money ie theywork for the public and the public are not being treated very well
Newport passport office
Adult renewal processing time scale so far:
Applied 31/3
Received confirmed old passport 1/4
Prossesing status since 7/4
NOT MOVED SINCE (9 weeks today since online application accepted)
Applied 23/3
Processing 30/3
Old passport cancelled 7/4
Nothing since. Upgraded as holiday was 28th May- spent hours on hold been hung up on- was told
Being upgraded, was told
It hasn’t, was told team were open, NO ONE has a clue what they are doing there. And family holiday was missed as a result!