New Passport Upgrade Service!

I feel incredibly lucky. The man checking the queue was quite abrupt and told me I’d have to collect it tomorrow but the lady inside was fantastic and assured me I’d get it today. I’m so grateful I got a nice lady helping. It was cutting it fine as the last printed batch came to the collection point at 4.50. Keeping everything crossed you get some news soon!

Can anyone give me some more information about the upgrade service? How do I get the process started, what is the process like, did your passport arrive in time for travel? I’ve been waiting 7 weeks and go on holiday in 3, so decent chance I will have to use the upgrade service. On that note, is there any way to find out which office is dealing with my passport? I’d be happy to go wherever in person to try and get this sorted if I can. Thanks

Can I ask how you managed to put in an upgrade request more than 2 weeks before you were due to travel?

You can ask on the online chat which office is currently processing your application. Though I would check near when you will apply for upgrade as I have been told it can change.

It can change. My daughters was at Peterborough. I sent her old passport there, and when I requested the upgrade, the email they sent with how to upgrade had Peterborough’s upgrade email. When I was at Peterborough yesterday, she told me for some reason it was now in Liverpool! She couldn’t figure out why it had changed.

Thanks for the responses. Another question for anyone who has used the upgrade service - at what point in the process do you pay, and how much is it? My passport will hit 10 weeks a couple of days before we fly, so I’m weighing up whether it’s worth just paying now for the upgrade for peace of mind.

You apply for the upgrade 2 weeks before travel by phone and then you should get an email from the upgrade team telling them what to put in an email to them (inc flight confirmation). My understanding is that you only pay for the upgrade if it is successful. They will take payment by phone. Personally i would not assume that it will arrive before you fly and apply for the upgrade as in your case you will have been waiting more than 6 weeks. (I am on over 9 weeks since applying with no movement)

Hi everyone, this forum has been an absolute godsend. I have a question if anyone can help - I've hit my 14 days before travel today (13 days until I need the passport in my hands) For context - I called 01633 285419 (believe this is the Newport number) on Monday 30th, I got straight through but she said I had to call back today (1st June) as they process the upgrade referral on a system and the referral will be auto rejected if it's done more than 14 days before travel. She said I would then be told/receive an email telling me the email address for the appropriate upgrade team and what details to send them. My question - I am now on hold to the same number, as advised, but it's been 2 hours and I haven't got through. Can I go ahead and just email every upgrade team email address I've seen on here to start the process myself? Or does it HAVE to be preceded by the system referral from an internal team first to actually get in the queue? Happy to sit on hold, but just wondering if it's worth sending the email off and banking a few extra hours in the queue! Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Currently at the Peterborough office where we have been since 9.30 and just managed to get in to be seen for my nephews passport as we fly on Saturday. Hoping for some good news shortly in that we can get the passport printed today. Its one of the most stressful things. To add a good note my cousin came here the same today and has been told he can collect his at 12.30 after being seen earlier.

@gnatalie16 my daughter is now on her way to Peterborough even though its at Liverpool Peterborough is our closest i am just hoping someone will help her shes only 18 and i have sent her there on her own to try get sorted as we fly Sunday and still nothing form the upgrade team at Liverpool :(

Finally had my passport printed! Lost passport applied for on 26th march I travel on 10th June so still waiting but should hopefully come Monday FYI here's how I got mine printed & Approved quickly I called 01633 745709 (Newport) got through instantly every time I called & the phone handlers were very nice. I requested an upgrade on the phone and got a call-back within 20 mins. I didn't have my lost reference number (you get this when you tell them your passport is lost or stolen) so I had to call back and request another call-back from the upgrade team. afaik you need to call before or your email to upgrade might not be approved. I then emailed ALL and I mean ALL the passport offices I could think of with capital letters "BelfastUpgradeTeam@hmpo.gov.uk" in the subject put your travel date & passport upgrade request - "Travel Date: 10/June/2022 Passport Upgrade" In the body of the email make sure you include every detail including email, mobile number, PEX, loss reference (if you lost your passport otherwise this doesn't matter), name, DOB, Postcode etc. Here's the email I sent --------------------------------------------- Good afternoon, I ordered a passport on 26th March 2022, it was to replace one I had lost. I am travelling in 2 weeks on the 10th June (I will attach proof of dates). Can I please upgrade this passport to priority Details of applicant: Name: DOB: Ref: PEX Loss Ref: Address: Email: Mobile phone number: Many Thanks ---------------------------------------------------------- After this it was approved the next day and has been printed 2 days after that. Hopefully this helps someone as this forum has been a godsend for info! Fingers crossed for all of you travelling soon! Edit: I forgot to mention I never received a confirmation of upgrade, I'm assuming it's gone through as it all got processed very quickly after my emails & Calls. Also make sure you only apply if you've been waiting over 6 working weeks & are travelling in 2 weeks or less

I am due to fly in 11 days have been waiting for a call from the upgrade team since last week. I have emailed Glasgow as thats where my sons documents are but still no luck. Really panicking and those on the phone haven’t mentioned it needs to be over 6 weeks. We only applied 4 weeks ago but it seems many people have still had there passports upgraded when applying less than 6 weeks ago. So stressed out

UPDATE my daughter was seen straight away at Peterborough as she is flying Sunday, they were super helpful, while she was there Liverpool called her and Peterborough have made an appt to collect her passport Saturday at 12pm ! I will say when you are this close just go! they will see you... still not got it in hand but its more progress than we have had in 10 weeks !!!

Applied for first child passport on 18th March and will be 11th week this Friday. Im travelling out on 10th June. No response from upgrade team and request was made 6 days ago. Got my MP involved but nothing still. Im gonna wing it go Glasgow this Saturday all the way from london, getting desperate now.

I just want to update ….. for anyone travelling very soon … I literally cannot praise Peterborough passport office enough !! They was amazing today , we travel Sunday which left today and Saturday to get it sorted with the bank holidays being closed.. my application had been with Durham for 6 weeks — however Peterborough was my nearest office , they were amazing… I was seen pretty quickly but in order of travel .. Then I had to wait for a call back from Durham to approve the upgrade which felt like the longest wait it was around 2 hours … however after the phone call they had it sent to be printed for me at Peterborough whilst waiting and I was able to walk away with it today at 4pm I’m home now and I’m absolutely overjoyed …. Instead of me losing £3500. I advise anyone close to travel dates go to your office …. I was losing hope but they pulled it out of the bag for me and I didn’t see anyone not get there passports today that were travelling very soon ! They did amazing !!!!

Great news! Peterborough would be my local office too and since my application is at Glasgow it would be easier for me to get there. I travel on 12th june and we’ve been waiting for my sons first passport for 4 weeks so not sure what the outcome would be 😩

All I would say is if there is no issues with the application regardless of dates of applications made they were still helping people and they was walking away with passports… they were amazing and so helpful … if it gets to 72/48 hours before travel and still no news I would head there.

Hi all, just wondering if you ask to upgrade your passport, is there still a possibility that it gets printed and posted as normal, or is it taken out of that ‘queue’ and definitely requires you to go to an office and pick it up?

Anybody have direct Belfast number?

Pclem0003 if you get number…could I also have it please

Hi I would say you have to collect, if the upgrade team are only contacting people 24 -48 hours before travel there wont be enough time for them to post it I wouldn't think, I phoned them up yesterday and was told I can upgrade on the 9th June as that will be 6 weeks after I applied and 14 days before I travel (23rd June, I asked could she tell me which passport office was dealing with it and she said they will tell me when I ring on the 9th June, My mind is still not at ease as reading stories of people finding out where there passport is by online chat and then just driving to that office, so now I am debating doing that if I can find out who is dealing with it

I think they would take it out of the queue after you email the upgrade team and start the process before they ring you 24-48 hours before to collect

Just spoken to someone over chat and have been told they are still working through applications over the bank holiday. Has anyone else been told this?

They are working today guys. Just had a phone call saying I can pick mine up Saturday at 10am and I fly at 5 Don’t loose hope they do get back to you

They are working today guys. Just had a phone call saying I can pick mine up Saturday at 10am and I fly at 5 Don’t loose hope they do get back to you I have been emailing since the 19th May was in a right state! I would advise you to go to the nearest passport office they are helping