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:
Liverpool
Submission Date:
2022-05-27
Date Received:
2022-08-09
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
The best advice I’ve received over these last very stressful few weeks on this very forum was to JUST TURN UP AT THE NEAREST PASSPORT OFFICE 48 hours before you fly and ask for help. And helped they did. My application was in Liverpool but I went to the London office. They let us inside, coordinated/worked with Liverpool and printed the passport in London. Make sure you take proof of travel and 2 passport sized photos.
Seriously, nothing else worked. I tried the call Centre (if you must, use option 8 and then 3) at least a few dozen times, the local MP and what not but else nothing worked. Went to London office yesterday, had the passport issued the same day and travelling today.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool
Submission Date:
2022-05-08
Date Received:
2022-08-10
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Still not received, lost the application, birth certificates and Still waiting now as they’ve lost my passport.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-05-28
Date Received:
2022-06-01
Overall Experience:
Please Rate out of 5
Comments:
My daughter submitted her passport application as above. It’s ten weeks today so she phoned for an update as people applied after her and have received there’s already. The lady was very unhelpful and told her she has to wait. Yes she has booked to go away in 6 weeks time for her 1st holiday. Didn’t expect to wait this long and then be told she may have to pay another £100 for the quicker service. Bit unfair
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-07-28
Date Received:
2022-08-10
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Changed my surname and address so expected it to take a bit longer, was surprised it was less than 2 weeks from initial online application. Had confirmation of documents received within 2 days of posting 1st class.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool
Submission Date:
2022-07-25
Date Received:
2022-08-10
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Message received saying they had my application 26/7/22
Message received saying they had my old passport 1/8/22
Message received saying passport had been printed 8/8/22
Message received saying I must sign passport when I get it 9/8/22
Text received from TNT saying they will deliver today and they have done so 10/8/22
Brilliant!!!!!!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-05-24
Date Received:
2022-08-09
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Had to use the expedited email address when it hit 10 days and then 2 days later my application was approved.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-29
Date Received:
2022-08-10
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Needed new passport for European holiday in 6 weeks. Unable to obtain fast track appointment so, having read on this site of others experiences in applying for an adult renewal passport, decided to take a chance using the online service. Applied online and submitted digital photo taken in a booth, receiving confirmation at the time that the photo was approved as suitable for passport applications. Sent in old passport the same day, confirmation of old passport received 3 days later including a weekend. Application approved 7 days later. Passport delivered today. Total of 12 days from start to finish. Very pleased.
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-06-13
Date Received:
2022-08-10
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
The lack of updates was extremely stressful!! Travelling on 14th so called on 31st to upgrade, sent the info to Liverpool upgrade team and got nothing back although on the phone to the progress team I confirmed the lost passport ref number so I’m unsure if this helped get things moving. Thankfully all worked out well in the end but it has been a VERY stressful couple of months.
Passport printed 5:37pm on 8
August 2022
Application approved 10:29am on 7 August 2022
Identity details received 6:47pm on 13 June 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 6:22pm on 13 June 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 5:45pm on 13 June 2022
Application submitted 5:45pm on 13 June 2022
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2022-05-18
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Exactly 12weeks and 3 visits to Liverpool office (the third to pick up passport on a train from Manchester) I’ve finally got my passport approved today. I started chasing after 6wks via the chat website to be told that it has been sat awaiting examination since 27th May and was told I would have to wait until 10wks to escalate. I asked if anything was holding up my application and they confirmed that I should be ready to submit a new photo but I couldn’t do this until I was contacted to do this. I had no travel booked but wanted to book and abided by the government rules and waited. I even contacted my MP at 8wks and was told that it was still awaiting examination and I should wait for 10wks and he would ask HMPO to expedite as I had no travel booked there wasn’t much he could do. After reading on forums to make sure the lost L reference number needs to be attached to the new application which could delay the application if it wasn’t, I did not receive this when I reported it lost first time. I had to report it lost again to get the L reference number and again ring to ensure that it was attached to my new application. Many calls and lots of emails later and no closer to any further progress or contact from HMPO, I went to Liverpool office on Saturday at 11.5wks and the security guard gave me the opportunity to be seen as they were only letting people in who had travel booked within 24/72hrs. I argued that people without travel or who need it for ID are being left behind in the process. Liverpool uploaded my new pictures and sent them to Newport and added a note that I wished to book travel on 12th August. I was told I should await a call but no call on Saturday nor Monday as promised. I went back to Liverpool today and was told my application was pulled for additional checks and that they couldn’t tell me when they’ll get it back from the examiner! Could be today or tomorrow or next week they told me! I waited 4hrs in Liverpool in case they rang. Only on the train back to Manchester I got the call to say that my passport has been approved! The stress and anxiety the last few weeks has been horrible. The staff at Liverpool were so good in helping you out and I would highly recommend going to your local office if your application has hit over 10wks as you’ll either get your passport or at the very least have a better idea on the actual truth of where your application is at.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-27
Date Received:
2022-08-06
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Horrendous, incompetent, stressful, unorganised, you lost two of our sons birth certificates and still haven’t sent them back! Over 10+ hours on hold, 9 hours over three days trying to sort at the passport office.
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool
Submission Date:
2022-07-11
Date Received:
2022-08-09
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Despite being concerned about the possible lead times, our first child passport came back in 4 weeks and one day.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-04-28
Date Received:
2022-07-29
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Only got it by going to Newport.
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-02-16
Date Received:
2022-07-22
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Abysmal. I waited 21 weeks for my son’s passport. My son is autistic and we planned to travel to Germany for medical treatment relating to his condition which had to be postponed twice due to the delay.
I was told the photo was incorrect when it wasn’t, the application was withdrawn in error and there began a ten week merry go round of calls to the advice like and progress team who were unable to help, had no idea where my supporting documents were and promised callbacks that never happened. Eventually thanks to a Facebook group I found an email address for escalated services for people who’s been waiting in excess of ten weeks. The response was immediate and the passport was sorted within a week. It beggars belief that the escalated service email is not offered by the advice team and the system as it is is not fit for purpose.
1 Week Fast Track Application
Type of Application:
1 Week Fast Track Service
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-08-03
Date Received:
2022-08-05
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Booked an appointment for a renewal in Peterborough 3 weeks later. In & out in 10 mins. Told passport would be with me within a week subject to checks. Arrived 2 days later.
